The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-09
.Fsy fss .fr1<ssax ybsrs.xy.l THE DEVIL IN HIGH WATER
BY rRoF. ]. P. STEELE. MOBILE, ALA.

BY fkOk. J. F. SIkLlk. NcbtLk, ALA.
 offer you rough heading. in order that the heading may be in harmony with the rough story which am going to tell, in a rough kind of way. It is to be true story ofthe grea, Mississippi valley floods of 1883 And from the date, you will infer that am going 10 tell you new story that is. a story which could not possi- bly be old. owing 10 the fact that it's incl dents have bu, recently transpired. So am. IL may be pa, to record as q true story and ne~ story.
 lfyou have been taking the pains to peruse the daily newspapers, you have doubtless learned that the Ohio river has la,ely been on one O. its great ~highs Report gets i, IS having been higher than in the great floods of either iSs, or iSo- higher than ever before known. And now. for wha, the devil had io do with it
 The meddlesome waters had taken possession of the greater portion of the quiet little town of Caseyyllle. and had concluded 10 occupy the houses for q brief season. al leas, and as they and the citizens did no, seem to get along well in the same mess, the latter had struck for the hills. Some had taken their goods and chat,els along with them. while others had scaffo.ded them up on bedsteads. chairs, etc. above what they thought would De the reach of the intruder Among the latter was Deacon Gray. The dcacon's goods were all Jeff Tn his house for the deacon had plenty of friends in the country, and therefore found himself better of than many of his neighbors who had 10 take few things along with them for the purpose ot setting up tenn porary housekeeping.
 An old negro man. by the name of Bob, who once belonged to DcA con Gray. still lived with him. Bob was trus;y old darkey. and So the whole care of the house and the things was gwen over ,o him. 10 remain so during the high waters Bob constructed for himself little water craft. half boa, and hsli canoe. and in ,hIs he made tri-dai!y trips to the home stead. seeing that everything still re- manned above the wa;er-tha, the sashes were dasiy raised. so that the glass might, no; De otoScn by ;he waves. and that ev- ef>,hsns VAS al T. .h, generally.
 eine evening. .3> {; MAS efosing dark. tud inc goo. deacon had lcst nnished saving gtAce e,ef hi> 'ea. .a ru>hed Bob, ".,k hls breath se;nas md .a.as almost as load IS seam ;'a:Ht ] steamboat, and e,es ike ,~o !5eomo:iNc headlights
 IN hal on earth |, lie matter. Ba5 . asked the ae.s n. sp=s.ss.s i4aa; ei h.s ao; ,ea Tn he lap ot the aeao oaess.
 Why. rass4 ard he hAd ,o stop. in oidei th4. Is iec-a tga ,h: have d good chance - iats.e.
 eseak efis. mas. s.ud sle aeaeen. sp,.aEs ,hc res; oi .#s te.s N hats tse matter Ha, the house ;ieatesi a@ay
 Na. asassa verse gor stsf de
 Worse ,haa taa; Why. sha: n ,be name at Moses s..a Ae he iaaitcr
 Worse nor dA. ria>sa. De house } no; done gone. ha;
 bat what:
 De house ae; iane me bu, de ''
 The what. sal with heavy stamp on the fieor
 l,e dcbiis n i;. nassa.'
 Nonsense sad ,he deacon only some of your ,omioo.ery Nha; did you see:
 See Ge debi.. massa.'
 liut hoN Gid he 8ak
 4 and he smell ike bums,one. ot su;iin.'
 M.Hs;one nonsense What "as T Where Was the terrible thing ,o;' ss~ 7"
 "S,aud.r on de bed on your bed. na>sa.
 NJ bed - and the ieaeon turned pale. Nhs; cat.a he want on ,Ny bed :: Nonsense, -! searee ii Aoat shaao~ .'.. venture.
 No. mas>a. When l fas, came to ,.c house smell i.u orunsione oi suffin = ortl. smell, and s bea ! .oaks in sees hin ;~o great b@fntu eyes 1-s;aua and flashing right al r3c.
 shaw Come along, C. go ,e 'he house. I'll so Wi.h yo0 well -oon md ou, Wtsat l;ls- Suppose you sA~ 4 couple of stars through the ~ndoe = N,ih TO lii;,e reluctance, old Bob s.aslcd or return tap. ,o accompany the dea con. Into the i,,le boa inc, both got, ioacing her down a!nos. ,a a ,e,c 2! w.i.. the water an! oa, they pulled ,os ard, tho possessed house. The deacon Wa su,,ng in the bow, and so old Bob fan hiul rlgh; up to ;te alu9o~. and looking ia- he saw sone;.sius, sure cno0gh-,w 0 stea; fiery eyes about as Bab reported Bob saw them. too anG sifaishtway com menced breathing hard.
 N ha; m ,h- name ot tho Lord are you asked the deacon. IT an agEtaied ] tone Of voice. snnfsng a. the s.rong smell which. at that moment, reSckcd him through ,he sIndow The words had scarcely passed h.s lps ere thcse came a reply from within in the fesm Of a louL and uaexrthiy soGndlnx groan. IL was too much for ,ne already worked-up nerves of poor old bob. and sp<fnging to his feet he ieaped into the water as far towards the &oIe is possible. The movement upset he boat and let the deacon also m,o inc wzs-<- As luck would have IL II ~;.s no, ise deep 10 be wAded. only reaching lp ID their shoul- 6ers
 From the r,orerf ;heg were in the va'er neither eern-e io tna anything moFc c. he baa.. b., .c4NN., il to dri.t ~Hither t sisaeo, they Doss plunged |; hrse efx e-ftt thea req, er .Aa pstIs