They went on shoulder-deep in the tall grass on the lower stretches of the prairie.  Here and there it gave Harry the impression that he was swimming his horse in “noisy, vivid green water.”  They startled a herd of deer and a number of wild horses.  When they lost sight of the woods at Plain’s End the young man, with his cavalry training, was able to ride standing on his saddle until he had got it located.  It reminded him of riding in the Everglades and he told of his adventures there as they went on, but very modestly.  He said not a word of his heroic fight the day that he and sixty of his comrades were cut off and surrounded in the “land of the grassy waters.”  But Bim had heard the story from other lips.

Late in the afternoon the woods loomed in front of them scarcely a mile off.  Near the end of the prairie they came to a road which led them past the door of a lonely cabin.  It seemed to be deserted, but its windows were clean and a faint column of smoke rose from its chimney.  There were hollyhocks and sunflowers in its small and cleanly dooryard.  A morning-glory vine had been trained around the windows.

“Broad Creek is just beyond,” said Bim.  “I don’t know how the crossing will be.”

They came presently to the creek, unexpectedly swollen.  A man stood on the farther shore with some seventy feet of deep and rapid water between him and the travelers.

“That man looks like Stephen Nuckles,” said Harry.

“It is Stephen Nuckles,” Bim answered.

“Hello, Steve!” the young soldier called.

“Howdy, boy!” said the old minister.  “That ar creek is b’ilin’ over.  I reckon you’ll have to swim the hosses.”

“They’re young city horses and not broke to deep water but we’ll try them,” said Bim.

They tried but Bim’s horse refused to go beyond good footing.

“You kin light at that ar house an’ spend the night but the folks have gone erway,” the minister called.

“I guess you’ll have to marry us right here and now,” Harry proposed.  “Night is coming and that house is our only refuge.”

“Poor boy!  There seems to be no escape for you!” Bim exclaimed with a sigh.  “Do you really and honestly want to marry me?  If there’s any doubt about it I’ll leave the horses with you and swim the creek.  You could put them in the barn and swim with me or spend the night in the cabin.”

He embraced and kissed her in a way that left no doubt of his wishes.

“It’s a cool evening and the creek is very wet,” he answered.  “I’m going to take this matter in my own hands.”

He called to the minister:  “Steve, this is the luckiest moment of my life and you are just the man of all others I would have chosen for its most important job.  Can you stand right where you are and marry us?”

“You bet I kin, suh,” the minister answered.  “I’ve often said I could marry any one half a mile erway if they would only talk as loud as I kin.  I’ve got the good book right hyah in my pocket, suh.  My ol’ woman is comin’.  She’ll be hyah in a minute fer to witness the perceedin’s.”