d the scene of the tragedy
immediately--without even pausing long enough to turn his companion
over to ascertain the nature of his wound. Had something occurred to
frighten him? Had the fellow fled alone back to a waiting boat at the
shore, perchance seriously injured himself in the melee, or had he
secured the two women, and, reckless as to all else, driven them along
with him to some place of concealment until they could be transported
down the river? Nothing could answer these questions; no discovery
enabled me to lift the veil. Uncertain what to do, or how to act, I
could only return to the waiting girl and the negro to tell them what I
had found.

They listened as though scarcely comprehending, Sam uttering little
moans of horror, and appearing helpless from fright, but Rene quiet,
merely exhibiting her emotion in the whiteness of her face and
quickened breathing. Her eyes, wide-open, questioning, seemed to sense
my uncertainty. As I ended the tale and concluded with my theory as to
what had occurred following the deed of blood, her quick mind asserted
itself.

"But this must have happened very lately; the men were not long dead?"

"I cannot judge how long; their bodies were cold."

"Yet the fire still smouldered, you said. When do you think that
steamer could have landed here?"

"Why, perhaps early last evening."

"And it has not occurred to you that the boat might have waited here
while the man Kirby went ashore?"

"No; that could scarcely be true, if the steamer was transporting
troops; what was it you were thinking about?"

She buried her face in her hands; then lifted it once more to mine,
with a new conviction in her eyes.

"It is all dark, of course," she said slowly, "we can only guess at
what happened. But to me it seems impossible that the man Kirby could
have accomplished all this alone--without assistance. The boat we saw
at the landing was not his; it must have been Pete's, and there is no
evidence of any other trail leading here from the river. If, as you
imagine, he knew the captain of that steamer, and some of the other men
aboard were Missourians and defenders of slavery, he would have no
trouble in enlisting their help to recover his runaway slaves. They
would be only too glad to break up an abolitionist's nest. That is
what I believe has happened; they came ashore in a party, and the
steamer waited for them. Even if it was a troop boat, the captain
could easily make excus