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

of time, and they would be SAFE But hot
spur was failing. He sprang forward now
with convulsive hounds his gallant limbs
trembled beneath him; every breath was II
shoit, gasping sob. Another mile---half a
mile Oh, Heaven, have mercy! The
scorching breath of the fire was upon them ;
they were in whirlwind of dense, suffocat-
ing smoke. The horse stumbled at every
STEP he gasped and moaned like human
soul in extremity. Covered with foam and
trembling convulsively, he struggled on.
Little flames and eddies of fire, heralds of
the horrors behind, crept among the tan
| gled grass.
Fred turned on the saddle and tried to
draw Nancie's head down on TO his breast.
She made no resistance but when he would
have hidden her eyes from sight, she lifted
them, clearly and unhinchingly, to his.
Don't Fred---I can face death with open
eyes, she said; and, catching hold of his
hand, she pulled it gently away. As she
did so a great shower of sparks, borne on
the fierce wind, fell around and over them.
'Oh, my darling, to think this should be
the end y he cried, despairingly, knowing
how very near it was now.
No, no. she cried, it is not the end !
S"e---we are close to the bluff! Oh, thank
Heaven, thank Heavenp And sh pointed
to the towering rock, which rift in the
smoke disclosed rising right before them
not fifty yards away. 'On, Hotspur---on,
good horse land more struggle on ?
she shouted, encouragingly.
Cheered by her voice and hand, the brave
horse gathered all his strength for one tre-
mendous effort and bounded forward with
| frantic leaps. But it was an expiring
struggle. Ere ten yards were passed he fell
to the ground gasping and painting, his
brave spirit overcome at last. Fred dragged
Nancie away, and, seizing her hand, began
running toward the bluff so near now, so
near-.-and yet one look back she gave. The
fire was close behind, a fearful sight. The
fierce heat scorched their faces, sparks of
burnt grass, cane, and splinters of wood fell
in showers about them. The sitting, chok-
ing smoke half suffocated them, paralyzing
every nerve. On, on, with frantic, flying
feet; safety in 'front.' death behind land
such death
Leave me, Fred, gasped Nancie, family.
| can go no further. Tell them at home
---my love---kiss me once, Fred'--- She
dropped to the ground with choking Sob
With wild cry he caught her up in his
arms and staggered on. They were close to
the bluff now. A dozen steps and he gain
Cling, painting, he pressed on up the face Of
the rock.
The fire rushed after him, sending out
long tongues of flame as if to grasp its
prey it licked up the scanty herbage, and
ragged and roared in fierce fury. But few
| more yards
'Oh, Heaven, have mercyn Staggering,
dizzy, almost frantic, he struggled on, step
after step, step after step. One more oh,
thank Heaven, thank Heaven---safety at
lastn
1t was terribly narrow escape. So close
had been the fire, so deadly the peril, that
it seemed as if only miracle had saved
them. Half an hour afterward, when they
had recovered sufficient strength to struggle
onward to the Red Ranch, they began to
realize to what an extremity of danger they
were reduced. Their clothes looked like
tinder and hung on them in shreds and
patches. Nancie's face was deadly white,
except for vivid red scar down one side
of her cheek and neck, where a scorching
flame had caught it. Fred's right arm was
completely disabled his hands and face
were deep crimson in hue. The fire had
| scorched him terribly
AS they crept slowly along, Fred looked
wistfuliy into Nancie's face.
Did you mean it, Nancie" he asked,
gently.
Mean what" she said, her eyes dropping
shyly before his.
What you said a while ago. Will you
kiss me, Nancie, my own love?
Yes she whispered, turning her sweet
face to his.