The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-23

cork; but, tired and handicapped by my
weight, he was not able to keep ahead OF
| the living line that was gaining upon him
| with every stride and which was now
| scarcely 25 yards behind US.
! sprang from the horses back, and call
ing him encouragingly by name rushed on
in front.
The mud crust supported me, and as
ran racked my brain for some way of
avoiding the stampeding buffaloes. To
right and left as far as I could see the
struggling front of the herd extended and
It was now half way across the bare patch
of mud, so it was clearly impossible to
evade them by turning from their course.
The bare ground offered the only natural
protection that was available from the fire,
and decided that I naght as well be tram
pied to death as roasted by the flames,
which were already within a quarter of
mile.
Against the glowing background l could
zee the vast herd surging and rolling up
behind me like a tossing sea, as the huge
| heads of the buffaloes were lifted or sunk
from view beneath the common surface OF
their foam fecked backs. 1t was magnifi-
cent, but it was terrible! "What would be
my lot when overtaken?" asked myself
In my despair I looked along the line for
Pete, without for one moment expecting
to see him, but he was there, struggling
along lust in front of the foremost buffaloes.
knew in an instant that l could look for
no assistance from him, for he had all he
could do to keep himself from falling be-
meath the crushing hoofs of the herd.
Then l thought of firing the grass on the
far side of the slough when reached it
and SO perhaps turn or stop the stampede.
But matches had not, and flint and steel
were too slow.
There was not a moment to lose, for al
ready was at the edge of the mud and
about to plunge into the tall grass again.
There was no help for it; l must try the
flint and steel. AS thrust my hand into
my pockets to search for them, I glanced
to estimate how much grace had before
the herd would be upon me. In doing SO
my elbow came in contact with the powder
horn at my belt and gave me an inspiration
to which I owe my life.
Drawing my hand from my pocket /
seized the horn and wrenched off the top;
then turning to a patch of thick grass |
poured out the powder. / unslung the
rifle from my shoulder and placing the
muzzle close to the little black heap pulled
the trigger. A lurid fame and cloud of
white smoke shot up from the grass, but
for moment I feared the scheme was q
failure, for the spot where the powder had
lain showed no signs OF fire. An instant
later, however, | saw two or three little
flames burning feebly in the old grass fully
four feet away.
To the largest of these flames sprang,
and falling upon my knees bent handful
of grass to feed it. 1t was an anxious mo-
ment, but it took fire. Pulling another
handful I lighted it and running along
the edge of the slough set fire to the grass
as I went.
BY the time this torch had burned out
the first fire had gained considerable head
way, and already great tongues of flame
were curling and licking along the surface
of the ground fully 100 feet from the start
ing point
I turned to see what effect 1t would have
on the buffaloes and saw with relief that
the leaders were swerving, some to the
right and some to the left, to avoid thenew
danger in front of them.
But the poor creatures were destined to
disappointment, for the fire which had been
pursuing them had made terrific progress
while they were in the mud and was now
racing down the slough sides at the rate of
rs miles an hour. Before they reached the
slough the flames had rounded the corners
and were rapidly closing in to meet the fire
which I had started.
In an instant the whole troop was thrown
into confusion, and with wild bellows of
terror the demoralized creatures of the now
divided herd began racing recklessly
around the circle of fire, which, owing to
the high wind and the weight of the grass,
continued to burn long after the fore part
of the line of flame had passed over it,
Twice they rushed by me, going in oppo-
site directions, and then the two bands met,
and in few terrible minutes. while the
clashing of their horns and the bellows of
the wounded drowned the noise of the con-
flagration, great numbers were trampled to
death.
The stampede was over, but the smoke
was still suffocating, and l found it neces-
sary to keep my face covered with my arm.
When / could, looked around among
the painting, shaggy animals for my horse,
BUT Pete was missing l could not see a
sign of him anywhere.
Had band Of Indians come down that
night there would have been terrible
slaughter of buffaloes, but was in no
mood to take life. contented myself with
Watching, anu SGfauBe DIS IL uldy appear
the buffaloes seemed to understand that
they were safe in the slough, for they re-
manned quiet until morning, many of the
cows lying down and chewing their cuds,
while the bulls, like stalwart sentinels,
paced round and round the herd or stood
shifting the tainted air.
In the morning the herd moved off to
seek fresh pastures, but left the bodies of
fully hundred dead scattered about the
slough.
Among them found poor Pete.
From financial standpoint of view that
prairie fire brought me great profit, for to
the buffalo hides secured and cached owe
the farm on which now live.-Capel Row
ley in Washington News
Herbert Ke1cey's Cat.
am not SIlrla1stiti011s still I do NOT think