"You _love_ him? This is the silliest tale I ever heard. Let us go out
and breathe the fresh air. Absurd! Do you fancy he loves you?"

"He has written me one letter of love--here it is."

Lucrece drew a tiny note from her bosom and went with Evaleen near
the prow of the barge to take the evening breeze. The first pale stars
were barely visible in the clear sky.

Lucrece unfolded the missive, and held it up in the dim light, but
she did not know that tears were blinding Evaleen's eyes.

"Sometime, Lucrece, but not now, I will tell you a story of foolish
love to match your own. We are all alike, and we all hope against
reason."

"No; there is no reason, no wisdom, no prudence--only love. Yes, yes,
something more, as I see the only star that shines there above the
dark trees, and seems to die and live again while we look at it. I see
the hope that my soldier loves me and will be faithful."

On the sixth day after leaving the mouth of the Ohio, the boat had
passed the third Chickasaw Bluff, and was within fifty miles of
Natchez, when blue-black clouds suddenly overcast the sky, and a
violent storm burst upon the river. Buffeted by opposing forces, the
Mississippi soon began to fume and rage like a wrathful brute. The
three passengers were on deck.

"How wicked the river looks under this indigo sky!" said Evaleen. "I
wish we were ashore. There must be extreme danger in such a high
wind."

"There is always danger on the Mississippi, but such gusts soon blow
over. We are safer in midstream than near shore. I'll manage the boat,
never fear. You and Miss Deville had best go into the cabin before the
rain comes upon us."

The girls had scarcely found shelter when a volley of big drops swept,
rattling, over the deck. Soon the waves rose so high as to bury the
running board of the barge. The cotton-wood trees along the shore were
twisted and torn up; blinding spray and rain filled the dark air. The
captain saw his vessel in danger of drifting upon a wooden island, and
could not decide whether to steer to the right or to the left of the
obstruction. Voices from the eastern bank of the river were heard,
shouting through the storm.

"Sheer clear of the island! This is the safe channel! Row in close to
this side! There's a bayou here!"

Winslow could not see the men who gave this warning, but he was
relieved. The halloo and answering shouts were heard by Lucrece and
Evaleen. Regardless of advice, and wind, and rain, they