ven Knox."

I felt the firm, strong grip of the other's hand, and looked straight
into his dark eyes. They were like a mask. While, indeed, they seemed
to smile in friendly greeting, they yet remained expressionless, and I
was glad when the gripping fingers released mine. The face into which
I looked was long, firm-jawed, slightly swarthy, a tightly-clipped
black moustache shadowing the upper lip. It was a reckless face, yet
appeared carved from marble.

"Exceedingly pleased to meet you," he said carelessly. "Rather a dull
lot on board--miners, and such cattle. Bound for St. Louis?"

"Yes--and beyond."

"Shall see more of you then. Well, Judge, how do you feel? Carver and
McAfee are waiting for us down below."

The two disappeared together down the ladder, and I was again left
alone in my occupancy of the upper deck.

CHAPTER III

HISTORY OF THE BEAUCAIRES

The first two days and nights of the journey southward were devoid of
any special interest or adventure. The lonely river, wrapped in the
silence of the wilderness, brought to me many a picture of loveliness,
yet finally the monotony of it all left the mind drowsy with
repetition. Around each tree-crowned bend we swept, skirting shores so
similar as to scarcely enable us to realize our progress. In spite of
the fact that the staunch little _Warrior_ was proceeding down stream,
progress was slow because of the unmarked channel, and the ever-present
danger of encountering snags. The intense darkness and fog of the
first night compelled tying up for several hours. The banks were low,
densely covered with shrubbery, and nothing broke the sameness of the
river scene, except the occasional sight of an Indian canoe skimming
across its surface. Towns there were none, and seldom even a sign of a
settlement greeted the eye on either shore. The only landings were
made at Yellow Banks, where there was a squalid group of log huts, and
Fort Madison, where I spent a pleasant hour with the officers of the
garrison. Occasionally the boat warped in against the bank to
replenish its exhausted supply of wood, the crew attacking the
surrounding trees with axes, while the wearied passengers exercised
their cramped limbs ashore. Once, with some hours at our disposal, we
organized a hunt, returning with a variety of wild game. But most of
the time I idled the hours away alone.

No one aboard really attracted my companionship. The lead miners were
a rough