The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-05-08
.ome pIaoes . heIghl Of ssvsraI fesl.

the doctor rested his horse long enough
to repeat its history.
A party Of Indians were once surprised
by hostile tribeofsuperior number near
that place BraveIy did they resist the
attack, and when night came the ground
was thiekly strewn with fallen warriors.
Then, guided by the rule which governs
Indian warfare" discretion is the better
part Of valor THE remnant of the party
took advantage Of the darkness to retreat
TO the great rock which stands on the
river bank.
The enemy followed and surrounded
them. As escape was impossible, they
bravely preferred death by starvation,
rather than to fall alive into the hands
of their mereiless foe. Thus they per-
ished-ail but one. He attempted to es-
cape by the river, lowering himself by
the wild grape-vines which overhung the
precipitous side of the rock. His body
tloated down the current, pierced by a
dozen arrows.
Nora enjoyed her ride so much, she
was almost sorry when they reached
their destination. The doctor assured
the mother that nothing serious allied
her child, and as it was approaching noon
they accepted Mrs. Wheeler's cordial in
yitatiOn to dinner. Afterward, Mr..
Wheeler took them to look at the horses.
and it was late in the afternoon when
they made their adieus and stated for
home.
They had gone but a few miles when
the air seemed TO become heated, while a
smoky odor was noticeable. Alice, whose
olfActoHes were very sensitive. first no
ticed i. and called her brothers attention
to the fact
Why he exclaimed, glancing rapid
ly around, it smells like burning
grass"
Perhaps remnant of Ccoper's Dab
cotahs are trying to burn US out, sng-
gested Mona, laughing.
Her companions did not reply but
taking out his whip, Arthur touched the
horse with it. The animals instinct
warned him of the need of haste, for he
sped across the prairie in way which
proved his reputation for speed to be well
merited
Look p exclaimed Alice suddenly,
AMI looking back they saw that the prai-
rie was on FIRE.
4" Is there any danger?7 asked Nora,
anxiously, with long glance over her
shoulder.
Not if we can reach the river" replied
her cousin.
On, on-they fairly flew over the
ground when, suddenly, the front wheel
ceased to revolye, as theaxle had become
heated. The horse, excited now beyond
control, galloped on, pulling the wagon
with its dragging wheel for few yards I;
then the axle broke, and Nora and her
cousin were thrown out upon the hard
ground
Neither Of the girls were much injur-
ed, but the doctors leg was doubled un-
der him in q way which rendered it i'm
possible for him to stand on it, and after
an effort 10 rise, he sank back.
Go without me" he said, and became
unconscious.
What could they do p? Moments were
passing and the shadow of death was al
ready on their heads. Gazing into each
others faces with whitening lips and de-
spairiug eyes, each involuntarily shook
her head in answerto the mGte question,
What can we do?"
We could make FIRE break, but l
have neither matches nor Undertook said
Alice, who had searched her brothers
pockets only to find an empty match
box.
The fire was rapidly approaching. COM
ing nearer every moment. Paralyzed by
fear, Nora could still think of her home
and pray that she should see them
again. The flames reminded her Of
something Could it be? She put her
hand to her brow for a second with her
old, perplexed gesture then sprang to
her feet.
Arthur's medicine cifest Quick :
where is it?
Snatching it from the ground where it
lay, she wrenched itopen, and after st1d-
ying its contents, quickly selected the Vi
ais containing sugar, chlorate of potash
and sulphurie acid.
Well for her that the had conquered
her last chemistry lesson.
Sugar and ehlorate of potash will unite
in combustion if a very few drops Of sui
phuric acid be poured on the mixture.
Who could have thought that this
statement would be verified on the prai-
RE?
Nora emptied the potash on the ground
and added the sugar, and after mixing
them, poured on few drops of the acid,
A slight explosion instantly followed,
and purple flame appeared, from which
the dry grass caught fire. The wind,
kind st last, fastened the confiagration
and, spreadin, as it burned, the fire soon
cleared a path before them.
As soon as the sparks had disappeared
from the smoking ground, Nora and Al
ice, by great effort, conveyed their un-
conscious companion to place which
Alice deemed a safe distance. Then they
sank down exhausted. They we're soon
surrounded by wall of fire, and almost
sufocated by smoke but the cruel flames
could not reach them. Bot until the fire
burned almost tothem, around them, and
away, they could not realize they were
saved.
The family at the River Ranch we're
alarmed when they saw the eastern sky
lighted by the prairie fire and when Fire
fly arrived alone, they feared their chill
dren had perisbed in the flames. As
soon as horses could walk on the charred
ground, the father started out in seaIch
Of the dear ones they feared never again
to see.
In the midst of the prairie, with the
moonlight shining on their faces, they
found the cousins. Arthur had recover
ed CONSCIOUSNESS, and while he suffered
pain from his broken limb, it was
a thankful load which returned To Glad