The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-30


lining out directly toward the head OF the
lake.
What could he do to save those two
boys9 was the young Norwegian's first
thought. They must be even at that
moment, he thought, we'll round the head
of the lake, wading through the tall grass
of the flat. There was no bank to the
lake upon that side; wild rice and tall
rushcs grew far out into the water, and
this swamp g-owth would burn to its
very edge. He could not race with the
fire on foot, and he doubted if even
horse would be able to outstrip it, but ne
instantly resolved to make the trial with
Comet.
He had frequently ridden the big fel,
low, who had become as doclle and
obedicnt as q dog, to and from the field,
having and geeing him about at will.
Now, if possible, he would ride the fleet
footed steed to some purpose. To throw
off the yoke and harness, tic rope around
the animals body to cling to, and another
to either horn to serve as reins, was the
work of a minute; then, whip In hand,
Emmett mounted and was off.
Comet, feeling a'few singing blows OF
the whip, broke away at his swiftest trot.
Although his gait had more than once
defied the best trotters of the settlement,
the big steer could hold it with ease for
a length of time that seemed Incredible.
In fact, as had been proved when Comet
ran wild among the settlement herds, the
animal was as nearly tircless as flesh and
blood could be.
But it was a rough ride, and Emmett
was obliged to cling tightly with one
hand to the girth-rope, while managing
reins and whip with the other.
The whip, however, was not needed,
and the rider had only to yell "Hl! Hi!
to keep the steer flying at his best gait:
With head up and tail streaming, Comet
rounded the point of the lake, some hall
mile from the knoll cabin, just as the
sshead fire" reached the upper end OF the
fiat which lay to west and north OF the
lake.
That s:head fire" was now mile dis
tant. and was coming directly down the
fiat, which followed the southeast trend
of the lake.
The smoke had grown so thick that
Emmet could only see few hundred 1eet
ahead, but he kept we'll within sight OF
the lake shore, knowing that the boys
could not have gone far down as yet, and
that they were not likely to wander tar
from the lakes edge, for fear of getting
lost. Their cattle, too, would be found
along shore, feeding upon the rice-heads.
"Hi! Hi! Hi"
Away they tore through the high grass,
across bitches, over rough, boggy spots,
the rider getting terrible pounding, the
steer possessed of but one instinct, 1t
seemed-to respond to the sharp Yels
ith the utmost possible strides OF his
long, feet legs.
The fire meanwhile was gaining every
moment, in spite of his tremendous ex-
ertion. Emmet could see that the smoke
closed in thicker, and feel that the air
was growing hot and oppressive.
But suddenly two little dark objects
appeared a few yards ahead, bobblng
above the waving grass.
Emmet gave shout of delight; it was
the black heads of Jake and Lib, ,noddlng
as thew ran. Their hats were of, and
they were running as fast as the wilder
ness of grass would let them. In an in
slant Comet was alongside, and, with a
few sharp whoas and hard pull at the
reins, Emmet managed to stop him but a
few yards in front of the boys.
They ran to him with eager shouts,
their fright turned to joy at the sight OF
him. But without waiting to answer
them he leaped forward, caught Lib by
the arm, and swung him up in front, then
helped Jake to scramble on behind.
dHank tight to me, Yake," he said !;
then. throwing an arm around Lib and
grasping the rope, he dug his heels into
Comets ribs, and, with q shrill chi!
Hill" set the steer off again at swinging
pace.
The crackle and roar of the fire could
nlainly be heard as they started, and
Comet, either objecting to his additional
burden or uneasy at the smell and the
roar of the fire, began snorting and
throwing his head on either side !omin-
ously.
Emmett feared that the steer would be-
come unmanageable, and, as last resort,
determined to run him into the lake and
make him swim for it. Somewhere not
far below he knew there was an arm of
the lake about one hundred yards wide,
extending out a considerable distance
into the fiat, and this arm, or bayou, he
had hoped to reach.
He knew that Comet would not hest
tate an instant to plunge into it and swim
the steer had been known to swim
clear across the lake itsclf-and once
upon the other side he could soon make
his little party safe.
Suddenly the smoke lifted, and he
ventured glance backward. The sight
was appalling! The smoke, driven up
ward by the rush of heated air, was ty-
ing above their heads, leaving the jump
ing flames in plain view.
The head fire was not a quarter-mile
distant, Emmett judged, aud was bearing
down on them with terrible speed, the
flames shooting higher than he had ever
seen them rise before.
Little Jake and Lib clung to him with
ont a word. while Comet threw his head
about and snortcd more violently than
before.