I felt no doubt but what this was the stolen keel-boat, speeding toward St.Louis.
Armed, as I believed, with this knowledge that Kirby had actually fled, beyond any possibility of doing us any further injury, I did not hurry my return, but remained for some time on the bluff, watching those rushing waters, and endeavoring to outline some feasible plan for the coming night.

With this final disappearance of the gambler we were left free to proceed, and it seemed to me with no great danger of arousing suspicion, so long as we exercised reasonable precautions.
The girl to all appearances was white; no one would ever question that, particularly as she possessed sufficient intelligence and refinement to thus impress anyone she might meet, If necessary we might travel as man and wife, with Sam as our servant.

Our means of travel would attract no particular attention in that country--the edge of the wilderness; it was common enough.

This struck me as the most reasonable course to pursue--to work our way quietly up the Illinois by night, keeping close in shore to avoid any passing steamer, until we arrived close to Beardstown.

There, if necessary, we might begin our masquerade, but it need not be a long one.