The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-30

- tiis travellers fssF.bsa slgssest 10 lElder- b.
the drought, had extended with inconceiya-
Lila velocity Ia thAt quarter 20 that q dense
cloud Of smoke beneath which a dark lurid
yell ofd'e aurged and rolled, completely cot
on any retrograde movement on the part Of
the travellers, This volume Of aame more.
over was evidently moving rapidly ia pur-
suit. The checks, even " the male mutn-
hera ofhe bridal party, iarned-hshy pale at
the sight
"There Is nothing to do but to push on
said tho brother we viii yet clear the road
before the fre reaches H.
"And ifI remember" said the husband,
there Is a road branching OFT to t..s right.
scarce half a mile ahead we can gain that
easily, when We shall be safe. Cheer up,
Ellen-tbere is no danger This Is our we'd
ding morn-lei'mo not see you sad"
The horses were urged Forward At q trtst-
pace, and in a few momonH the bridal party
reached The cross road. Their progress was
now directly FROM the fires al peril seemed
FL ntan end, and the spirits OF the group Fore in
f proportion TO their late depression. Once
more the merry laugh was hear, and the song
rose up Raily on the morning air, The CON
haRration still ragged behind, but at a distance
that placed all fear at doGNncc; while IN front
the fire, although odging down towards them,
approached at pnoe 20 slow that they know
II would not reach the road until perhaps
hours ailcr they had attained their Journeys
end. ~ length the party subsidized into 81
( lence amin, occupying themselves IN gazing
on the magnificent spectacle presented by the
lurid flames, ~ rolling their hugo volumes Of
smoke above them. they roared down towards
/ the travellers
"Ihe forest Is as dry as powder" said the
husband; "I never saw n conhngrntion travel
20 rapidly. The Gre cAnno, have been kim
died many hours, md IL hns ALREADY spread
for miles. Little did YOU think. Ellen" he
said, turniPg fondly 70 his bride, "when we
started tiN morning, that YOU should so mar
rowly escape such peril"
"And a. live the peril is not yet ovcrl"
Tuddcnly exclaimed tho brother, "soe-scc
tie Gre has broke out on our right, and is
coming down on 90 us like n whrlwind God
hEvT mercy on ug
/ lie spoke with an energy that would have
startled his hearers without tho fearful words
he uttered Bat when they followed the di-
rection ofhis quiverinp finger, a shrek burst
/ from the two females, aud tho usually collect
ed husband turned a.h'y pale, not for him
self, hut for her who was dcarcr 70 him than
his own life. a frc during the last few min
utes had come to life in the forest to the right.
ne the wind was from that quarter, the flames
were seen ahead shooting down towards the
road which the bridal party was tTavGTsiJi.si
roaring and kissing and laundering as they
drew nuar
"Drive faster for heavens sake .-on the
gallop!" exclaimed the husband, as he coui-
pretended the immincncy of their danger.
Tho brother made no reply, for he well
knew their fearful situation but whipped the
horses into run. Tie cha-c acw along the
narrow forest road with rapiaity which
neither Of the party had ever before witness.
ed; for even the animals themselves seemed a.
ware of thsir peril, and strained every sinew
to escape from the fiery death which threat
Gncd them
Their situation was indeed terrible, and
momentarily becoming more precarious The
fire when first seen, was at least a mile off,
but ncaaly equi-distant from point in the
road the bridal party was traversing; and, as
the fire swept down towards the road with
velocity equal TO that of the travellers, it soon
became evident that they would have barely
time to pass the fire, ere it swept across the
road, thus cutting on all escape! Each saw
this but the females were now paralyzed with
fear. Only the husband spoke.
Easter for Gods sake. faster :" ho hoarse-
ly cried, "sec you not that tho fire is making
for yondcr tall pino2 We shall not be able
20 reach the tree first, unless we drive faster"
~ will do my best said the brother, LASH
ing still more furiously the foamiug horses
"Oh, God that l had turned back when FL
len wished mew
On came the roaring 6re--on in one mass
OF hame--on with velocity that seemed only
cqualled by the flying hurricane. Now the !
flames had caught the lower limbs of a tall
tree, and in an instant had Kissed to its top
now they shot out their forky tongues -frosss
one huge pine to another, far across the in |
v hiNhfaAN StldNt- now llt NnlIllHE uEt Z
whistled along the dry grass and moss of the
swamp, with a rapidity which the eye could
scarcely follow. Already the fierce heat be-
gan to be felt by the travellers, while the
horses, feeling the increase of warmth, grew
restivc and terrified The peril momentarily
increased. Hope grew fainter. Behind,and
ON either side, the eonfIagration roSred in the
pursuit, while the advancing fame front
was cutting Oft their only avenue ofescape.-
They trere girdiea By fret Faster and quick
er roarcd the flames towards the devoted par
ty until at length despair seized on the hearts
of the travellers.
Pale, paralyzed, silent and inanimare as
statues, sat the females; while the husband
and brother, leaning forward in the carriage
and urging their horscs to the utmost speed