The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-08-14


with the other. The remainder OF the par
I " thought his horse had SHE'D and run
away with him, but | saw thoroughly the
whole maneuycr. and sudden pang shot
/ through my selfish heart.
Ion reaching the lake at the point
agreed upon. we separated into little COM
panies. and wandered about al Will. but
I Keeping within the vicinity of the camp I'M
iii the horn sounded for dinner. We
were all. as l. usual az picnicS, in y hungry
mood. and we did not dine mincingly.
After dinner We lOled about on the
I grass for awhile, then formed plans Tor
/ the afternoons campaign. There were
near by several canoes or row-boats that
were kept for hire. and a fair proportion OF
our band decided in favor OF an excursion
on the lake, some parties going in one
direction. some in another. The boats
would accommodate only four persons
each. the rowers and two other. Three
boat-loads. twelve individuals. IN all, deter
mined 10 pay visit 10 the tower on the
opposite shore of the lake. and about three
miles further up. A we divided ourselves
into parties of four. felt an irrepressible
desire 10 have Harry Nane. who had de-
clared for the tower. i'm our boat, so called
cut:
Harry you are coming with ns 2 meaR-
ing by Us, Downs and myself.
= shall never forget that look of min
gled pain and pleasure with which he re
piled. No. Charlotte: George Law is
quartered in your boat
:. Ii was 800 o'clock when we landed
near the tower and drew the boat up on
the beach. This tower was an octagon
building three or four stories in height,
consisting. of only one room TO each story.
with narrow spiral staircase leading from
base TO summit. Al the top was an OBJ
servatory not much larger than good
sized bird-cage. which had once been fur
nished with a small telescope mounted ON
a swivel. but was now reduced 10 very
commonplace spy-glass. The basement
was a deep. dungeon-like hole, witt
subterranean passage leading out to the
shore III the lake. This tower. with its
lean-to kitchen. or. rather, cook-house,
was built on hill at the distance of about
200 yards from the waters edge. and it was
the product Of Quixotic Englishman, an
old bachelors fancy. The whimsical man
did not carry out his original intention OF
making a complete miniature castle of the
feudal times, but suddenly abandoned the
enterprise. and went as he came. nobody
knew whittier. This odd little tower had
been surrounded on all sides, save the deep
bank next the water. by a diminutive
moat. which was now a dry ditch filled
with weeds and wild flowers; there. too.
was the wreck of a toy-like drawbridge,
and within the inclOsure were several
quaint-loOking garden-chairs cut into the
stumps of trees. There was family resid-
ing in the house. at least they made il an
occasional residence during the summer.
but that day they were absent, and the
Il II.
over the premises.
I'VE stole down by the light of Ian
tern through the underground passage to
the opening on the lake; we climbed the
steep stairs and peepea through the old
spy-glass. sat in the grotcsque chairs. and
gathered bouquets from the quOndam moat.
All these vagaries consumed so much time
that. before we were aware. the sun was
going down the westward slope in a way
that. when we noticed il. sent us 10 our
boats with speed. We We're soon gliding
over the water in iovial spirits and at a fair
rate Of motion toward the camping-place
on the shore next home. The three boats
kept near together. and as we went we
sang Tom Moore's Canadian boat-song.
Just as our voices were ringing out:
" Row, brothers, row, for the stream runs fast.
The rapids are near and the daylight is passed.
"A tuu0tn DTttLt dlIilO>l lOOk the iiEil uili-
brella with which | was screening myself
and companion from the sun and wind
1--WE had left our bonnets at the camp) out
of my hand. The breeze subsidized for
moment. then came again more vigorously
than before. and held on steadily. Gener-
ally or frequently a stiff breeze rises on
those lakes about or soon after sunset. bat
now the sun was certainly half an hour
high. Sudden squalls. especially when
thunder-clouds are lowering near. accom-
panied by dangerous disturbance Of the
water. are unpleasantly often the concom-
itants Of boating on those shallow lakes.
Looking around the horizon. we dis
covered the canse of the suddenly rising
wind. A heavy pile of black clouds COM
ing up behind us in the northwest were
spreading themselves along the northern
horizon. and extending upward almost To
the zenith andat the same time we began
to hear the thunder mutter, and see the
lightning play, though not very near.
The weather-wise ones OF our party said
the shower was spending itself north of
us. but we might get sprinkling from its
skirts, and the wind was sure to be trouble
some.
Meanwhile we had crossed the lake,
and were making our way Down to the
landing adjoining. which was our camp,
keeping close in shore to avoid the com
motion of the water.
There is a popularity in that lake.
The wild rice. from which ii takes its
name. grows over almost the entire bot
tom of the basin. and when at its tallest
the grain lies floating on the surface of the
water. and the Indians. when il Is ripe.
paddle round and gather IL into their ca
noes. This. however. makes navigation
to ordinary rowers rather difficult. and
where the basin is particularly shallow, or
when the waters are agitated by s,orms.
the passage Is perilous.
II soon perceived that Downs and
George Law were BY no means masters of
the situation; and oh how | longed for