The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-10-01
From the Youths Companion.I
THE LIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE.

| had been travelling all day through
the sparsely settled portion of south
western Louisiana, n 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.
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 bewlldering to a stranger who had
| only n vague idea of the direction he was
| to take.
| Far in the distance [ could see q NOV
ing figure, which | supposed must be q
horseman. [ spurred up my tired horse,
! and as the man was riding leisurely, !
soon overlook him. He was a grave,
! elderly man with a pleasant face.
Good evening, sir, L said In French.
He replied courteously in the same
language, but added in English, with a
| keen look atme:
Sc | am an American, sir, and [ think
you are. It's a 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. 81 want to get
to Belle Grove tonight, and only know
/ the direction to take; at least that it lies
due west from the town l left at noon.
| Do you know where it is "
"You mean Col. Cummings place,
don't you? Well, yes, ought to know
| it, as my mill isn't half mile from Belle
Grove. I'm going there, and am very
glad to have a 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 asked feeling rather
uneasy at the ominous hush in the air,
and the gathering blackness.
Ono, there is not a shelter, within sly
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. L
| LILY uOISt WISH L 81 Ctcttd Dctt, We ulISu
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 Oh
! this prairie, [ asked.
He laughed, [ thought, uneasily
"Well, yes; in the daytime L know every
step of the way, but whether III &C
straight through in storm and dark
ness, can't say till I've tried. If W.
have much lightning is will help me, bu
you must remember there's not even {
tree, or mil, for n landmark. Don
look uneasy. | know enough to keel
out of the great sea marsh, which ex
tends twenty or thirty miles to the gulf
and l can avoid the Doggy 'coulees.
The woIst that can happen to us will be
to pass the night i'll the open prairie
Not very pleasant on such night al
this will be-"
"Well, if I lived in such a country,
[ answered, dismayed at this prospect
I'D take great care night should never
catch me on this painless desert"
"Neither would | if | could help it
though who could have dreamed W.
/ SIlbulNt HAVE Idtlll ILNNll III
clear starlight the way is easy to find
My youngest child was taken very i'll to
day, and I've been to the nearest town t.
get medicine for her. No storm would
have kept me from getting back to he
tonight if possible. But here comes tn,
rain. II you have a waterproof, get /
on"
The storm burst and night soon CLOSED
upon us. 1t was no gradual sprinkle
increasing in violence; but the water fel
in sheets. The wind almost swept IL
from our horses. and a continuous glar
of lightning, followed by deafeninG
thunder claps, lit up the dreary seen,
with a livid light.
The exchange of a single word was i'm
possible. and equally impossible 1t wa
to brave this elemental warfare. w
stopped our horses and waited until th
first violence of the storm was over. l.
about an hour the wind fell, the light
ming flashed at long intervals, but til
rain still poured.
"We'd better go on, said my com
panion. I'm wet and chilled through
and we must feel our way. I'll so ahea
and you follow me"
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. 1t WAS literally feeling his way
. for he often dismounted 10 examine be
ter the edges of the little water-courst
, which intersected the prairie. 1t is in
/; possible to say how long we wandere
! about at a snai's pace, for the rain sti
\ poured and the darkness was intens'
: Suddenly he called OUT
"Look to the right. Do you see
light"
! At great distance tiny star OF lst
Y was visible-a mere luminous point.
g "Its an iqnTs fatints, a will-of-th
x wisp, isn't it - said.
E "No, it's too stationary. | declare,
:, believe we're actually turned round al
= that's the Widow Mansell's lamp. FL
miles out of our way, and the great sa
\ marsh not half a mile off If we had g
+. In it. we never could have got out ivin
Well, well, to think that we were almo
in the lions jaws in spite of my boas
to We must make for that light. Y
|. shall soon strike a light ridge now, f