"We'll burn her
here, tied to this bank on Missouri soil. The river fell during
the night--some inches in all--she's hard aground on the shore."
"Fall in, men!" commanded Dunwody suddenly. "Jamieson, fix up my
leg, the best you can. It'll have to take its chances, for we're
in a hurry. About the paroled men, get them in the rowboats and
set them loose. Get your crippled men off the boat at once,
Jamieson. This couple of prisoners I am going to take home with
me. The rest can go.
"But there's one thing we've forgotten--where's that girl?" He
turned to the northern leader.
"She's below, in the cabin."
"Go get her, Clayton," commanded Dunwody. "We'll have to be quick
now."
Clayton found his way down the narrow companionway and in the
darkness of the unlighted lower deck fumbled for the lock of the
cabin. When he threw open the door he found the interior dimly
lighted by the low window. At first he could make out nothing, but
at last got a glimpse of a figure at the farther side of the little
room.
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