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the feverish haste of speed and exertion。
The boat trembled； vibrated； and shook with every stroke of the
ponderous piston。 The laughter of the crowd； the exchange of
gossip and news； the banquet at the long table； the newspapers and
books in the reading…room； even the luxurious couches in the
staterooms； were all dominated； thrilled； and pulsating with the
perpetual throb of the demon of hurry and unrest。 And when at last
a horrible fascination dragged him into the engine room； and he saw
the cruel relentless machinery at work； he seemed to recognize and
understand some intelligent but pitiless Moloch； who was dragging
this feverish world at its heels。
Later he was seated in a corner of the hurricane deck； whence he
could view the monotonous banks of the river； yet； perhaps by
certain signs unobservable to others； he knew he was approaching
his own locality。 He knew that his cabin and clearing would be
undiscernible behind the fringe of willows on the bank； but he
already distinguished the points where a few cottonwoods struggled
into a promontory of lighter foliage beyond them。 Here voices fell
upon his ear； and he was suddenly aware that two men had lazily
crossed over from the other side of the boat； and were standing
before him looking upon the bank。
〃It was about here； I reckon；〃 said one； listlessly； as if
continuing a previous lagging conversation； 〃that it must have
happened。 For it was after we were making for the bend we've just
passed that the deputy； goin' to the stateroom below us； found the
door locked and the window open。 But both menJack Despard and
Seth Hall； the sheriffweren't to be found。 Not a trace of 'em。
The boat was searched； but all for nothing。 The idea is that the
sheriff； arter getting his prisoner comf'ble in the stateroom； took
off Jack's handcuffs and locked the door； that Jack； who was mighty
desp'rate； bolted through the window into the river； and the
sheriff； who was no slouch； arter him。 Others allowfor the
chairs and things was all tossed about in the stateroomthat the
two men clinched THAR； and Jack choked Hall and chucked him out；
and then slipped cl'ar into the water himself； for the stateroom
window was just ahead of the paddle box； and the cap'n allows that
no man or men could fall afore the paddles and live。 Anyhow； that
was all they ever knew of it。〃
〃And there wasn't no trace of them found？〃 said the second man；
after a long pause。
〃No。 Cap'n says them paddles would hev' just snatched 'em and
slung 'em round and round and buried 'em way down in the ooze of
the river bed； with all the silt of the current atop of 'em； and
they mightn't come up for ages； or else the wheels might have
waltzed 'em way up to Sacramento until there wasn't enough left of
'em to float； and dropped 'em when the boat stopped。〃
〃It was a mighty fool risk for a man like Despard to take；〃 resumed
the second speaker as he turned away with a slight yawn。
〃Bet your life！ but he was desp'rate； and the sheriff had got him
sure！ And they DO say that he was superstitious； like all them
gamblers； and allowed that a man who was fixed to die by a rope or
a pistol wasn't to be washed out of life by water。〃
The two figures drifted lazily away； but Morse sat rigid and
motionless。 Yet； strange to say； only one idea came to him clearly
out of this awful revelationthe thought that his friend was still
true to himand that his strange absence and mysterious silence
were fully accounted for and explained。 And with it came the more
thrilling fancy that this man was alive now to HIM alone。
HE was the sole custodian of his secret。 The morality of the
question； while it profoundly disturbed him； was rather in
reference to its effect upon the chances of Captain Jack and the
power it gave his enemies than his own conscience。 He would rather
that his friend should have proven the proscribed outlaw who
retained an unselfish interest in him than the superior gentleman
who was coldly wiping out his gratitude。 He thought he understood
now the reason of his visitor's strange and varying moodseven his
bitter superstitious warning in regard to the probable curse
entailed upon one who should save a drowning man。 Of this he
recked little； enough that he fancied that Captain Jack's concern
in his illness was heightened by that fear； and this assurance of
his protecting friendship thrilled him with pleasure。
There was no reason now why he should not at once go back to his
farm； where； at least； Captain Jack would always find him； and he
did so； returning on the same boat。 He was now fully recovered
from his illness； and calmer in mind； he redoubled his labors to
put himself in a position to help the mysterious fugitive when the
time should come。 The remote farm should always be a haven of
refuge for him； and in this hope he forbore to take any outside
help； remaining solitary and alone； that Captain Jack's retreat
should be inviolate。 And so the long； dry season passed； the hay
was gathered； the pasturing herds sent home； and the first rains；
dimpling like shot the broadening surface of the river； were all
that broke his unending solitude。 In this enforced attitude of
waiting and expectancy he was exalted and strengthened by a new
idea。 He was not a religious man； but； dimly remembering the
exhortations of some camp meeting of his boyhood； he conceived the
idea that he might have been selected to work out the regeneration
of Captain Jack。 What might not come of this meeting and communing
together in this lonely spot？ That anything was due to the memory
of the murdered sheriff； whose bones were rotting in the trench
that he daily but unconcernedly passed； did not occur to him。
Perhaps his mind was not large enough for the double consideration。
Friendship and loveand； for the matter of that； religionare
eminently one…ideaed。
But one night he awakened with a start。 His hand； which was
hanging out of his bunk； was dabbling idly in water。 He had barely
time to spring to his middle in what seemed to be a slowly filling
tank before the door fell out as from that inward pressure； and his
whole shanty collapsed like a pack of cards。 But it fell outwards；
the roof sliding from over his head like a withdrawn canopy； and he
was swept from his feet against it； and thence out into what might
have been another world！ For the rain had ceased； and the full
moon revealed only one vast； illimitable expanse of water！ It was
not an overflow； but the whole rushing river magnified and repeated
a thousand times； which； even as he gasped for breath and clung to
the roof； was bearing him away he knew not whither。 But it was
bearing him away upon its center； for as he cast one swift glance
toward his meadows he saw they were covered by the same sweeping
torrent； dotted with his sailing hayricks and reaching to the
wooded foothills。 It was the great flood of '54。 In its awe…
insp