The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-10-22
become withered and sere.


choly OF autumn is joined to the beauty of
summer, that Frederick and his sister rod,
forth upon the prairie and excited bv thc in II
finence of the fresh prairie lre,ze. uncon
sclously proceeded several miles from home.
They were upon the broad prairie, which
extended far away on every side, undulatinr
and beautiful, although covered with drv and
withcred grass
The sun went down before they thought to
return; but as evening approached, and the
silent prairie became clothed in gloom. they
paused with one consent, and turned their
horses homeward
They now galloped on at a rapid pace but
night came and they were still far from home.
Night hut not darkness,
Behind them. far away on the prairie. a
broad geam Of light appeared-quivering in
tense,
The prairie was on fire
''ileaven>" exclaimed Frederck-.'look :"
The fire" cried Ellen
Yes the prairie is burning forward. or
> we are lost"
The steedS needed no urging thev bound
ed away As if consriouS of the danger
The breeze freShened. and the drv rrass
was consumed like powder in the flames that
swept along the earth
Onward. onward dashed the steeds. bear
ing their riders swiftly over the prair;es: ln.
the flames Were behind them. more swift.
more furious than they,
Onward, still they flew. but the deer
bonnd"I hv them in his flight. and the fint-
i t"ring of win"> over their heads. told that
the birds of the air Were more swift than
/. they
Trembling with fear, Ellen dashed her
II Stred and kept close to her hroth"r> side
Oh , that was a wild >pcctacle-ihe prairie
ilumined hv the fierce clare of liIht. tie
d raging flames and the cloud of dark and dis
Il nal >omke. which gave to the canopy of heav-
i en- a fearful tint Of gloom.
Onward dashed the stce,l>. Int the wind,
Y Were >witter than they: and the flames were
ii on the wings of the wind Already the hot
e breath of The coniagration swept over them
= like the Simoon of the desert
, All behind them was a fierce glare of
li.ht all before them was darkness and
gloom. Suddenly faint lirht was seen mn
on distant hill ike torch held bv man
; and it approached. waving 10 and fro 4,
last the form OF lis bearer was ind>tinctlv
, visible
Faster" cried Frederick .'anl we are saw
ed Heavens the flames are gaining on Us
still -fa,ter-ta>'rr
But to increase their speed was impossible
The cracking flames were already upon
them. when the torch which they had seen
approaching was suddenly plunged into the
rras> a hundred rods before them.
p In a moment the flames shot upwar,i and
the form of the stranger was seen. still hold
II inc the flaming torch Frederick and Ellen
mr. were between two fires hut the one was flee
K inc before them. while the other was close
cr close upon their backs. They saw the form
II of the stranger already upon the blank space
o. which the foremost fire had left. and terrible
!, was their struggle to reach it before overtak-
en- hv the flames behind. The smoke rolled
no over them the swift flames were already he
~ meath the hoot> of their hor<rS-thcv wcr,
he. blinded. Sutforatcd, hurncd-but they wcr,
b,. saved
,e The fire before them swept onward. on
T. ward, leaving in lis track. the earth all char
red and bare The flames behind died ava,
/, at the point where the stranger had plunge
his torch into the grass. or swept aroun,
er them in broad circle-a circle of racin:
fire.
Arrived on the blank space of ground. tn
As iaded horses staggered and fell exhausted T.
'i the earth. Ellen uttered a crv of alarm a
be her animal reelcd beneath her. but as sh
fell the stranger caught her in his arms
Mt Feeling herself thrown hea,iong 10 th
ce ground, she had closed her ewes; but nov
lat she opened them, and they fell upon tn
10 countenance of the stranger
he Clinton ~ she exclaimed. and tainted il
m. his arms.
he Ellen is it indeed you :" murmurcd tn
&c, huntsman, cla>ping her to his bosom Than
st, God thank God -
re Thank God ~ echoed Frederick, 'vo
have saved our lives"
he
, CHAPTER VI.
by Upon hearing voice behind him, Clnto
looked around. Bv the glare of the fam,