Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-22

keeps its distance, it matters not whether
our road is through the forest or the fields,
We will drive on brisklv, and before noon
you will laugh at your fears. Your parting
from home has weakened your nerves.
No more was said, and for some time the
carriage proceeded in silence. Meantime
the conilagration was evidently spreading
with great rapidity. The dark, dense clouds
of smoke, which had at first been seen hang
ing only in one spot, had now extended in
line along the horizon, gradually cdging a
round so as to head off the travellers. But
this was done so impcrccptibly that, for
long time, the travellers were not aware of
it, and they had journcycd at least half an
hour before they saw their danger. AT length
the bride spoke again.
Surely, dear Edward she said, address,
ing her husband, the fire is sweeping around
ahead of us: have been watching it by
yondcr blasted pine, and can see it slowly
creeping across the trunk
Every eye was instantly turned in the d
rcction in which she pointed, and her broth
or who was driving, nvoluntarily checked
the horses. A look of dismay was on each
counonance as they saw the words of the
bride verified. There cou ID be no doubt
that the fire had materially changed its bear
NC since they last spoke, and now threat
ened to cut off their escape altogether.
81 wish, Ellen, we had listened to your
fears and turned back half an hour ago.
said the brother had better do it at
| once
'God help us-tllat is IMPOSSIBLE said
the husband, looking backwards, the fire
has cut of our retreat
1t was as he said. The flames, which at
first had started at point several miles dis
tant and at right angles to the road the party
was travelling, had spread out in every d.
rccton, and finding the swamp in the rear
Of the travellers parchcd almost to finder by
the drought, bad extended with inconceiva-
bic velocity in that quarter, SO that dense
| cloud Of smoke, beneath which dark lurd
veil of fire snrgcd and rolled, completely cut
off any rc,rogradc movement on the part Of
the travellers. This volume of flame, more
over, was evidently moving rapidly in pur-
suit. The checks, even of the male mem
bcrs Of the bridal party, turned ashy pale at
the SIGHT.
'Thcrc is nothing TO do but TO push on
said the brother, 'wc will yet clear the road
before the fire reaches it,
'And if remember said the husband,
6 there is a road branching off to the right.
scarce half "A mile ahead: we can gain that
easily, when VIC shall he safe. Cheer mp,
Ellen, there is no danger. This is our we'd
dino morn-lct me not see you sad.'
The horses were now urged forward al Il
brisk pace, and in "A few minutes the bridal
party reached the cross-road. Their pro-
gress was now directly from the fire. all
peril seemed at an end; and The spirits of
the group rose in proportion to their late de-
preston. Once more the merry laugh was
heard, and the song rose up galIy on the
morning air. The connaCralion still ragged
behind, but at "A distance that placed all fear
at defiance, while in front the fire, although
edging down towards them, approached at a
pace so slow that they knew it would not
reach the road until perhaps hours after
they had attained their journeys end. AT
length the party subsidized again into silence,
occupying themselves in gazing on the mag
niicent spectacle presented by the lurid
flames las, rolling their huge volumes of smoke
above them, they roared down towards the
travellers.
'Thc forest is as dry as POWDER said the
husband-'I never saw conllagraion trav-
el so rapidly. The fire cannot have been
kndled many hours, and /, has already spread
for miles. Little did YOU think, Ellen he
said, turning fondly to his bride, when we
started this morning, that you should so mar
rowly escape such peril
and, as live, the peril is not yet over
suddenly exclaimed the brother, sce-see
"A fire has broke out on our right, and is
coming down on to us like a whrlwind.-
God have mercy on us
lie spoke with an energy that would have
startled his hearers without the fearful words
he uttered. But when they followed the d.
rcction of his quivering finger, shrek burst
from the two females, while the usually COL
lected husband turned ashy pale, not for HIM
self, but for her who was dearer to him than
his own life. A fire, during the last few
minutes, had started TO life in the forest to
their right, and, as the wind was from that
quarter, the flames we're seen ahead shoot
ING down towards the road which the bridal
party was traversing, roaring, kissing, and
laundering as they drew near.
Drive faster, for heavens sake-on the
gallop y exclaimed the husband, as he COM
pretended the immnency of their danger.
The brother made no answer, for he well
knew their fearful situation, but whipped the
horses into run. The chaise flew along
/ the narrow forest road with rapidity that
neither of the party had ever before wit
, messed for even the animals themselves
seemed aware of their peril, and strained
| every sincw to escape from the fiery dealt
which threatened them.
, Their situation was indeed terrible, anG
) momentariy becoming more prccarious.-
= The fire, when first seen, was nearly mile
OFF, but near y equidistant from point in til,
9 road the bridal party was traversing and
4 as the conflagraton swept down towards tho
road with velocity equal to that of the
e travellers, it soon became evident that the,
f would have barely time to pass the fire err,
it swept across tae road, thus cutting off al
y escape. Each saw this but the female
were now DaralyZcd with fear Onlv ia,