The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-03-05

y
lowed his example.
The older ones Strengthened up in their
seats and turned to their books with re-
newed energy-all except Aleck, who
continued to gaze out 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 few
minutes, and then patience ceased to be
a virtue.
O"Aleck!' 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 horsev'
"Aleck, what do you mean? What has
jumped the river?" questioned Nell,
alarmed by the boys frightened face.
"The frel the fre Don't you see
the winds raised, and is bringin' her
right here? o, we'll all be burnt upr'
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 rushcs of the eastern shore
had kindled 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 ball
CT 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
enced one. She was aroused to n sense
of her duty to the helpless children in
her charge by an exclamation from
Aleck: "I'm goin to streak it for
home!'
"No! nop' 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 1t
would catch you. You must stay right
here. Do any Of you know how to
back-fre?"
! Eyes, yes," came from the excited
group.
seTb>n xn>y1, 40 Il
''Cant never back-fre enough to
save this old school-house," said Aleclx,
who had settled down in hopeless de-
spair. 'It's 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 us"
Nell took in the situation at q 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 1t was up this
slough the fire was making it's most
rapid advance, famed by the strong
southwest wind.
"Now," Nell reasoned to herself, ''if
we can make the back-fre 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
best out any that may chance to strag-
gle in from the east after the main fire
passes. II we can only make it reach
the slough"
She few back into the house and
quickly reappeared with lamp in one
hand and . box Of matches in the other.
"Now, Aleck." she said, tell me how
to back fire, for I've never even seen T.
done. Jimmie, bring ont the rest Of
tho lamps and unscrew them. Come,
Aleck, we've NO time 70 waste"
"Well," said Aleol<, '.you have to plow
fuxrow and set your FIRE on the out
sids Of IL You trail It along with
bunchss Of grass ~ far a. You want II
Then what are gets over the furrow
You best out with wet saokA But we
hain't got NO plow nor no sacl1s-"
':Harry, pump the bucket full Of
watsr. Girls, wet your sunbonnets and
my 6C4f1. AlcCk, C8k6 THIS lamp ana
make little trails Of oil from the road
yonder out across tho prairie as far a.
you can make It 60. Be careful and
don't get drop of oil ON your clothes.
jimmie, break of lot Of those big
sunhower stalka Wen need them to
stop the tumble-weeds from rolling un-
der the house. Quick, everybodyi'
There was no need for the last ad-
monition. Every child few to do her
bidding. Nell went rapidly backward
and forward from the bare playground
to the slough, pouring little trails of oil
over tho thiokest punches Of grass,
weeds and husks, while Aleck and Jim
mic did the same work on the south
side of the road till the lamps were
drained Of oil. The FIRE was started In
. dozen places along the line; and
while part Of the children trailed the
FIRE till II formed continuous lines ON
two sides Of the school-house, the rest
followed with wet bonnets, jackets and
aprons, beating out the tiny tongues Of
fame that crept out ON the school-house