Late in the evening the boat swung out into the river, and disclosed a strange scene of transformation to the puzzled captain of a few hours ago. The riverbank was lined with canvas shelters, illumined dully by the tent-lights within till they looked like a nest of glowworms in deep grass. A long, hoarse blast of good wishes rose from the steamer, then she sighed her way around the point above bearing forth the message that a new camp had been born.
CHAPTER X
MEADE BURRELL FINDS A PATH IN THE MOONLIGHT
"No Creek" Lee had come into his own at last, and was a hero, for the story of his long ill-luck was common gossip now, and men praised him for his courage. He had never been praised for anything before and was uncertain just how to take it.
"Say, are these people kiddin' me?" he inquired, confidentially, of Poleon.
"W'y? Wat you mean?"
"Well, there's a feller makin' a speech about me down by the landing."
"Wat he say?"
"It ain't nothin' to fight over. He says I'm another Dan'l Boom, leadin' the march of empire westward."