The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-06-14

at the clock, murmured contentedIy
Of having an hour before going for Mel
lie, and settled himself for another
nap.
Little idea had he that his only child
and costly steed were INDUCING in tie
widest OF races under q sky lighted as
by the flames OF hell and surrounded
by it's fires.
The switchman saw the girl as she
flew past, saw the swift galloping
horse, the rider with her long hair
streaming in the wind, the horse as if
breathing smoke, saw without recog-
milton, and superstitiously imagined
that the ghost of some red child OF the
wilderness, whose bones had been dis
turbed in building the iron track of
the pale face, was out for a midnight
revel. ~. -
< For q considerable distance the
road was Over an undulating prairie,
and both horse and rider enjoyed the
race; then they were forced upon the
ties, and the heavily shod hoofs clat-
tered along the bridges; then they left
it and safety and plunged upon a mar.
row thread of beaten earth, with fire
swiftly rushing toward it from either
side. Ii.
The horse, brave and blooded as he
was, hesitated, as we'll he might; but
the hand of the rider was firm and the
whip merciless. A brief hour had
transformed the gentle girl into a
woman maddened by love and su.
perlor to danger. The one idea that
had taken possession of brain and
pulsating heart remained permanent.
John King was in danger Of being con.
sumed. She must save him Or
And very 500 the horse became
mad as we'll. With long and Seeming
ly t~ireless strides he stretched himself:
His black skin was fecked with foam,
his sides were heaving as a bellows,
like escaping steam his breath was
blowing, his eyes were red with exer-
ton, and his frame trembled with ex-
element. .-
On, on they pressed, on thus far in
little danger, for the fire was yet at a
distance. But with every moment
it became nearer, nearer, closed upon
them and blazing sparks fell thickly
us rain.
On, on, and the flames leaped up
ward and at times closed over their
heads; they were rushing as through
a tunnel of kissing, roaring fire; it was
crowding in upon them, was beneath
their feet, was playing in fantastic
shapes around and above.
Mad as the girl was with desire to
reach her lover, the horrors of the
situation were forced upon her brain.
She bowed her head to the fiery
storm, shielding her face, and often
extinguished her burning dress; spoke
encouragingly to the horse, patted
his quivering neck. used the deep cut
ting lash, cutting g. hundred times
more cruelty, for his sides were crack.
ing with the heat, and the blood was
oozing from the blistered wounds.
On, still on but more slowly at every
stride, with steps less firm and secure,
breath more scant, courage less high
and pace less swift. Never yet a steed
that could bear such q fearful strain,
never yet flesh that could resist q
prairie fire with hundreds of acres of
dry, tall grass and reeds for fuel and
famed by a gale.
vi! 1h0 SLIl oulCAACo L0L eyes WILL
her trembling hands, and above the
smoke saw the waving of trees. AS
yet the furious fire had not reached,
at least had not penetrated, them.
There was life, safety and more than
all, love. Could she reach them? A
scanty half mile had yet to be travel.
ed. Instinct, often as clear to discover
as mind, told the horse of the situation
as clearly as her eyes. She called up
IN him, and he answered; she bowed
to the saddle, she shut her eyes, and
then!
The fla mes whirled round, and they
were wrapped in a winding sheet OF
them, the red, huge forked tongues
touched them with blistering kisses,
the wind roared through the gigantic
furnace, the earth was hot beneath,
the air burning above; deer, wolf,
every creeping thing were outfooted
in the race, were beaten down by a
swift death, and how could they pos
sibly escape.
On! Between them and the shelter
ing trees but a few rods remained; but
a few feet. Could they be overcome2
Voice and lash urged the noble horse
on. He struggled to obey, but his
best efforts we're becoming feebler, his
heart was beating slow, the iron
muscled limbs were fast becoming USE
less. A single burst of speed, at the
beginning, would have been enough
the racing OF a few seconds all that
was required.
Frantically the girl shouted, in de-
spair she dashed the reeking sides.
The horse gathered for a supreme ef-
fort, reeled, staggered, fell, even as the
wind roared and the fire Kissed more
savagely.
But the impulse had been sufficient
to carry him beyond the blazingdeath
and the bushes closed behind and the
trees rose above and protected them
from the scorching heat.
"God be thanked" exclaimed the
suffering girl as she knelt beside TIE
gallant horse. "God be thanked"
and she flung her arms around his
neck and shed bitter tears as she Saw
how scared and burned he was. re-
CARELESS of her own %sufferings.
With difficulty she urged him to his
feet and led him forward. But he
knew us we'll as she of their safety, of
the necessity of moving, and lamblike
followed deep into the wood where
the cabin stood.
"John, dear john" rang out the
voice OF the girl.
"Nellie! Great God is that your"
was answered and questioned, and q
moment later she vas locked in his
protecting arms.
In a few words she told all, and beg
ged him to do all possible for the