The rose of old St. Louis

CHAPTER I

I MAKE MY BOW IN CAHOKIA

"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft a-gley."

"And this is the village of St. Louis, sir?"

I bowed respectfully to my captain standing in the prow of the boat and looking across an expanse of swirling muddy water to the village on the bluffs beyond. I spoke more after the manner of making p...