The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-12-29

y
on they came, trampling and dashing
through every obstacle. This phalanx
was but two miles from us. Our horses
were nearly exhausted we gave oursel
YES up for lost, few minutes more and
we should be crushed to atoms.
At that momen, the sonorous voice Of
Grbriel was heard, firm and imperative.
He had long been acc istomed to danger,
and now he faced it with his lndomitable
energy. as if such scenes were his proper
element - Down from your horses
cried he; 'let two of you keep them siea.
dy. Strip CO your shirts, linen, anything
that will catch fire. quick, not a moment
is to he lost Saying this, he ignitcd
some finder with the pan of his pistol, and
was soon busy in making fire with all
the clothes we now threw him. Then
we tore up withered grass and buffalo
dung, and dashed them on the heap.
Before three minutes had passed, our
fire burned tiercelv. On came the terri
fed mass of animals, and perceiving the
fame of our fire before them, they roarcd
with rage and terror, yet they tarned not,
as we had hoped. On they came, and al
ready we could distinguish their horns.
:heir feet, and the white foam; our fuel
was burnt out, the flames were lowering {;
the parson gave a scream, and tainted.
On came the maddened myriads, nearer
and nearer; could see their wild eyes
glazing they wheeled not. opened not a
passage, bu, came on like messengers of
Observation-Disclosures still. My
brain reeIed, my eyes grew dim, it was
horrible ! dashed down, with my face
covered, to meet my fate.
At that moment | heard an explosion,
then roar, as if preceding from ten mill
ions of buffalo bulls-so stunning. so STU
plying was the mass Of animals, not
twenty yards from us. Each moment
expected the hoofs which were TO trample
us to atoms; and yet, death came not. ]
only heard the rushing as OF mighty
wind and the trembling of the earth. |
raised my head and looked.
Gabriel at the critical moment had pour
ed some whiskey upon the flames, the
leaihern bottle had exploded, with a blaze
like lightning, and. at the expense of thou
sands crushed TO death, the animals had
swerved from contact with the fierce,
blue column of fire which had been crea-
ted. Before and behind, all around us.
we could see nothing but the shaggy wool
ut the huge monsters; not a creyice was
to be seen in the flying masses, but the
narrow line which had been opened TO
avoid our fire.
In this dangerous position we remain
ed for one hour, our lives depending upon
the animals not closing the line but pro-
~dencc watched over us, and after what
appeared an eternity of intense suspense,
The columns became thinner and thinner,
I'LL we found ourselves only encircled with
the weaker and more exhausted animals
which brought up the rear. Our first dan
ger was over, but we had still to escape
from one as lmminent--ihe pursuing
flame, now so much closer to us. The
whole prairie behind us was on fire, and
the roaring element was gaining on us
with a irightiul speed. Once more we
sprang upon our saddles, and the horses,
with recovered Wind and with strength
lenfold increased by their fear, soon
brought us to the rear of the builaloes.
1t was an awful sight! sea of Gre
roaring IN It's fury, with its heavlng
waves and uucar.hly Kisses, approaching
nearer and nearer, rushing on swilier than
the sharp morning breeze. Had We not
Just escaped So Unexpectedly danger al
most as terrible, we should have dspair-
ed and left of an apparently useless
struggle for our lives.
Away we dashed, over hills and down
decllvtles for now the ground had be-
come broken. The fire was gaining fast
upon us, when we perceived that, mile
ahead. the immencc herds before US had
entered deep, brosd chasm, into which
they dashed, thousands upon thousands,
iumblng hedlong into the abyss. But
now, the fire rushing quicker, blazing
iicrcer than before, as if determined not
to lose It's pray, curled its waves above
our heads, smuIherng US with It's heat
and lurid smoke.
A few seconds more we spurrcd in
agony; speed was life the chasm was
to be our preservation or our tomb. Down
we darted, actually born upon the back
Of the descending mass, and landed, with
unt sense or motion, more than hun
dred feet below. As soon as we recover.
ed from the shock, we found that we had
been mos, mercfllly preserved strange
tn say, neither horse nor rider had rcceiv-