Still, they thought it well to again alter the appearance of the raft by removing the tent, and so lengthening the "shanty" as to materially change its aspect.

They also allowed the raft to drift night and day for nearly five hundred miles without a pause.

Then, again feeling safe from pursuit, they tied up just below the City of Alton, Illinois, and prepared to resume their dishonest business.
Their plan of operations was to purchase goods wherever they stopped, but always in such small quantities that for the bills they tendered in payment they received a certain amount of good money in change.

A little farther along they would offer the goods thus accumulated for sale so cheaply that they readily disposed of them.

In this way they not only did a thriving business, but kept up the appearance of being what they claimed to be--"river-traders" and raftsmen.
In this wicked scheme of cheating and stealing, Plater and Grimshaw felt no scruples nor regrets; but with Mr.Gilder, especially after his meeting with Sabella, the case was different.