Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-08-26

LNCIy eye was IuotuutiJ tui HSu III wv vi
recton in which she pointed, and her broth
er, who was driving, Involuntary checked
the horses. A look of dismay was on each
countenance as they saw the words of the
bride verified. There could be no doubt
that the fire had materially changed its
bearing since they last spike, and now
threatened to cut of their eicape altogc'h-
er.
wish, Ellen, we listened toyour
fears and turned back eFf an hour ago,
said the brother-' we had better do it at
once.
God help us-that is impossible said
the husband, looking backwards, the fire
has cut off our retreat.
Ii was as he said. The flames, which at
first started at point several miles distant
and at right angles to the road the party was
travelling, had spread out in every direction,
and finding the swamp in the rear of the
travellers parched almost TO IA finder by the
drought, had extended with inconceivablo
velocity in that quarter, so that dense
cloud of smoke, beneath which a dark lurid
veil of fire surged and rolled, completely
cut off any retrograde movement on the
part of the travellers. This volume of
flame, moreover, was evidently moving rap
idly in pursuit. The cheeks, even of the
male members of the bridal party, turned
ashv pale a, the sight.
There is nothing to do but 70 push on,
said the BROTHER, we will yet clear the road
before the fire reaches IT,
And if | remember said the husband
there is road branching of to the right,
scarce half mile ahead: We can again
that easily, when we shall be safe. Cheer
up, Ellen, there is no danger. This is our
wedding morn-Iet me not see you sad
The horses were now urged forward at IA
brisk pace, and in "A few minutes the bridal
party reached the cross-road. Their prog
rcss was now directly from the fire: all per-
il seemed at an end; and the spirits Of the
group rose in proportion TO their late depres-
sion. Once more the merry laugh was
heard, and the song rose gaily on the morn
ing air. The coniiagra,ion still ragged be-
hind, but AT distance that placed all fear at
defiance, willie in front the fire, although
cdging down towards them, approached at a
pace so slow tina, 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
niGcont spectacle presented by the lurid
flames, as, rolling their huge volumes of
smoke above them, they roared down tow
ards the travellers.
The forest is as dry as POWDER said the
hnsband-' never saw conilagralion tray
el so rapidly. The fire cannot have been
kindIod many hours, and it has already
spread for miles. Li,lIc did you think, e.
lem, he said, turning fondly to his bride,
WHEN we started this morning, that you
should 50 narrowly escape such a peril,
And, as live, the peril is not yet over,
suddenly exclaimed the brother, 'sce--scc
il fire has broke out on orr right, and i.
coming down on us like whirwnd. God
i:n"a mercy on US J
He spoke with an energy that would have
startled hi, hearers Wil!od. the fearful word,
he uttered. But when they followed the d.
recion of his quivering finger, "A Shrek
burst from the two females, while the unlsu-
lily collected hlsba,". termed ashy pale, not
for himself, but for her wy" was dearcr tC
TO him than his own lie. A fire, DARN" q.
las, few minutes, had started to life in III,
! forest to their right, and, as the wind wal
I from that quarter, the flames were seer
ahead shooting down towards the road whicl
the bridal party was traversing, roaring, his
sim, and laundering as they drew near.
Drive faster, for heavens sakc-on IL,
gallop i exclaimed the husband, as he COM
pretended the imminency Of their danger.
The brother made no answer, for he wei
knew their fearful situation, but whipped tn,
horses into a run. The chaiso flew along thu
narrow forest road with rapidity that nei
Their of the party had ever before witnessed
| for even the animals themselves seeme
aware of their peril, and strained ever
sinew to escape from the fiery death whc
| threatened them.
Their situation was indeed terrible, am
momcutnrilv became more prccarious. TIN
fire, when first seen WIS ncar mile Of
but nearly equidisiant from point in the roa
the bridal party was traversing and as tn
conllagraton swept down towards the roa
with a velocity cqua! to that of the travel
lprS, it soon became evident that they woul
have barely time to pass the fire ere it sweT
across the road, thus cutting off all escape
Each saw this; but the females were no,
,, paralyzed with fear. Only the husban
spoke.
Faster, for Gods sake, faster lie hoar,
" cried, see You not that the fire is maxim
for yondcr tail pne-we shah not be adj
! to reach the tree first unless we 90 faster
! Twill do my best said the brother ,lasl,in
still more iuriously the foaming horses. 90
, God that | had turned back when Ele
i wished me =
4 On came the roaring fire-on in one ma
y of illmc-on with velocity that SCENT
:. only eqnalled by the flying hurricane. No
r the flames caught the lower limbs Of "A ia
: tree, and in an instant had Missed to its tt
: how they shot out their forky tongu
If from one huge pine to another far across Il
: intermediate space-and now the whirli'
fire whisllcd along the dry grass and mo
), of the swamp with a rapidly which the G.,
I could scarcely follow, Already the fer