"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