The enquirer southerner., 1874-11-27

Use ones oI our parry salC tne.
shower was spending itselfnorth of
US, but we might get a sprinkling
from its skirts, and the wind was
sure to be troublesome. a ...,. m
Meanwhile we had crossed the
lake and were making our way down
to the landing adjoining, which was
or camp, keeping cloee1n shore to
avoid the couarnotipn of the water
There is popularity in that
lake. The Wild rice, from which it
takes its name, grows over almost
the entire bottom of the basin, and
when at its tallest, the grain lies
floating on the surface of the waser,
and the Indians, when it is ripe,
paddle round and gather it into
their canoes This, however, mikes
navigation to ordinary rowers rath>
er difficult; and where the basin is
particularly. shallow or when the
waters arc agitated by storms the
passage is perilous.
4 soon perceived that Downs and
George Law were by. no means
masters of the situation; and oh,
how l longed for the tried and
tSusty arm Of Harry .Vane to steer
our giddy little skiff. Just then
Harry, who was ahead, called out
to us to make for an isIet, little
way out in the lake, on one side Of
which. there was not much rice, and
which, had been used by the Indians
as a landing place, as 1t sIoped
graduallyinto the water; he said
We had better land there and wait
for the squall to pass over. 7 a-
'The rowers turned the boat to-
ward the iSlet and pushed out yigor>
ously. | meantime holding the
umbrella low like :: tent or awning
hover my own and Nellie Morton S
heads, for now it was raining.
Again Harry called to US to shut
fdown the umbrella, lest it should
catch the wind and upset our skiff,
and the next moment, Downs, who
had not said one word to US girls
since the wind sprung up, snapped
out, Yes, certainly, down with
that umbrella !
'What with u sense Of danger.
and what with sudden consterna-
tion at being spoken to in such a
r"ne and manner. | had no self
command, and in shutting the um-
brella [ somehow lost my balance
and the next instant [ was sinking
in the binding waters.
4 must have risen very quickly,
for the boat was there and | laid
my hand on its side, bntquick as a
fash Downs hand came down on
mine, and though he aftefward said
that he tried to.lay hold Of me tc
assist me, know that he dislodged
my hand. True, [ should have up
set the boat, and just as true he
flung ne off to perish. AS | sank
again, even through the gurgling in
my ears, l heard the voice Of Harry
Vane, Courage, Charlotte, In
coming.
'4gain I rose and again sank
Then | ceAse1 t. Struggle and ths
pain of sufocat.on was gone.
knew that I was dying, and like
electricity all my past life flashed
before me. | had no. terror o
death, but I longed to ask Harry
pardon. Downs | seemed to have
, forgotten. The tall rice was al
about me, and | knew no more anti
a deadly sickness and great pair
! woke me to consciousness. Was j
the gurgling water or human speecl
that rumbled in my ears? l dit
not care; | only wished not to b.
disturbe l-not to suffer.
Slowly my comprehension re
| turned and found myself on a be-
; in the logcabin of the man who KEEP
| the boats on hire, and it was night
; for candles were burning. Some 0
| my companions of the picnic wer
: there, but l was too il! and weary /
) ask questions. .
when next I opened my eyes i
: was daylight and my father all
7 mother were bending over me.
} Suddenly l remembered some
? thing of the drowning and erie
! out, Where is Harry? He said h
1 was coming
They hushed and soothed 70
S and I suppose administered a mar
cotic, for have only faint reco
4 lection of lying ON a bed in a Gov
cred conveyance and of being an
noyed by the jolting.
) 'Ihe next time | awoke my min
8 was clear, recollected all, an
begged to be told how | was saved
2 My friends evaded this question
and my suspicious beng aroused,
n demanded to see Harry Vane
r Finding they could no longer pr
me off, they told me that Harr
a rescued me and swan with me tt
: ward the islet, where one off tn
a boats had just landed. Anothe
J gentleman waded out breast high t
s meet him, and drew me to the shor,
' supposing that Harry was followin!
r But Harry did not follow, and i
the excitement about me he Wa
g not missed until too late. Whethe
S he was exhausted or whether /
took cramp no one could tel
$ This only | know and never sha
!. forget :: Harry Vane was browne
e in saving my life. This also kno,
z I shall live and die Charlotta Gam,