The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-21
Adventure on the Prairies.

leans for Jackson Springs, MISSISSIPPI.
To reach the place l crossed the Lake
POnchartrain by steamer to Madison
Vile; from thence | proceeded to Coy
ngton. here met an old acquaintance
by the name OF Hamilton. He would
insist upon my staying at his house a
day or TWO, observing There is no one
leaving Tor the Springs, and il you want
company it may be several days before
YOU can expect any" ~ don't want
company, L want horse, so get me one
by day after tomorrow, for then l shall
leave"
II would advise you not to so alone"
"Why?"
"Simply because there is a band OF
| robbers located on the line OF tue Mis-
sissippi, and they not unireouently eX-
tend their depredations WITHIN lew
miles Of the Springs"
| "RObbers! you surprise me, but L shall
leave early i'll the morning, and expect
| to reach the Springs before night"
True, Tor it is not likely they will a.
| tack travellers openly"
| must confess l felt little uneasy
not through fear, but the idea Of being
| detained-mOre particularly as my
| business was OF very important nd
| ture.
Hamilton had secured for me a very
| fine horse, and having Il good revolver
| started from COYlngt0n imme ediately
| after breakfast. 1t was lovely morn =
ing, the vast prairie spread Itself for
miles before me, aud through its lillipu-
Ilan forest, rode gayly on. | say gayly,
for my spirits were joyous, land the music
! ic Of hummlng insects as they f1lCCed o'er
the prairie added materially TO my
eXnilaration. There is silence resting
DER the prairies Of sucl intensity, that
| ii iU were not broAen occasionally by
some hulnmlng sound, or The hum OF
Wild bees, IL would be uEbearable. Far
as the eye could reach there was the
| same uniform. underwood growth, the
same height Of weeds aud grass, the
same mOnOtony of scenery, the same
Iduli sound OF eX lauSted insects as tney
| lignted on some scentless plant. L had
brought with me what is c lied a lunch,
and as the sun was now pouring down
its rays III rather oppressive terms, L
selected out some nat shaded place
10 Ell joy the travellers luxury, a re-
past.
1t was about4 o'clock 2. NJ. when /
had reached within ten miles of the
Springs, that raising my eyes, l saw at
a cons Iderable distance before me a SOL
itary horseman. lie had just come out
from cluster of stunteu trees, halted
for Il moment, and III the next disa,-
peared. There vas nothing strange in
this, as his business, as well as mine
may nave called HIM over the prairie.
At any event he was gone. l soon
reached the place where L lost sight OF
him, but no traces of his Whereabouts
were discoverabie. rode on and soon
forgot tue incident. l now approached
a different phase in the scenery. Trees,
surrounded with low snruDbery, and
mos covered, rose up before me, and
through sort OF opening, evidently
made by cutting down and removing
the Drusnwoou, | saw Il house, or ratI
er a succession OF sheds, presenting the
appearance OF condensed village.
There were five chimney anu tive sheds;
one. the center, was evidently the dwell
ing another stable or clubhouse, tor
| the distance was too great Tor me TO dis
| tingllish them. ~ certalnly presented d
strange appearHnce-more particularly,
so OUT OF the way, and remote from any
other nabitaLiOn. The road l observed
| did not pass the house, but making u
sudden turn lett 1T considerable dis
tance to the right. | spurred my horse
IAud-noW strange is lie, how often the
most uifling thing leads Us TO happiness
or deatu-how otten the loss OF nail or
entirely useless, OF a fall from his back
leave you insensiDle on the ground.
These are the accidents no 1oreJhoug1t
can avert, no Calculation avoid. The
moment applied the spur to my horse
he started back, struck large stone
tnat lay in the road. and fell heavily to
the ground. Ills leg was sprained.
What was to do? Before l could an
swer myself the question, boy came
down from the mouse. "ls he much
hurt, sir ?'' ne asked.
II am afraid he is. Can be furnished
win u s gableW
20, yes, we have plenty Of stable
ROOM"
"Any horses, for l shall want one"
The boy hesitated, looked around, as
if apprehensiVe ol Deihg heafd, as ne an
swered: .... ...,
eve have plenty Of horses, but they
are all out"
"Who was that man who rode up few
moments before me"
There was no man, sir"
"Boy, you can not deceive me, you saw
him" ......
80, yes, that is master"
"Where is her?
"Gone on to jackson Springs"
"Wno is in the uOuse?'
"Why do you question the boyW eX-
claimed rough voice.
| turned quickiv round-there stood
belore me as r0ugha d specimen or Ell-
mainly us L ever gazed upon. lie was
az least SIX IeeU hlgp; broad across the
shoulders, with arms that looked as if
tAey were plated ropes, for lie was IN
his shirt sleeves. To the question re-
Piled: ... ..t-....g ...4.,
"My horse is. lamed,. and l was ask
ing the boy If there was a probability of
my getting one to carry me on TO The
springs" .......,..,...
But you asked him questions about
VINO was III the house" .....
'Certatlly, Tor l,expeeted more infor-
nation from its inmates than likely TO
be learned lrom the boy. 1 am anxious
10 proceed" ............ ...
1--WE have no horses, and it is now too
late o proceed, ior you nave at least ten
mites, anu rough road ere you reach
the springs. Come in ahu remain over
nlgH l your morse is no better then,
wny we Will see what cln be done.
COME in. An! i see, we must lead The
horse. WAY, this horse beloDgs to Joe
Ia'niiton." ....
"Ics, bired him at CoyingtQn."
"he wIil make you pay for laming him;
this AnRhal is worth two hundred dol
Iarsp