The Lure of the Mississippi

el had aroused a train

ed the loading of the guns and the embarking of the soldiers and had heard the pressing orders of the keen,

enly become a fearful reality. Fortunately, these big guns were not going to Vic

that during the previous winter their own State, Mississippi, had left the Union, and that Alabama, Georgia, Flor

except the carpenters and engineers, who were still wo

uzzle of national events to more personal problems,

ry good man, who lived on a large plantation, and had many slaves? Why had he and Tim never visited th

n was their cousi

terious about Cousin Hicks. He didn't try to make a farm. He had bought no farm horses nor oxen like the other settlers. He had only planted a little corn and a few potatoes and beans and he let the b

ate? Tim had often been sick at Vicksburg, but now he was as strong and active as any sm

ning!" echoed over the flooded valley. It seemed to Bill that he had slept only a five minutes, although it was now full daylight. The ruddy sheen of the rising

because the wood-yards were flooded and much of the cord-wood piled

ectation of the artillerymen, the boat did reach the Fort Snelling landi

n any turn-bridges in those days, they would not have had to open for her. Only six feet

try would not s

hull and engi

r," replied Ca

aylight," he ordered. "You c

road cars. Col. John E. Pemberton accompanied his men to Washington,

Snelling, and stayed a few days at Snelling and St. Paul

over the State men were responding to the call of President Lincoln. Hundreds of men were encamped in tents and rapidly constructed shacks, because the old st

ver front two dozen boats were hastily loading and unloading. Mixed with the excited white people were a number of silen

anny Harris had deserted the boat at Fort Snelling, because they were afraid if they w

of the words of the officer, in regard to Vicksburg, while Barker and Black Buffalo were turning over in their minds the looks and the talk of the S

pecially seemed

ne on the rear deck after dinner, while the boys were watching immense flocks o

ions and behavior. He does nothing for the boys. He talks of finding a good squatter's homestead for the

Indians and bad white men. I do not like him; he is a bad man. He sells rum to the Indian

s on him. He means to d

conceal his own fears and the anxiety he had often felt a

lo; "there is something strange about him.

, "his words do not tell

down and the boat tied up near the present town o

e two boys and their friends went out in two small b

hes. The boys had no guns and had just gone along to watch the fun and to bring in the ducks wh

" Tim cried. "He is sitting on a

d that the rabbit did not try

ead," s

Bill, "I see his nose

stump and the rabbit had eaten it a

prise, for nestled under his fur they discovered a black meadow mou

p," and Bill took him off and placed him under the rabbit, who

vely than the one on the stump. They ran about in a most puzzling zigzag fashion and one even tried to swim across a channe

and was alive with black meadow-mice; there were hundreds of them. Every tuf

s row back to the boat and ge

fool me," he came back. "Don't you think I know that these wild mi

ys long to decide what

ish. "We would have as much fun with them

ry day or let them out, and if we let them out, they will eat up our garden a

rabbits became lively at once. They hopped out of the boat and, true to their instinc

e excited about this new way of

nimal in it!"

e it's a skunk. If you catch a sku

m. "It's a gray animal. It'

other to look out for the coon's teeth and claws, Tim had grabbed the creature b

Doesn't he look funny, peep

and starved. Let us take him to the

at!" Tim shouted as they approa

d them. "Give him a piece of duck-meat.

oused it in the water in the boat, devoured it greedily and bega

ash his meat?"

hem. "You give him a piece of fresh pie, and

ashbear,' on account of his peculiar habits. I had a tame

you watch hi

aughed, "he's always in some mischief.

ach Fort Ridgely the boys had plenty of

apper told them. "When the Confederates see that

ht at Vicksbur

'll soon fix it all up at Washingt

ll at Vicksburg," Tim remarked,

rs think," the trapper admitted, "bu

uzzled by the war between t

outh," he asked, "just as the Chippewas from

he South want to keep their black slaves, and they wish to have a

e Fort Ridgely landing, the boys were glad to get off the boat, bu

Vicksburg," Tim whispered to

k to-night, and if your cousin is at home, I'll have a visit and a talk with him. Don't