Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-03-25
THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE.

here is a herd OF butfaloes IN sight
rom the next rise of land. Biggest
Kind OF a herd! Be lively now, or you'll
ose your buffalo skin" opened my
,yes sleepily as Frank grasped my
but was on my feet before he had
speaking. Joe, our guide and
cook, a half-breed Sioux, was hurried
boiling our coffee, and George was
the guns in proper order. We
we're on our first buffalo hunt. and it
" as my highest ambition just then to
secure a pair of horns to mount and a
robe made from the skin of a buffalo
killed by myself. 1t did not take US
long 10 swallow a hasty breakfast. In
fifteen minutes We were ready to start.
..Dere," said Joe, as we gailoped
over the rise of ground.
Not a mile away we saw the herd
feeding contentedly near a small stream
that passed us on the right. Joe sud
denly swerved from the direct course
and followed the bank of the stream.
so we were partly hidden from view.
/ shall never forget it! Talk of "buck
fever on a moose hunt! That Is not
to be compared to what an amateur
hunter feels when lie sees a thousand
or more butfaloes.
Come now" Joe said, as we stop
ped opposite the herd, felt for our r
tridges, and frightened our saddle
girths. We gave the fiery little mus
tanes the rein and they sprang for
waid with a snort of excited joy. Per-
haps they remembered when they too
were as free and unfettered as the herd
before us. The wind was right for US
and we approached quite near with
out being seen. Then n great bull,
glaring from beneath his shaggy name,
gave the alarm. and soon they all were
in motion. The reports of four rifles
rang out sharply. and one buffalo fell
to the earth. We had all missed our
game but Joe! On we dashed close at
| the heels OF the rear ones. whooplng
Ike madmen and firing into the below
ing mass as rapidly as possible, teaV-
ing the dead and dying behind us. L
singled out a wounded Duil that was
painfully gal.oping after his wounded
comrades. / was not sure L had wound
ed MIN; but his horns and hide took
my fancy, and | determined TO finish
and cia,m lin. More than once l was
saved by the ~guickness OF my watch
| Iul UQtSltl8 aS uC IL ESu ~ nv -"
perateiy. Once his shaggy name
brushed my leg, but, as he turned
again, Il iuchy shot laid him low, and
the coveiei pre- was o L had
peen so interested in my own game
shat l had not thought to watch the
others. | saw them now, nearly q
mne away, sill pursuing the herd.
Aud | saw something else too, some
thing which l was at first unable t.
understand, but which sent n thrill o
} horror through my veins when L com
pretended It's meaning.
NV horse shifted the air excitedly
his ewes wild and uneasy and movin,
} to and fro as he neighed ~neryously TO
his companions. Away in the distanc
where the prairie met the sly in
heated, auiver.ng line arose a DARK
wayering cloud, small at first, but RAJ
idly spreading. 'Ipns he rairte o
U fire! The wind was blowing almost
gale directly toward us. and the Ions
dead grass was as dry as finder. DO
saw it. With Il shout to warn the ott
n ers he wheeled his horse and gaitope
tow I'd me, closely followed by Georg
and Frank. Iae buff tioes saw 1t als'
The black mass moved slower. an
finally turned aud followed my fricnI
as they had been following tlt"m a te
10 moments before. Our danger was no
more in beng trami,led to death thH
in being burned. Ileaped to the groui
to start a black fire." but found that
10 had left every match in camp.
mo match" cried Joe, as th'
- ueared the place where ] stood. sc
I'D - .- ,,l fnpt lavIl0 ~
saved"
DEVILS run is Ten miles away,
m answered b!ankly. IS | s!rang into /
saddle. Haven't You any match
either, boys?'
M Not a match. | don't see what
the dickens we were all think
about" said George.
90 ..Of the buffsloes." said Frank. -
we can do is 10 run for it now
The musings knew theic danger
90 well as we, and neeicd 10 urging.
cast a regretful glance at my prlzt
my first bufflio-as we -aiIoped aw;
W We could plainly smell lie burnt
grass. aud the dark, cling smc
overcast the sky above our heads.
W On came the buiftiues, shaking
ground with the thunder of many fe
az Joe muttered something in his lin
:" and his face crew aslien rs he looh
back at the herd, which was now
90 near that we could see the hecks
foam that flew from their mouths.
it needed no words to tell US that
90 time had comet We felt that all '
lost, when the herd suddenly divit
to the right and left. A moment m
90 and we were between the lumber
masses, which left Il clear space as q
Numbered by US, closing in again
w they swept on.
.sHeap good!" CIRCULATED Joe,
then he turned to watch the fire WI
We mad overlooked in he greater d
D W ger that menaced us. it was fast o,
hauling us, but it was not the i
=, M cloud with It's low line OF yellow e
that caused him to start aud listen
eagerly. There came a sound wi
we had noticed betoro-a confu
! no suueai.ne-mingled with the 8.
rumble OF many feet made by the BIT
loes. and a dark moving mass was
0 90 advance of the tire. L looked toJo
solve the mystery.
wild horsei'f he eriri |. as he DIR
the spurs into his mustang. "Dey
or turns out bGflt tN4 hft "A
meboe six.
Snail / ever forget that rider
we went, the fire momentariiy di
ing nesrer, the pillows oil smoke {
instant growing denser. and the
more suffocatiHg; while the frightt
squeals of the coming wild horses
gIed in a horrid chorus with the
of TIC wind and fire.
Que mile-two-and our ponies
their ground bravely, never halt
never stumbling. they kept their |
strides meek TO neck. but foam d
covered their steam ing sides. o
felt sorely the burden Hpon their ba
Like a promise of safety the ST.
trees near Devils run peckoned u
In the distance. Can We make
ever. Joe?" | shouted as | thought |
skops IN hfs swxFsky fess. "7fssse