The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-04-21
SAVED FROM DEATH.

Emily Arban was fifteen years old,
but she had always been in delicate
health and was scarcely larger than a
child OF ten. Her father had been
among the foremost to settle far out
upon the prairie when the country was
new. and having some money to help
himself with he had prospered
nightly. A little settlement had soon
sprung up around him on the pleasant
bank of a little creek, but outside Of
this there was not even q squatlers
cabin for distance Of many miles.
AS has been stated already Mr..
Arban had prospered. The only
drawback to his happiness was the
feeble health of his daughter. She
was small and puny and feeble, but
with an exceedingly old head upon
her young shoulders; and she was al
ways saying and doing the strangest
and most unheard-of things.
Emily Arban was a fearless rider
and passionately fond of that health
full exercise; and. thinking it would
prove beneficial to her, her father had
given her old Buckskin, one of his
huge work horses who was neverthe-
less very easy gated and quite speedy.
for her very own. So the little girl
was in the habit of taking long. ex-
hilarating rides far out on the level
prairie almost every pleasant day.
In accordance with this custom she
saddled old Buckskin one sunshiny
morning in the late fall, forded the
creek on whose bank stood her fathers
dwelling. and spurred rapidly away
across the level country. A strong
wind was blowing from behind and
the dry prairie grass, scorched almost
to a finder by the summers sun,
rustled breast-high all around her.
Emily was in excellent spirits that
day, and even old Buckskin seemed to
share in the exhilaration of his little
mistress. For some time they sped
straight on before the bracing fall
breeze. without a single glance be-
hind. Mile after mile was rapidly
covered but at last she wheeled her
horse for the return.
AS she did so a startled cry escaped
her lips. and she refined in with a sud-
denness that threw Buckskin violently
backward upon his launches in man
ner that would have unseated a less
skillful rider: And we'll she might!
Right in her path. between help
and home and herself wall of fire
twenty feet high was rolling on be-
fore the strong wind with more than
railroad speed; while great volumes
OF Ink black smoke were rolling dark
ly and heavily upward. Even then
the sullen roar of the advancing
flames broke upon her affrighted
ears.
The deadly danger that menaced
her was only too apparent. A spark
from some OF the chimneys at Arban-
dale had been waited across the creek
by the wind and kindled blaze in the
dry grass upon the other side. The
whole prairie behind her was a sea of
flame.
Child as she was Emily realized
her peril only too we'll. Two minutes
would be sufficient for that wave of
hre to sweep over, but no living crea-
ture could endure its scorching heat
for even that brief period. Unless
some refuge be found Immediately she
was doomed.
Fighting fire with fire was an ex-
pedient we'll known TO the little girl,
Tor people frequently had to resort to
1t at that season of the year. SO she
hastily searched her well-filled peck
cts for matches. All in vain; nothing
OF the sort was to be found.
But one resource was left to her
night; and that was only forlorn hope
Tor the nearest water in that direction
was stream twenty-five miles awav.
Yet there. and there only was safety.
Emily wheeled her horse again and
was off like the wind Even the
frightened Buckskin seemed to realize
the lmminence Of the danger for he
strained every nerve to the utmost
Mile after milo Of smoking prairie
turf heightened out behind his clatter-
ing hoofs. but still the fire gained on
him rapidly. The smoke obscured the
light OF the mid day sun. the air grew
oppressive and'stiaing, and the distant
roar behind increased to laundering
below as he fed before the advanc ine
flames. .....-
Nearer and nearer still to the flyine
fugitive swept that terrible barrier of
devouring fire. though old Buckskins
trembling limbs seemed exerted tc
their very utmost Fast though he
fled the wind-driven flames followed
after him with still greater speed
Ten miles of space were soon covered,
but in the meantime the confiagratior
had drawn frightfully close.
Mercilessly indeed did Emily drive
the cruel spur into the heaving side
OF her painting steed and for a time
he responded nobly to it's touch. Five
miles more and the hasty chances tina
she threw backward over her shout
der assured the imperiled girl tina
they were almost holding their own
Ii it could only last for little while
longer.
But old Buckskin's tremendou
exertlons were telling upon his en-
.durance. He had been urged beyont
his strength, and spur r. she would