BUBBLES 189 



started for Charlotte, the home of President 

 Sloane of that road. A lively experience fol- 

 lowed. 



I reached Charlotte one Saturday morning 

 during a storm that might well be described as a 

 deluge. Mr. Sloane had just gone to the end of 

 a little branch road on which there would be no 

 train until Monday. I chartered a pickaninny 

 and a horse and cart to take me to the doctor and 

 I bought an umbrella which in an hour I threw 

 away, for I couldn't be any wetter without it. 

 The creeks and gullies which fed the Catawba 

 River were overflowing and we were nearly 

 wrecked in one of them. Then we came to an- 

 other that was a torrent which it was hopeless to 

 think of crossing with the cart. The darky didn't 

 want to go any farther and I didn't need him. I 

 borrowed the horse, unharnessed him down to 

 the bridle, and started to swim him across the 

 stream. We were swept down with a speed that 

 amazed me and I think I pulled his nose under 

 water with the bridle; at least I know we swam 

 separately to the bank. I kept on according to 



