Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-16

| AO II OO du dW1ul COulIuG OaCB tor
them,' he muttered; but his next word
was almost shout: I" I'm penned in /"
His glances were swift and keen. "It's
making head westerly. It's got in be-
hind me. The whole prairie's afre to
the northward. I've hered of such
things, but I'd no idea ID ever be trapped
this way, myself. If [ had match I'd
set the grass afre here, and burn place
to stand in. Haven't one Have I got
to be burned alive?"
That was a serious problem, surely.
for strong man to face. but Marshall
Hayne faced it. He had turned deathly
white, the night before, in Virginia Craw-
ford's parlor, but he did not lose shade
OF color now. He did but step briskly
forward, saying to himself:
"Not on this low ground, anyhow.
The grass is too thick here, and there
are too many weeds. I must go for the
highest knoll [ can reach, and the thin
nest growth. Then, when thefre comes,
LII try rush. Reckon that's my only
chance"
He walked more swiftly after that
thought came to him. Then he even
ran, for at some distance before him the
prairie rose in knoll which was almost
a knob. The grass would surely be short
there, and he would be able to take O.
wider look about him.
He reached it, and the air on the little
summit was easier to breathe in.
Fire, fire, fire, in all directions. It
was sweeping vigorously down through
the tall blue grass and rosin weeds of
the slough away there behind him, but
| there was too much black smoke from
them to guess how near it was to Craw-
ford's. 1t was well for him he had not
sought an escape in that direction.
"The north road to town comes in over
yonder. The fire has burned along both
sides of it, nobody knows for how far.
There's a double buggy, now, coming
along, away back. 1t must be old Craw-
ford's No, they're not in any danger,
but then >
He paused here, for the blazing line
in front of him was drawing nearer.
Harder and harder blew the wind, too,
and higher leapt the red tongues of the
flame.
fIll wait till it strikes into the short
grass on the slope. Then for charge:
but must go straight across. If I lose
my way in the smoke, and run right or
left, I'm dead man."
His trousers were already tucked into
his boots. His coat was carefully but
toned up to his chin, and the collar of it
turned up, while his handkerchief was
made to cover as much as possible of his
neck, and flap of it was drawn across
his mouth. Then his slouched hat
was pulled over his forehead and all was
ready.
"H I'm not suffocated, and if I
don't stumble, I believe I can get
through"
Cool and calm and strong; every nerve
was tense and every muscle was utterly
ready. And now, sending before it
dense clouds of rosin weed smoke, the
prairie fire began it's fierce charge up
the slope, like the English infantry at
Inkermann.
"Now for it. Life or death /"
He went forward with O great, stag
like bound, and the smoke-cloud closed
around him.
He had not been watching the double
buggy for some few minutes, but there
had been something in it worth watch
ing The driver was alone on the front
seat with bag of -four beside him, and
he did not turn to look behind as he
steadily remarked:
"l 1t isn't of any use, mother. That
blazell reach our place before we do"
Stern and silent sat old Mrs. Craw-
ford while her husband was speaking;
but younger and better pair of eyes
had been straiDing their vision upon the
smoke wreaths and eddies ahead.
"Father! There's man on the hill |!
He will be burned?"
"God pity him! That's SO -
The buggy had been driven along the
prairie road, as closely in the rear of the
advancing fire as old Mr.. Crawford dared
to press his snorting, frightened span of
bays, and the stance between them and
the knob was not SO very great. Aguest
of wind lifted the smoke from it just for
moment.
"Father! Father Can't you see !?
Can we not do something? Mother
-mother-lt IS Marshall Hayne I"
The old man shivered from head to
foot, and Mrs. Crawford turned sudden
ly around to look at her daughter. She
needed but one look.
"Virginia My poor girl Oh, I did
not know it p
V1rgln1a's lips were parted, and she
was staring fxedly at the black pail of
vapor which had again hidden the prairie
knoll from view Marshall Hayne was In
there, somewhere, she knew, with the
fierce fire shifting him.
White, oh how white face was hers
for mother to gaze upon ! There was
no trace of color, even on the lips.
Old Crawford relned in his horses,
groaning aloud.
1t seemed not minute more, an eter-
nally long minute of Mortified silence,
when the staggered form of a man burst
through the nearer line of smoke, ard
pair of arms were thrown wildly upward,
as if their owner mingled word of
thanksgiving with his first gasp of
breathable air. Heneeded more air and
fresher, and he once again hurried for
ward
The bays were suddenly dashed to
gallop, just as Virginia Crawford faint
lV mJttered: