The Shasta courier., 1868-05-02

was driven into what he would hardly have
done had he taken time to d siberate.
Mounting his horse, heHlrned his head
toward the southwest, and bidding them
good by, started off at gallopS The last
glimpse be had of his friends vas to see them
gathering tufts of grass preparatory to set
ting them on fire, when he turned about and
attended to his own safety. Il
Now, Jack" said be ct eerily, address.
Ilng his horse. you have need of all your
speed. Bear me to the creek as fast as YOU
<usw how. 1t is the only grater in this Sec.
ton, and you need it.n
understood the peril of himself and master
but be had gone scarcely half mile when
1 his rider made a most alarming discovery
The creek, whose borders were marked by
line of trees, was considerably further than
he imagined, and the labored progress of
his horse showed him that he would give out
before reaching his destination.
| The hunter glanced anxiously back to
where he had left his friends, and was half
resolved to turn about and join them but
| pride prevented, and, moreover. he still saw
them darting hither and thither, busy at
work, but as yet they had failed to set the
prairie on fire. Their danger was equal if
not greater than his own.
About this time also. he saw that thous
ands of buffaloes, and wild horses were thun-
dering frantirally over the prairie in direc-
ton which would lead them into the grove.
His friends could not wait much longer
before they would be compelled to take to
the trees to avoid being trampled to death,
and bv the time this danger was passed the
other would be upon them.
With a shudder Parker turned back and
urged his horse to its utmost speed.
The great desire of the hunter was to get
out of the path of tLis surging mass of ami
mails He was riding at right angels to their
course, and if he could reach that portion of
the creek toward which he was aiming there
was no fear of being overwhelmed by this
panic stricken army of dumb animals.
Striking his heels against his horse's sides,
be bent ell his faculties and energies into
the one great idea of escape.
1t will be seen that two great dangers
threatened the hunter that of the burning
prairie, and that from the stampeding ami
mails. Were it not for the latter, he could
have dismounted in the tall dry grass, and
by means of the flash of his rifle, started a
volume of flame which would have specify
given him safe ground to travel upon. But
there was no ground for this. and he had
no thoughts of making the attempt.
II horse did his best, painting and toiling
as he had never done before; hut swiftly as
he went, it seemed to the impatient rider
that the distance between them increased
rather thhn diminished. But on, on he sped,
: ssteies by mis- terrible pefis. while Fiat ter
rible swarm of believing bufaloes and snort
ing horses thundered tumultuousy onward.
A few hundred yards from the creek stood
a large, solitary tree, its trunk and large
limbs already glowing with the reflected
light from the glowing volume of fame
Toward this Parker directed his horses
head, and the brute strained every nerve
On, on he sped, gasping and painting. A
few minutes later he was beneath the tree,
he staggered and fell upon his side, while
his rider had barely time to free his foot from
the stlrrup.
The trapper's hat had fallen off in the
haste of his flight, and as he involuntarily
threw out his hand he felt the warmth of the
fire upon it. His horse flung up his head
and neighed piteously. as if imploring his
master not to leave him.
'God help you," exclaimed the latter, his
heart full of Pity, /" but | can do you no
good, and must leave you"
Tears streamed down the hardy hunters
cheeks as with his rife strapped to his back
he started on full run for the creek He
had not q moment to lose. He was Just be.
yond the line of fleeing animals, but he was
still in danger from the near approaching
fire. and he did not pause to look behind him,
although in that moment of frenzy and de.
spair, be fancied he heard the tread of some
animal close in his rear. A few minutes
later he was on the banks of the creek To
his delight he saw that it was broad and
very deep. Without moments hesitation
he sprang in, sinking several feet below the
surface before he touched bottom. As he
came up a mass of smoke rolled over the
water. almost sufocating him, but he struck
out boldly, and shortly after touched land,
where he crawled out and rested himself
As he gazed back, to his surprise he saw
that his horse had struggled after him, and
was already swimming the stream. He
shouted and encouraged him, and the brute
pressed forward until he fell exhausted at his
feet.
"Noble jack" exclaimed the trapper,
affectionately, patting his neck. " You are
saved, and here we will rest.
The fire swept furiously onward, ard by
this time had reached the stream. Fortu
nately the wind blew parallel with the cur.
rent, so that there was little fear. Had it
blown across the creek, it would have com
munlcated to the grass upon the other side,
and made the situation of the hunter uncom.
Portable, if not absolutely perilous.
The sun was past.the meridian before the
fire had subsided enough to make it safe for
the hunter to cross. By that time his horse
bad secured a good rest. and his bath in the
stream had refreshed him not little. But
bis master swan back with him, and upon
reaching land did not remount him. Taking
his bride in his hand he led him with sad
and foreboding heart to the grove where he
bad parted with his friends. The prairie
was almost as black as ink, while here and
there were stretched the smoking carcasses
of the animals which had been overtaken
and burned in their desperate attempts to
escape.
His fears were too sadly realized. Ia the
grove were found the charred bodies Of his
friends and horses, while fully hundred
bufaloes and prairie wolves were scattered
among them. 1t looked as if they had per-
sisted in their attempts to fire the prairie
until trampled under foot by the rushing
animals. many of whom fell exhausted. when
they all perished together. 1t was fearful
sight. and while mourning the loss of his
comrades Parker could but be thankful at
his own Providential escape.