Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-11-15


staggering under back-load of sacks.
"We've been a good deal further'n
this more'n once" said Jake, "and
we've got to go clear round the laken
drive the cows home yit tonight.
They're away over yonder," pointing
across the lake, s'where the wild rice
grows long the edge, and pas gone to
town"
''Sit you ride town on tenn packs
t'ere," said Emmet, "unt rest yo' lecks,
unit I feel let Comet rest, too. l did
tink meppe as I coot flemish tot
plowin' py night time, put ton't know
off ken to ut"
And then, seated on the plow-beam
he talked pleasantly with the boys for a
few minutes, then, telling them that he
would carry the sacks to the house when
he turned out, bade them ''look out unit
not ket lost cen TEN tall krasses"-tall
grass-as they trudged sturdily away
toward the upper end of the lake.
The lads had been gone from the field
about half an hour when Emmet noted
with alarm that the smoke which had
pervaded the air all day had thickened,
until now the sun was almost clouded
over, showing only dull red disk. The
smell of burning grass had grown more
pungent.
His fears were aroused wholly on ac-
count of the two boys who had gone to
the other side of the lake. The field III
which he was at work lay upon the south
side of the hill upon which his shanty
stood, shutting off the view to north and
west, from whence the wind was blow
ing.
He unhitched Comet at once, and
drove him at trot to the top of the
hill.
No sooner had he reached the crest
than he saw cause enough for alarm. Not
two miles away to the northwest dense
volumes of smoke were rising and rolling
forward over broad stretch of prairie
A big prairie fire was sweeping down at a
tremendous rate of speed, the ''head fire"
lining out directly toward the head of the
lake.
What could he do to save those two
boys4 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 fiat. There was no bank to the
lake upon that side; wild rice and tall
rushcs grew far out into the water, and
this swamp growth would burn to its
very edge. He could not race " ith the
fire on foot, and he doubted if even a
horse would be able to outstrip it, but he
instantly resolved to make the trial with
Comet.
He had frequently ridden the big fell
low, who had become as docile and
obedient as 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, tie 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,
Emmet mounted and was off.
Comet, feeling few singing blows of
the whip, broke away at his swiftest trot
Although his gait had more than once
defed the best trotters of the settlement,
the big steer could hold it with ease for
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 tireless as flesh and
blood could be.
But it was a rough ride, and Emmet
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 'tHi Hi!'
to keep the steer flying at his best gait.
With head up and tail streaming, Comet
rounded the point of the lake, some half
mile from the knoll cabin, just as the
''head fire" reached the upper end of the
hat which lay to west and north of the
lake.
That "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
Emmett could only see few hundred feet
ahead, but he kept well within sight oI