Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-16
Indy.
ooh, daddy"' called Il clear, girls

voice.
Eyes, Indy; what's wanted?'
s'Ma wants to know how long it'll be
fore you're ready
"Oh, tell her FL be at the door by the
time she gets her things on. Be sure
you have the butter and eggs all ready
to put into the wagon. We're maxim
| too late a start to town"
Butter and eggs, indeed. As if Indy
needed a reminder other than the new
dress for which they were to be ex-
changed. ....
Elmer and can go to town next
time, can't we, MAJ" she asked, enter
ing the house.
"Yes, Indy; I hope so,' was the re-
ply. ''But don't bother me now; your
| pa is coming already, and | haven't my
shawl on yet. Yes, Wilbur: I'm here.
Just put this butter in, Indy; I'll car
| ry the eggs in my lap. Now, Indy,
don't let Elmer play with the fire or
| run away
And in moment more the heavy
| lumber wagon ratified away from the
| door, and the children stood gazing aft
| er it for awhile, in a half-forlorn man
ner. Then Indy went in to do her
work, Elmer resumed lis play, and soon
| everything was moving along as cheer
! fully as ever.
e.. After dinner, Elmer went to sleep, and
Indy, feeling rather lonely again. went
QUITO doors for a change. 1t was a
warm autumnal day, a most the perfect
| counterpart of dozen or more which
had prccededit. The sun shone brightly,
and the hot winds that swept through
tue tai grass made that and all else it
.haI Il J. Of ho nil al
like vast Undertook. Though her
parents rad but lately moved to this
place, Indy was accustomed to the
prairies Sac had been born on them,
| and her eyes were familiar with nothing
else; yet, as she stood to-day with that
brown, unbroken expanse rolling away
before her until it reached the pale
bluish-gray of the sky, the indescribable
feeling of awe and terrible solitude
which such scene often inspires in one
not familiar with it stole gradually over
her. But Indy was far too practical
to remain long under such an influence
The chickens were ''peeping loudly,
and she remembered that they were still
without their dinner.
AS she passed around the corner of
the house with q dish of corn in her
hands, the wind almost lifted her from
the ground. 1t was certainly blowing
with greater violence than during the
morning.
Great tumble-weeds went flying by,
turning over and over with almost light
nipg-lke rapidity; then. pausing for an
instant's rest, were caught by another
gust and carried along, mile after mile.
till some fence or other obstacle was
reached, where they could pile up in
great drifts, and wait till brisk wind
from an opposite direction should sand
them rolling and tumbling all the way
back. But Indy did not notice the
tumble-weeds. The dish of corn had
fallen from her hands, and she stood
looking straight ahead with wide-open,
terrified eyes.
What was the sight that so frightened
her?
Only Il line of fire below the horizon.
Only line of fire. with forked flames
darting high into the air and a cloud of
smoke drifting away from them. A
beautiful relief, this bright, changing
spectacle, from the brown mOnotOny OF
the prairie.
But the scene was without beauty for
Indy. Her heart had given one great
bound when she first saw the red line,
and then it seemed to cease beating.
She had seen many prairie fires; had
seen her father and other men fight
them, and she knew at once the danger
her home was in. What could she, a
little girl, do to save it, and perhaps
herself and her little brother, from the
DESTROYER which the south wind was
bringing straight toward them?
Only for a moment Indy stood, white
and motionless; then with a bound she
was at the well. Her course was de
cided upon. If only time and strength
were given her! Drawing two pals of
water, she laid large bag III each, and
then, getting some matches. hurried out
beyond the stable. She Must fight fire
with fire That was her only hope: but
a strong, experienced man would Lave
shrunk from starting a oack-iire in such
u wind.
She fully realized the danger, but it
was possible escape from othrrw sc in
evitable destruction, and she his tated
not an instant to attemp it. Cautious
ly starting blaze, she stood with :. Wet
bag ready to smother the first unruly
tame.
The great fire to the southwark was
rapidly approaching. Prairie chickens
and other birds, driven from their nests.
were flying over, uttering distressed
cries. The air was full of smoke and
burnt grass. and the cracking of the
flames could plainlybe heard. 1t was
a trying moment. The increased roar
of The advancing fire warned Indy
that she had but very little time in
which to complete the circle around
house and barn still. if she hurried too
much, she would lose control of the
fire she had stsrted, and with it all hope
of safety.
The heat was intense, the smoke suf-
locating, the rapid swinging of the
heavy bag most exhausting, but she
was unconscious of these things. The
extremity of the danger inspired her