Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-12-09

'' Pe'ndp' Ho"io diloi ttiey Hdu attained
their journeys end. AT length the party
subsidized again into silence, occupying
themselves in gazing on the magnificent
spectacle presented by the lurid flames,
as, rolling their huge volumes of smoke
above them, they roared down towards
the traveller.
"The forest is as dry as POWDER" said
the husband Il never saw connagra,
tion travel so rapidly. The fire cannot
have been kindled many hours, and it has
already spread for miles. Little did you
think, Ellen,' he said, turning fondly to
his bride, "wben we started this morning,
that you should SO narrowly escape such
a peril"
"And, as live, the peril is not yet ov-
er - suddenly exclaimed the brother.
See--see--a fire has broke out on our
right. and is coming down on us like a
whirlwind God have mercy upon us y
He spoke with an energy that would
have startled his hearers without the fear
full words he uttered. Bu, when they fol-
lowed the direction of his quvering fin
ger, shrek burst from the two females,
while the usually y collected husband turn
ed ashy pale, not for himself, but Tor 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 were seen head shooting
down towards the road which the bridal
party was t1aversing, roaring, Kissing,
and laundering as they drew near.
"Drive faster, for heavens sake !-on
the gallop !" exclaimed the husband. as
he comprehended the immensity Of their
danger.
The brother made no answer, for ihe
well knew their fearful situation, but
whipped the horses into run. The
chase flew along the narrow forest road
with rapidity that neither of the party
had ever before witnessed for even the
animals themselves seemed aware OF their
peril, and strained every nerve to escape
from the fiery death which threatened
them.
Their situation was indeed terrible, and
momentarily became more precarious.--
The fire, when first seen, was, a! least, a
mile off, but nearly equi distant from a
point in the road the bridal party was ira.
versing; and, as the confagration swept
down towards the road with a velocity
equal to that of the travellers, it soon be-
came evident that they would have barely
time TO pass the fire ere it swept across
the road, thus cutting off all escape -
Each saw this but the females were par
allied with fear. Only the husband
spoke.
"Faster for Gods sake, faster !" he
hoarsely cried--"see you not that the fire
is making for yonder tall pine? We shall
not be able to reach the tree first, unless
we go faster"
81 will do my best" said the brother,
Iashing still more furiopsfy the foaming
horses. "Oh, God that | had turned
back as Ellen wlshef met
On came the roaring fre--on in one
mass of fiame--on with velocity that
seemed only eq" led by that of the fly
ing hurricane. low the flames caught
the lower limbs "f tall tree, and in an
instant had hissed 10 its top--now they
shot out their forky tongues from one
huge pine to another far across the inter-
mediate space--and now The whirling fire
whis'ed along the dry grass and moss of
the swamp with rapidity which the eye
could scarcel Y follow. Already the fierce
heat of the confagralion began 10 be felt
by the travellers, while the horses, feeling
the increased warmth, grew restive and
terrified. The peril momentarily increas-
ed. Hope grew fainter. Behind on Ell"
ther side the confagration roared in pur-
suit, while the advancing fame in from,
was cutting off their only avenue Of es-
cape. They vere girdled by fire! Fas-
ter and quicker roared the flames towards
the devoted party. until at length despair
seized on the hearts of the travellers.
Pale, paralized, silent, inanimate as stat
ules, sat the females; while the husband
and brother, leaning forward in the car
riage and urging the horses to their ut
most speed, gazed speechlessly on the ap-
preaching flames. Already the fire was
within hundred yards of The road ahead,
and it seemed beyond human probability
that the travellers could pass il in time.
The husband gave one last agonizng
glance at his inanimate wife. When a.
gain he looked at the approaching Games.
he saw that during that momentary
glimpse they had lessened their distance
one half. He could already feel the hot
breath of the fire on his cheek. The wind,
too, suddenly whrled down with fiercer
CO., ,nd in an instant the forEy ronones