The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-03

what incredulous smile. Il do not suppose
they are of such vital consequence
Il have no wish to make you my post
man. retorted Miss Nancie; and it is not
of the slightest consequence what you sup
pose or do not suppose
Fred disdained to answer except by a
most unnecessary cut of the whip on Hot
spurs glossy flank. The quarrel between
the two had been in progress some days. In
this unsocial style the two pressed on mile
after mile, till the sun was high in the
heavens and half their journey over.
The track was simply narrow path
beaten through the tall gramma grass and
reeds of the prairie, which rose on either
hand five or six feet high, all matted and
tangled together with wild pea vines and
creepers; it was burnt quite crisp and brown
by the heat of the sun, and was as dry as
tinder As they brushed it in passing the
twigs and canes snapped at touch. Right
ahead, fifteen miles away, rising blue above
the undulations of the prairie, was a steep
bluff, the termination of range of low
hills, off-shoots of the Rocky mountains
This bluff was their landmark and guide
for a mile or two behind it was the Red
Ranch settlement, or Northcotes, as it was
often called. Meanwhile the clear blue of
the sky was becoming overcast with sultry
leaden haze. The air was intensely hot and
heavy. The wide, treeless, shadowless
prairie rolled away on every side in long
undulations like the swells of the great
ocean. At last Fred grew tired of keeping
up even a show OF resentment, and began to
talk again.
How well Miss Mollie goes to-dayn
She always does returned Nancie, a
shade more graciousy than before she
was tired of keeping silent so long.
'All the same, l would not back her
against Hotspur.'
mo, because Hotspur would be beaten,
asserted Nancie, confidently.
will you try p he asked.
No, l won't 1t is too hot to race. How
can you suggest such thing in this blazing
SUM-
Hot or not, it strikes me it is what you
will have to do he remarked, coolly.
What do you mean" she said, raising
pair of dark incredulous eyes.
Look there and raising his whip, Fred
pointed to the right, behind them, whence
the leaden hued cloud was spreading over
the sky. What does that look like%
Nancie turned her eyes in the direction
indicated, and as she looked, her face
blanched to an awful whiteness.
Fire. The prairie is on fire y she cried,
fcarfully. oh, Fred, what shall we do?'
Involuntarily she drew up her horse and
gazed anxiously around.
The ominous leaden gray haze was sweep
ing down upon them---already it had crept
round behind them. Below the haze
faint line, OF dull red was just visible.
Yes, the prairie is on fire, sure enough
tie young man said. Are you frightened,
Nancie?
She turned her dark clear eyes to his.
Her face was pale, but there was no sign OF
weakness about the steady, brave mouth.
No, | am not frightened she answered.
gravely, but smiling back into his anxious
face. But know the danger
And how We can escape he said, reas-
suringly. Now ior itr
In another moment they were fving
along. There was 10 need to urge Hotspur
and Miss Mollie---they scented the danger
and could scarcely be restrained. The bluff
showed blue in the distance---fifteen miles
away; and behind them was waste of hot
dry tinder which caught fire with lightning
like rapidity. The odds against them
seemed awful.
Looking back, and seeing how fast it was
gaining on them, Fred would have given
l L
reached a belt of low trees, a conspicuous
landmark in the prairie. Just eight miles
more before them Heavens, it seemed like
a journey across the world! They were gal
Looping along like race horses, every sinew
and muscle strained to the utmost. Great
clouds of smoke were now overtaking
them, circling and eddying above their
heads. a pungent smelling vapor came
creeping along the ground, almost suffocat-
ing them with its fumes. The dull, rush
ing roar of the fire increased every moment
behind them, while the swapping of the
cane-brakes and the cracking of the drv
gramma grass was distinctly audible. Still
they were getting on. Seven, six, five miles.
The fire was gaining on them with awful
rapidity, but the cliff was rising clear and
distinct before them. Half an hour more
and they would be safe. Suddenly, with
out moments warning, Nancie's horse
stumbled in a hole, pitched heavily for
ward, and fell on her knees. Fred threw
himself off Hotspur in an instant and, be-
fore Nancie could free her feet from the
stirrup, was al her side.
What is itY cried Nancie. rs she
hurt% And though the voice was steady,
she trembled violently.
'One of her legs is broken,' he replied.
You must ride behind me- Quick,
Nancie, there's no time to loose -
mounting Hotspur as he spoke, and hold
ing out his hand to help her mount
Quick, your handp
'Oh, Fred, / cannot leave her to be
burned to deathp cried Nancie, bending
over Miss Mollie, who looked up at her
mistress with agonized eyes, and uttered a
low moan of intense, painful suffering
Fred drew pistol from his holster.
There is no other way he said, quitely,
as he fired.
The chestnut's pretty head fell prone on
he rank grass, shudder passed over her
gr ceful limbs, and she lay dead before
them. With sob Nancie turned silently
from her favorite and gave her hand to
Fred. In another minute they were flying
over the plain. Alas, with how small a
chance now The gallant horse, strive as
he might, made but little way with his
double burden. There were only few
miles more. Already the air was scorch-
ing. The smoke and vapor enveloped them
in suffocating clouds, hiding the bluff from
view and choking them with their sitting
breath. The roar of the fire sounded fear
fully near, the moments flew fast and the
deadly sounds behind grew every moment
more distinct. The wind had increased to
tempest, which blew the smoke in denser
clouds over them. A lurid yellow glare
tinged the heavy rolling masses, the heat of
the furious conhae ration was perceptibly
felt.
Is there a chance% whispered Nancie,
looking fearfully behind as the good horse
strained onward