Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-13
THE HERALD.
THE PRAIRIE FIRE.

N0Ver, was Tue pIouipt fcpit3 dHs
the two young men, Robert Cornell
and Homer Hudson, refined thei
horses upon an eminence, and sat gaz
ing across the vast expanse of prairie
stretching out on every side around
them. They were lately from the
East, the sons of wealthy gentlemen
who had embarked in tn,
enterprise Of buying Western land!
several years before, and when the
rumor of prospective railroads, and
rapid rise of real estate gave promise
of future greatness for the growing
settlements, they had sent the young
men upon tour of inspection, with
the intention of becoming pioneers
themselves, If the country should Of
fer sufficient inducemem ents.
1t was pleasant October afternoon
and the hszy sunlight flooded the
plain, which two months before lay
unrolled in all the beauty of varying
shades, from lightest emerald to the
richest, darkest green, tinted with
gorgeous autumn flowers, which
waved and nodded their snowy
plumes in the passing breeze, or bent
low over the rejecting water Of glas-
sy lakes, which mirrored back the
clear sky, basin Of blue, in ali emer.
aid sea- but October frosts had
changed the robe to dull, prosaic
brown; yet, the scene was wild and
new, and the young men found abun-
dant resources of interest and amuse.
ment in watching the various forms OF
animal life, and contrasting this will
derness with the uncutlvated regions
of their native State, with its thickets
of laurel, forests of pine and domes of
rock.
Perhaps some of our readers have
never seen the great prairies lying
west of the Mississippi, and that they
may better understand our story, We
will give a short description of the
country in which the incidents trans
pired.
AS a general rule, the settlements
cluster around the groves, which lie
like dark green islands in the midst of
the emerald hue Of the prairie, at in.
tervals ranging from FIVE to twenty
five miles apart, leaving an uncultlva.
ted region between, over which one
may travel for hours without seeing a
house or tree, and it was one of
these tracts that our friends were
crossing, when we first introduced
them to our readers.
The wide, spreading prairie was
covered with dry, infammable grass,
vary from the height of six inches, up-
on the hiltops, to as many feet in the
moist places below, where canes and
reeds grew in astonishing l1xuriance,
offering hiding place for various an.
finals which Inhabited the region.
'We have never seen prairie fire,
Robert, said Hudson. How grandly
the flames would sweep over this vast
expanse, with nothing to head their
course, or stay their flight, until
checked by some clear stream, they
persisted on its borders! = and Hu 1son
sprang from his la and appli I'D a
match to the grass at his feet.
A sheet of flame like a crimson
carpet crept down the hillside, grow
ing broader and wider as it went and
rapidly gaining strength as it was
borne in advance of the breeze, while
the young men stood watchin it's
progress, now creeping slowly here
the grass was shortest, and anon
clearing fifty feet at bound, ODE ying
every impulse of the wind, hich
seemed to rise and lend its WINS in
answer to the call of the advai cling
flames.
Suddenly their attention was ar.
rested by the sound of quick, short
bark, and a fox was seen to ssue
from among the canes nearly mile
away, and gallop off over the prairie
with rapid bounds. Then came pro.
longed and dismal howl, and flock
of wolves were observed scamp ring
forth to place of greater safety.
We've made it warm for Il EN-,
said Hudson. But a prair;e.6ce is
really beautiful"
wait till it gets to the tall grass
and reeds on the swampy ground be-
yond, il you would see 1t in a its
grandeur, said Cornell. But what
was that?'
Thep listened attentively, and a
shrek of terror and distress, a ciild's
voice, wild, despairing wall, was
borne with fearful dstinctness across
the burning waste.
Cornell's cheek blanched as he lis
tened, and moment later, the srioke
lifted tor on instant, and couple of
children, a boy apparently about
twelve years of age, and girl not
more than ten, were discovered be.
tween the reeds and the fire.
A groan burst from Hudson's lips,
as he looked helplessly toward his
companion, who only exclaimed !:
'Merciful Heavens What have we
none?'
Say, rather, what shall we do an.
swered Hudson, excitedly. Can we
spur through the flames, rescue the
children, and return? Why don't
you answer? Don't you see that they
are in danger of being burned alive
and my fault, too = he exclaimed,
wildly.
CornelPs inactivity was but mo-
mentary. He was revolving a plan
of action In his mind with greater
GOODNESS than his impulsive compan-
ion could command.
Not through the fire, but side by
side with it. Come on = shouted Cor.
nell, dashing past the blacksned
ground from which the grass was al
ready burned, and following the line
along which the fire had passed.
The flames were now creeping
slowly over piece Of upland, here
the grass grew scantily, as if reserv-
ing strength for a furious descent up
on the plain below.
The prairie fowls had scented dan
ger, and focks of noisy cranes,
screaming gesse aud quacking ducks,
rose from the adjacent ponds. and
went sailing away through the smoky
sky, utte.ing ominous cries as their
rapid wings famed the air above
kool,