Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-01-29
A RIDE FOR LIFE.
a Prairie-Hunter's Narrative.

I u
whenever | think of the happy
days | have passed in his COM
pany. Side by side we have
wandered over prairie and
mountain, and side by side we
have fought the crafty red men
who sought our lives. But he
is dead; and OIL what a terrible
death was his!
1t was sunset of a hot, scorch-
ing day in August, when Bill
and / made arrangements for
passing the night in a pretty
little grove of cottonwood, sur
rounded by a widely-stretched
prairie. After making a hearty
meal of vension-steaks we pro-
duced our pipes, and were soon
engaged in a friendly smoke.
Although we were exceedingly
tired by our long ride, 1T was
quite late when We wrapped
ourselves in our blankets and
went to sleep.
/ was aroused about midnight
by hearing a long continuous
roar, which at first | thought
was thunder; but when / gazed
upward, and saw the stars shin
ing brightly, and the western
horizon lighted up with ruddy
glare, the truth instantly flash
ed across my mind.
~Bill!" cried l, hastily shak-
ing my companion, "the prairie's
on firep n
"What!' cried Bill, springing
to his feet.
But it was unnecessary to re-
peat the intelligence, for Bill
well knew what that sunrise
appearing light in the west, and
that continual laundering noise,
meant.
"Buifaloes, tooP' he eiaculat-
ed.
"But what's to be done?" /
asked.
Bill looked around him.
1--WE might let the buffaloes
pass us very we'll by climbing
up a tree, but then we'll lose
our horses, and get burnt to
death in the bargain, which is
not at all to my liking. If we
should fire the prairie here by
the grove we could then get out
upon the ground we had burnt,
and escape the fire behind us;
but we would be in danger of
the buffa.oes, for we could not
alone keep them off; and we
haven't time to run out short
distance toward the fire and
light the grass there, so that
when the fire had passed through
this grove we could come back
and climb a tree to escape the
buffaloes. Therefore the best
plan / could suggest is to mount,
and try to reach the woods to
the southeast"
AS no other plan could then
be thought of we hastily mount
ed, and dashed off in the direc-
ton proposed by Bill. BY this
time the flames were plainly vis-
ible, and the prairie was lighted
UP for miles around.
"Faster," cried Bill; "the buff
faloes are gaining on us!"
We both had fine horses, but
they were qnite exhausted, hav-
ing travelled at pretty good
pace since morning. My COM
panion's was a little mustang,
one on which dependence could
never be placed; and it was with
extreme difficulty that he kept
his saddle. Although we used
our most strenuous efforts to
keep ahead, we were now a.
mong the bufaloes, with the fire
kissing and roaring but a short
distance in our rear.
No pen can describe the sick
faintness that came over me
when / saw my companions
horse stumble and throw lis RI
der over its head, then get up
and continue on with the living
sea! | attempted to turn, but it
was useless, for the buffalocs
hemmcd me in on every side; SO
with sad heart | spurred on,
aud left poor Bill to die, with
the terrible thought in my mind
that perhaps | should share his
fate-be irampled upon by
thousands Of feet, and my body
burned to a cinder!
About three miles further a.
head / espied, by the aid of the
light of the burning prairies q
slight elevation which appeared
to be void of vegetation, with
the exception of few stunted
cedars. III could getupon that
| knew | would be safe; but the
flames were fast gaining on me,
and it was doubtful whether /
could reach it with my horse in
his present exhausted condition.
However, spurred him on,
and then for the first time / no.
ticed that the buffaloes were
: gaining upon me at an alarming
rate; and by the time the nexi
mile was passed / found myself