The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-12-16
THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE

THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE.
Turn out Fred, turn out! Joo saws
there Is herd of buffaIocs in sight
from the next riso of land. Biggest
kind OF herd! Belivoly now, or you'll
lose your buffalo skin" l opened NV
eyes slecpily as Frank grasped my
arm. but was on my feet before ho had
hhiShod speaking. Joe, our guide and
cook. haIf-brced Sioux. was hurried
ly boiling our coilnc, and George was
getting tho guns in proper order We
were on our first buffalo hunt, and it
was my highest ambition just then to
secure pair of horns 10 mount and n
robe made from the skin of Il buffalo
Killed by myself. 1t did not take us
long to swallow hasty breakfast In
htiecn minutes we wero ready to start.
'Dcre, said Joe, as wo gallopcd
over the rise of ground
MOI mile away we saw the herd
feeding contuntedly near small stream
that passed US on the right. Joo sud-
denly sworvcd from tho direct course
anu followed the bank of tho stream,
so we were partly hidden from view.
1 shall never forget it! Talk of "buck
fever on moose hunt! That is not
TO be compared to what an amateur
hunter feels whom he secs thousand
or moro buffaloes.
Come pow," Joe said, as we stop
ped opposite tho herd. fclt for our car
iridgcs. and tightcnad our saddle
girths. We gave tho fiery little mus
tangs the rein and thoy sprang for
ward with snort Of excited Joy. Per-
haps they remembered when they too
were as froe and unfottered as the herd
before U.S. The wind was right for us
and we approached quite near with
out being seen. Then one great bull,
glaring from beneath his shaggy mane,
gave tho alarm, and soon they all wero
in motion. Tho reports of four rifles
rang out sharply. and ono buffalo fell
to tho earth. We had all missed our
game but Joe! On we dashed close at
tho heels of tho rear ones, whooping
like madmen and firing into tho below
ing mass as rapidly rs possible lcav-
Ing the dead and dying behind us.
singled out wounded bull that was
painfully galloping after his wounded
comrades. l was not sure had wound
cd him; but his horns and hido took
and claim him. More than once | was
ful mustang rs he charged ut me des-
peratcly. Once his shaggy mane
brushed my leg. but, as he turned
again. IL lucky Shot laid him low, and
the coveted prize was won. had
beon SO interested in my own gamo
that had not thought to watch tho
others. saw them now, nearly
milo away. still pursuing tho herd.
Aud l saw something else too, some
thing which l was Mt first unable to
understand. but which sent thrill of
horror through my veins when l COM
pretended its mcr uing.
Ny horse sniffe tho air excitedly,
his eyos wild and uneasy and moving
to and fro as he ncighod nervously for
his companions. Away in the distance
where the prairie met the sky in a
heated. quivering line arose dark,
wavering cloud. small at first, but rap
fire! Tho wind was blowing almost
gale directly toward us. and the long,
dead grass WAS as dry as tindcr. Joo
ers ho wheeld 20 horse and galloped
toward me, cl1 1y followed by George
and Frank. The buffaloes saw it also.
The black mass movod slower, and
finally turned and followed my friends
as they had been following them few
moments before. Our danger was now
more In beng trampled to death than
in boing burned. Ileaped to the ground
to start "back fire." but found that
had loft every roatch in camp.
"No match,h cried Joe, as they
neared the place whore stood. "Get
on horse--run much fast Devils run
saved"
Devils run Is ton miles away" l
answered blankly, rs sprang into the
saddle. Haven't you any matches
either. boysp"
.'Not q match. don't see what In
tho dickens we were all thinking
about" said George.
''Of the buffaloos," said Frank "All
we can do Is to run for II now."
Tho mustangs knew their danger as
we'll as we, and needed no urging.
cast regretful glance at my prize
my first buffalo--as we galloped away.
We could plainly smell the burning
grass, Gnd tho dark, rolling smoke
overcast the sky above our heads
On came the buffaloes, shaking tho
ground with tho thunder OF many feet.
Joe muttered something In his lingo.
and his face grew ashon as he looked
back at tho herd. which was now so
near that VIC could SEQ the fiecks OF
foam that flew from their mouths But
II needed no words to tell US that our
timo had comei We fols that ali was
LOST whom tho herd suddenly divided
10 the right and left, A moment more
aud we were between tho numbering
massos. which left clear space as they
thundered by Us, closing in again -
they sweeps on,