Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-09-28
[From the Youths Companion.l
THE LIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE.

I had been travelling all day through
the sparsely settled portion of south
western Louisiana, a country where
great prairies and sea marshes alternate,
with strips or ridges, of woodland. A
desolate region enough, and principally
settled by cattle herders (vachers) who
speak little English.
Z. Towards evening found myself in an
immense prairie with no road through
it, so far as [ could see. Nothing but
little cow-paths, which crossed and re-
crossed each other; network which
was bewildering to stranger who had
only a vague idea of the direction he was
to take.
Far in the distance I could see NOV
ing figure, which [ supposed must be a
horseman. I spurred up my tired horse,
and as the man was riding leisurely, L
elderly man with pleasant face.
Good evening, sir, L said in French.
He replied courteously in the same
language, but added in English, with
keen look atme:
Z" I am an American, sir, and [ think
you are. It's treat to meet any one
who speaks English here in this Creole
settlement"
"You don't seem to have any road in
this country" [ said. &C want to get
to Belle Grove tonight, and only know
the direction to take at least that it lies
due west from the town left at noon.
| Do you know where it is ?"
"You mean Col. Cummings place,
don't you? Well, yes, I ought to know
it, as my mill isn't half mile from Belle
Grove. I'm going there, and am very
glad to have travelling companion.
It's as least ten miles from here, and
we're going to have a stormy night"
pointing with his whip to heavy masses
| of black clouds that were fast covering
the heavens.
els there no place nearer where we
can find shelter ?" I asked feeling rather
uneasy at the ominous hush in the air,
and the gathering blackness.
"No, there is not shelter, within six
or sevon miles. You see, the people
here don't build in the prairies on account
of the difficulty of hauling timber and
wood They huddle together at the
edge of the woodlands, and when we get
there we'er almost at Belle Grove. If
my horse wasn't SO dead beat, we might
move on faster; but yours, with a crit
ical look at my tired animal, ''doesn't
seem to be in better case. Well, we shall
have to take it easy"
81 suppose you couldn't be lost on
this prairie, !" [ asked.
He laughed, 1 thought, uneasily.
"Wen, yes; in the daytime know every
step of the way, but whether I'll go
straight through in storm and dark
ness, I can't say till I've tried. If we
have much lightning is will help me, but
YOU must remember there's not even a
tree, OF hill, for landmark. Don't
look uneasy. I know enough to keep
out of the great sea marsh, which ex-
tends twenty or thirty miles to the gulf,
and I can avoid the Doggy 'coulees.
, The worst that can happen to us will be
to pass the night in the open prairie
Not very pleasant on such a night as
this will be. "
"Well, if L lived in such a country,
[ answered, dismayed at this prospect,
2 6" I'd take great care night should never
catch me on this painless desert"
3 Neither would if I could help it
though who could have dreamed we
l should have rain tonight? Even in
e clear starlight the way is easy to find
NV Youngest child was taken very i'll to
a day, and I've been to the nearest town tt
S get medicine for her. No storm would
d have kept me from getting back to he
!, tonight if possible. But here comes tn
s rain. If you have water proof, get i
Y on"
: The storm burst and night soon close(
It upon us. It was no gradual sprinkle
n increasing IN violence; but the water fel
e in sheets. The wind almost swept III
from our horses, and continuous glar
e of lightning, followed by deafenine
: thunder claps, lit up the dreary seen,
e with a livid light
a The exchange of single word was i'm
n possible, and equally impossible it wa
): to brave this elemental warfare. w
e stopped our horses and waited until tn,
t first violence of the storm was over. Il
: about an hour the wind fell, the light
n ming flashed at long intervals, but tn,
rain still poured.
. owed better go on" said my com
panion. "Pm wet and chilled through
9 and we must feel our way. I'll go aheat
I: and you follow me-"
1 Soon the lightning ceased altogether
= and Mr.. Bruce, as he called himself
= would halt every minute to retrace hi
/ steps from the edge of some dangerOu
: coulee. II was literally feeling his way
/ for he often dismounted to examine bet
3 ter the edges of the little intercourse
which intersected the prairie. It is i'm
: possible to say how long we wandered
2 about at snail's pace, for the rain still
f poured and the darkness was intense
Suddenly he called CUT