The Young Surveyor; Or, Jack on the Prairies
A young fellow in a light buggy, with a big black dog sitting composedly beside him, enjoying the ride, drove up, one summer afternoon, to the door of a log-house, in one of the early settlements of Northern Illinois.
A woman with lank features, in a soiled gown trailing its rags about her bare feet, came and stood in the doorway and stared at him.
Does Mr. Wiggett live here? he inquired.
Wal, I reckon, said the woman, 'f he ain't dead or skedaddled of a suddent.
Is he at home?
Wal, I reckon.
Can I see him?
I dunno noth'n' to hender. Yer, Sal! run up in the burnt lot and fetch your pap. Tell him a stranger. You've druv a good piece, the woman added, glancing at the buggy-wheels and the horse's white feet, stained with black prairie soil.
I've driven over from North Mills, replied the young fellow, regarding her pleasantly, with bright, honest features, from under the shade of his hat-brim.
J. T. Trowbridge
THE YOUNG SURVEYOR;
OR,
HOW THE BOYS WENT TO THE RIVER FOR WATER.
CONTENTS.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE YOUNG SURVEYOR.
"NOTHING BUT A BOY."
OLD WIGGETT'S SECTION CORNER.
SETTING THE STAKES.
THE HOMEWARD TRACK.
A DEER HUNT, AND HOW IT ENDED.
JACK AND THE STRANGE YOUTH.
THE BOY WITH ONE SUSPENDER.
UP-HILL WORK.
"LORD BETTERSON'S."
"LORD BETTERSON."
JACK AT THE "CASTLE."
HOW VINNIE MADE A JOURNEY.
VINNIE'S ADVENTURE.
TOO OBLIGING BY HALF.
JACK AND VINNIE IN CHICAGO.
JACK'S NEW HOME.
VINNIE'S FUTURE HOME.
LINK DOESN'T CARE TO BE KISSED.
WHY JACK DID NOT FIRE AT THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
SHOT ON THE WING.
SNOWFOOT'S NEW OWNER.
THE AMIABLE MR. PEAKSLOW.
GOING FOR A WITNESS.
PEAKSLOW GETS A QUIRK IN HIS HEAD.
VINNIE MAKES A BEGINNING.
VINNIE'S STRATAGEM.
VINNIE'S NEW BROOM.
LINK'S WOOD-PILE.
LINK'S WOOD-PILE.
MORE WATER THAN THEY WANTED.
PEAKSLOW SHOWS HIS HAND.
THE WOODLAND SPRING.
JACK'S "BIT OF ENGINEERING."
TESTING THE LEVEL.
PREPARING FOR THE ATTACK.
OLD WIGGETT.
THE BATTLE OF THE BOUNDARY FENCE.
"STOP, OR I'LL SHOOT!"
VICTORY.
RETURNING IN TRIUMPH.
VINNIE IN THE LION'S DEN.
AN "EXTRAORDINARY" GIRL.
ANOTHER HUNT, AND HOW IT ENDED.
THE END OF THE CHASE.
JACK'S PRISONER.
RADCLIFF.
JACK AND HIS JOLLY PRISONER.
AN IMPORTANT EVENT.
MRS. WIGGETT'S "NOON-MARK."
THE STRANGE CLOUD.
THE TORNADO COMING.
PEAKSLOW IN A TIGHT PLACE.—CECIE.
PEAKSLOW REAPPEARS.
"ON THE WAR TRAIL."
THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
FOLLOWING THE WAR TRAIL UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
THE MORNING AFTER.
FOLLOWING UP THE MYSTERY.
PEAKSLOW'S HOUSE-RAISING.
CONCLUSION.
THE WATER QUESTION SETTLED.
THE END.
