"Of course he might have been inside the 'shanty'
when I was aboard, though I can't see how he got there, nor why he
should join a strange raft anyway," argued the young man. "At any
rate, it's my business to find out whether or not he is aboard it now.
How about using the skiff, though? If it is the one Winn ran off with,
it belongs to that Sheriff fellow. Like as not, he has already sent
word down the river to have it picked up. In that case, if I was
picked up in it, I might be accused of stealing it, which would never
do in the world. No; to be on the safe side I must leave the skiff
here, and take the first down-river steamboat that stops at this
landing. First, though, I'll advertise for Winn in this town, and if I
don't find him on the raft, there may be news waiting for me here when
I come back."
This was the plan upon which the young engineer decided to act, and
immediately after breakfast he proceeded to put it into execution.
There was no paper published in the place, but it did contain a
makeshift sort of a printing-office, and towards this Billy Brackett
directed his steps, after learning at what hour the next down-river
boat was expected. Here he spent some time in composing a small
circular, of which he ordered five hundred copies to be struck off, and
distributed broadcast.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141