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It was as Peterson had said--nothing on the river could touch the

Belle Helène And it also was as I had not said but had thought--the

water left no trail By daylight ere far below the old

battle-field, far below the old forts, far below La Hache, and areat estuary whose marshes spread for scores of

miles on either hand ie opened here; and on beyond, a stone's thro for

a vessel logging our smooth speed, rolled the open sea And still

there rose behind us the s craft, nor did any seek

to bar our way So far as I knew, the country had not been warned by

any wire down-strea

points were passed in daylight As for the chance round in the dawn, or the

occasional sportsaily enough, but without suspicion Even had they known, I

doubt whether they would have informed on us, for all the world loves

a lover, and these Southerners the

known to adventure and romance

So at last, as the sun rose,the last low marshy points widen,

flatten and recede, and beyond the outlying towers of the lights

caught sight of lazy liners crawling in, and felt the long throb of