The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-12-21

4 ana lnperlillnS their lives.
l "Hallo, Yakie; halo, Libbie! You a
koot fays fom home; amt it2" was En-
NETS greeting as the lads came up, each
4 staggering under a back-load of sacks.
"We've been a good deal further'n
! this more'n once" said Jake, "and
we've got to go clear round the lake'n
drive the COWS home yit tonight.
They're away over yonder," pointing
across the lake, "where the wild rice
grows long the edge, and pas gone to
town"
est you ride town on tenn packs
t'ere," said Emmett, ''unt rest yo' lecks,
unit 1 feel let Comet rest, too. l did
tink meppe as 1 cOot flemish tot
plowin' Ply night time, put 1 ton't know
| Off 1 ken to ut"
And then, seated on the plow-beam
he talked pleasantly with the boys for
few minutes, then, telling them that he
would carry the sacks to the house when
he turned out, babe them ''look out unit
not ket lost cen TEN tall krasses"-tail
grass-as they trudged sturdily away
toward the upper end of the lake.
The lads had been gone from the field
about half an hour when Emmett noted
with alarm that the smoke which had
pervaded the air all day had thickened,
until now the sun was almost clouded
over, showing only a dull red disk. The
smell of burning grass had grown more
pungent.
His fears were aroused wholly on ac-
count of the two boys who had gone to
the other side of the lake. The field in
which he was at work lay upon the south
side of the hill upon which his shanty
stood, shutting off the view to north and
west, from whence the wind was blow
ing.
He unhitched Comet at once, and
drove him at trot to the top of the
hill.
No sooner had he reached the crest
than he saw cause enough for alarm. Not
two miles away to the northwest dense
volumes of smoke were rising and rolling
forward over a broad stretch of prairie.
A big prairie fire was sweeping down at a
tremendous rate of speed, the ''head fire"
lining out directly toward the head of tie
| lake.
What could he do to save those two
boys? was the young Norwegian's first
thought. They must be even at that
moment, he thought, we'll round the head
of the lake, wading through the tall grass
of the fiat. There was no bank to the
lake upon that side; wild rice and tall
rushes grew far out into the water, and
this swamp growth would burn to its
very edge. He could not race with the
fire on foot, and he doubted if even a
horse would be able to outstrip it, but he
instantly resolved to make the trial with
Comet. -
He had frequently ridden the big fell
low, who had become as docile and
obedient as dog, to and from the field,
having and geeing him about at will.
i, Now, if possible, he would ride the fleet
footed steed to some purpose. To throw
off the yoke and harness, tie rope around
the animals body to cling to, and another
to either horn to serve as reins, was thu
work of minute; then, whip in hand
Emmett mounted and was off.
Comet, feeling few singing blows o
the whip, broke away at his swiftest trot
Although his gait had more than ono
defiedthc best trotters of the settlement
the big steer could hold it with ease TO
length of time that seemed incredible
In fact, as had been proved when Come
ran wild among the settlement herds, tn
animal was as nearly tireless as flesh ant
blood could be.
But it was rough ride, and Emme
was obliged to cling tightly with on
hand to the girth-ropc, while managin:
reins and whip with the other.
The whip, however, was mot needed
and the rider had only to yelk eli! Hi!
m Iyne,, tbn ctaar fvipO or b;st hest srait