The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-13

1rOm ner desk anO tossed nST ldAT IA
sad disorder. 1t was a hot, rough,
dusty breeze, but i: was ''air in mo-
tion," and any thing was better than
the utter stagnation of the mo ment be-
fore, SO she hailed it as relief. The
children greeted it with delight also.
Miscellaneous little Tommy Morton testi-
fed his appreciation by stretching his
mouth as widely as possible that he
might drink in larger amount of it;
and the rest of the younger children fol-
lowed his example.
The older ones Strengthened up in their
seats and turned to their books with re-
rewed energy-all except Alecls, who
continued to gaze cut of the door.
.'Aleck," said his teacher. you have
spent so much time looking out of doors
that am afraid you will not know
that geography lesson very well. Turn
around and get to work now" But
the boys gaze remained riveted on the
view outside, and he paid no heed to
the admonition. Nell waited a few
minutes, and then patience ceased to be
virtue.
O"Alecll"' she began, sharply, but was
interrupted by loud shout from the
boy as he sprang from his seat.
Teacher! teacher! She's jumped the
river and is coming up the big slough
Eastern a race horSe"
"Aleck, what do you mean? What has
jumped the river?' questioned Nell,
alarmed by the boys frightened face.
The fire! the fire! Don't you see
the winds raised, and is bringin' he-
right here? o, we'll all be burnt up!'
The younger children set up scream
of terror and rushed to the side of their
teacher, who had already reached the
door and stood looking at the approach
Of the still distant fire. The strong
wind from the southwest had famed
the creeping fire into leaping. devour-
ing monster. Huge burning tumble
weeds had been blown across the mar
row river, and falling amid the dry
grass and PUSHES of the eastern shore
had kindlcd fire which seemed to the
terrified children to be flying across
the prairies to devour them. Great
clouds of smoke rolled northeastward
and almost obscured the sun which
showed dimly through them like Il ball
of fire.
For moment Nell was paralyzed
by fear. She had read of prairie fires
and had seen their baleful light at
distance, but had never as yet expert
cnced one. She was aroused to a sense
of her duty to the helpless children in
her charge by an exclamation from
1anty 81 m pnin' n St1.aoly - fnp
home.'
mo! nor she cried, wide-awake in
an instant. You shall not go. Don't
you see how fast the fire is coming and
how it is spreading out? You could not
get half way across that mile before it
would catch you. You must stay right
here. Do any of you know how to
back-frc?''
"Yes, yes" came from the excited
group.
Then We'll do it."
Cant never back-fre enough to
save this old school-house," said Aleck,
who had settled down in hopeless de-
spair. Its chuck full under there
with tumbleweeds and grass and corn.
shucks, and they'll burn like powder.
Then we couldn't no ways make back
| fire git down to the slough before the
big one caught u.s."
Nell took in the situation at glance
and formed her plans accordingly. The
dusty least and west road lay little
to the south of the school-house. The
big slough" extending northeast from
the river, crossed this road few rods
west of the house, and it was up this
slough the fire was making its most
rapid advance, famed by the strong
southwest wind
Now" Nell reasoned to herself, "if
we can make the back-fire protect us on
the south and west, the big fire will
| sweep around us to both sides and be
| driven on SO fast that we can easily
beat out any that may chance to- strag
gle in from the east after the main fire
passes. If we can only make it reach
the slough!'
She few back into the house and
quickly reappeared with a lamp in one
hand and box of matches in the other.
Now, Alecll," she said, tell me how
to back-tire. for I've never even seen it
done. Jimmie, bring out the rest of
the lamps and unscrew them. Come,
| Aleck, we've no time to waste"
Well" said Aleck, you have to pillow
a furrow and set your fire on the out
side of it. You trail it along with
lunches of grass as far as you want it.
Then what fire gets over the furrow
you beat on: with wet sacks. But we
hain't got no plow nor no sacks"
Harry, pump the bucket full of
water. Girls, wet your sunbonnets and
my scarf. Aleck, take this lamp and
make little trails of oil from the road
yonder out across the prairie as far as
you can make it go. Be careful and
don't get drop of oil on your clothes
Jimmie, break off a lot of those big
sunfower stalks. Well need them to
stop the tumble-weeds from rolling I'M
der the house. Quick, everybody"
There was no need for the last ad-
monition. Every child flew to do her
bidding. Nell went rapidly backward
and forward from the bare playground
to the slough, pouring little trails OF oil
over the thickest punches of grass,
weeds and husks, while Alecl and JIM
L ~