Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-09-13
THE PRAIRIE SCOUT.

them part of Iowa, meaning to
strike the Missouri where the great
Indian mounds are. | followed the
Blue Earth River two days, dis
tance of a hundred miles, and after
this ! traversed track of uneven
bluff. On the fourth day | entered
on vast prairie, and had it not
been for the sun, | should have
needed compass. | had compass,
however, having been advised by
those who knew, never to travel
over these regions without one. |
had seen prairie land before, but
this was the first time had seen
one literally boundless to the sight,
save by the horizon. My course
was now south-southwest, and at
ter stopping a few minutes to gaze
upon the strange scene, | started
on. My horse was powerful one,
and he seemed to be a very know
ing one, too, for ! am sure he stop
ped twice of his own accord for me
to consider whether | was right or
not.
BY twelve o'clock, noon, was to
have reached camp; but noon
came, and no camp was i'll sight.
Could | have missed the way? |
looked at the sun, and was sure !
was right. While | was thus con-
sidering, ] noticed sort of break
in the tall grass short distance to
my left, and having reached it, [
found it to be the place where there
had been a camp. Of course | UNI
derstood the matter now. The
camp | was to have found had
broken up, and | must guess my
way, for I had only been directed
to this point, having been left to
obtain the rest of my information
here But ! spent not much time
in thought. | knew nearly the
direction of the mounds, and know
ing that ! must strike the Missouri
somewhere, kept on in the same
course until my watch told me it
was four o'clock; and ! was on the
point of stopping to let my horse
rest, when my eye detected a clump
of trees a little to my right.
knew it must be one of those oasis
sometimes met with in these vast
prairies, and at once turned my
horses head towards it. The noble
animal knew my intent well, for he
pricked up his ears and started into
a swift gallop. When ! reached
the oasis, | found it to be small
rocky elevation, containing some
seven or eight acres, and thickly
wooded, and what was more pleas
ing still, ! saw a curl of smoke
above the trees. | soon found a
beaten path, and having gone few
rods, | came to a small log hut, at
the door of which sat an old man
smoking a pipe. He babe me
welcome in the warmest terms, and
asked ME to dismount and stay with
him. He showed me where to Sc
cure my horse, and having attended
to the comfort of the animal enter
ed the hut. II was small con-
Germ, not over ten foot square, and
was formed by four stout poles
driven into the ground at the four
angles of square, and meeting at
the top; and then the walls were
formed by logs laid up against
these, and secured at the corners.
Within there were any quantity OF
buffalo skins, and also very good
sort of a fireplace. My host was a
tall, powerfully built man, between
sixty and seventy years of age, with
hair as white as snow, and a face
very strongly marked. ] introduc-
ed myself, and gave my name and
business, and he told me his name
was Philip Brock.
After we had chatted awhile, the
old man went TO work to get sup
per. He built a fire, and as soon
as there was a sufficient quantity Of
Goals, he unrolled fresh buffalo
hide, and having taken therefrom
a rump Of the animal, from which
the hide had been taken, he cut of
some slices and placed them OH the
Goals. While these were broiling
he got out some bread, salt, etc.
from an old chest, and | ate a sup.
per, than which ] never relished
one better in my life.
After this we walked out ovei
the oasis. 1t was a lovely spot
with spring of sparkling water
and goodly growth of hickory
trees, from which Brock gathered
nuts. He also had cornfield in 9
good state of cultivation, but il
was small for the owner knew no,
how soon he might move away
A ter we had returned To the hut