The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-23
CORRALLED BY FIRE.
It was the end of scorching day in


August, 1870
Theherbage of the prairie, which a month
before had been green and succulent, was
,withered to it's top roots The sun had
drunk the last drop from the slough bot
toms, and the mud beds were crisscrossed
with cracks till they looked as il they
never would hold water again.
At last the sun had set. and tired out
from long DAYS hunting I tethered nv
thirsty horse and Law down thirsty myself
II had b1rrowed with nv heel and nv knife
fully IS inches below the crust of the mud
but had failed to find water. / knew it
would be morning before enough moisture
would filter into the hole to satisfy the
thirst of an absteraious grounding.
A few ill tempered mosquitoes buzzed
around, but I succeeded in driving them
off with pipe of tobacco before going to
sleep.
1 cannot tell how long I slept before
was awakened by the wild snorting and
struggling of my horse, Peter. / only know
that the sharp clatter of his hoofs upon the
hard ground aroused me, while at the same
moment became conscious of a strange
choking sensation
"Great Godl Firep' exclaimed, spring
ing to nv feet and rushing in the direction
of nv horse.
The wind, which had barely waved the
spindly grass when [ had laid down, was
now blowing quite strongly, and dense
black smoke rolled before it along the prai-
,rie and enveloped everything in obscurity.
Through this murky mass and above it /
could distinctly see dull red glow.
"Soh. Peter. sohr, T called as I eroned
NV wov toward the moor. frightened horse
who was securely tethered nv the fore foot
land evidently believed himself deserted
aSob. Peter. sohr, Nv hand was upon
him and be,wbinnied at nv touch. then
stood trembling while T bitted him and
threw the saddle unon his back.
Az soon as had cinched the oirtbs emf
the rawhide lariat from his fetlock. then
stood motionless for one instant while r
listened TO determine whether could snare
the na1trv time necessary To take IN the
tetber rome from the other end.
The heated air blew into NV face and
now and then nieces of burned grass fitted
nv me Init II was NOT either of these warn
mos tbat made NV hart sion with fear If
vss the duli thnnderine rumble of q SIAM
nede-s stamnede of buffaloesl knew If
pnIv too well for had heard II, once before
~, H. ho,,Ls Of +ba pnes+one
sEssv whoa pete i T said severelv az
Tho borsa began nlnnoino VIOLENTLY in his
efforts 10 free himself from restraint
has;t.tod no Io,oer hut fn,cr ,,,yso1f
,,ro,, bic hool ond he snrsro, ~, sdlv s,yov
go o +ha 90 sl,ronde6 ,,rai,.;e
MIL, ee oftar r,i 10 we raced ALONG over
oor,noret;ve,v nntno1n conntry f,,l1 of
hadaer and oonber ho1as and not hnowino
at snv moment uybether the neyt womb
And me- still On horseback or rolling head
over heels down a steen hank. with nossi-
bly a broken neck 49,
I strove TO encourage Pete. but the in
+ond eS words died ,ln9o;ced for NV T,o,tb
and throat were drv NV tonone moved
sasinst INV nalata Iike . dry c;nder T
,rescbed down and natted the horse IN rho
Isbo,1lder and tbe white sweat foam h, ,st
sLro, ~ NV An r,ors 81 aaoh +o,, a,,d o1,,,r
to tbeir tins II, sl;nov stresls
c,1ddon1n 7 faIf ,,rsoIf a,,,e, ,,o,. +ha