San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-03-24

Everything invited the frc-feud.
whose work on the plains Is 30 swift
and thorouch-and he accepted the
invitation.
From the wheat regions up North
came tales OF his deadly work-oi
counties almost entirely laid waste.
OF hundreds made homeless and pom.
niless, with nothing left. ever.
whcrewith to wiring their bread ont
of the soil.
in C- county aud it, nci.h-
bors, however. all felt secure: the
fires were far North Of them. and be-
ing gradually exterminated. Besides.
they were in the Jim river valley: il
Is curious how much confidence the
proximity of river viii give 10 a
settler who is threatened by prairie
fires.
Mort Benedict and his father were
returning from the county town one
day, having been in to leave mother
for two days visit. and 10 have the
breaking-plow repaired. For day
or two there had been rumors of fire
only twenty miles or 80 10 tine north
and they were talkinc o5 thi. as thcy
crossed the bridge. four miles FROM
home A. they reached the top 81
the hill on tho west side of tine rivcr.
Mort glanced at The northern horizon.
which was not distant. on account of
a range Of hills running cast AMI
west, and
Did his eyes deceive him. or was
that smoke. just rolling mp above he
limo OF hins2
Look, father"
-SNued, the elder man did so.
Good God, Mort, She's a-comir'.
an comm { beat Ill, too. We got
t race / save anything
And race they did, but the fire was
racing, too; and when they drove
their painting horses into the door
yard, the Ilamcs were but Il few miles
away and coming down at lightning
speed.
While Tom and Roy saddled their
ponies and rounded up the live stock.
Mr.. Benedict and the three elder BOYS
and Bessie, in an incredibly short
space of time, put into the twr
wagons everything that it was posi-
bic to save, after which Hal add
George saddled their PONIES. joircd
Tom and Roy with the herd, and the
whole procession, headed by the two
wagons, driven by Mort and hi
father. moved off at Il rapid pace to-
ward the river.
Then, and only then, did Mort no
tice that there was no sign Of human
life about the Walker place Iii,
heart gave a leap.
''Bess!" he said. sharply; did did
they git away Did We notice en-
movin' 'roundF'
The girls eyes opened wide. "Oh.
Mort. ! haven't heard or seen a sign
of EN- all day
Take them reins. I'm goin' rack
an see.
He leaped from the wagon and ran
back, noting as he did SO, hov hot
the air had become and how near the
big wave of smoke was.
Mrs. Walker, singing softly a she
hustled about the kitchen, was a bit
startled to see who her unannounced
visitor was.
"Nlis' Walker. where's all yer men
folks? No. I didn't come fen. trouble
only tbs prairie-iro only little
ways of. an comm down like mad
Mrs. Walker sank into a chair
"Oh, heavens. An father sick AIDED
an all tn boys over t Bcrry's ON a
breakin-bec.'
Good Lord, Amt I glad / come
back! Where's the horses
"0h, Mort. They're all loose in
the Paster.''
Cit what things We wantuh save
t'gether real quick, They amt no
spare time And Mort tore out OF
the house like a madman. and down
TO the pasture. not noticing that
Nellie had entered the kitchen and
was staring at him, open-eycd
Both Mr.. Walkers wagOn-tcams
were composed of animals usually as
docile as lambs; but, to-day, punched !
together in corner Of the pasture,
they smiled the coming flames, and .
it seemed to put wild imps into their
carcas-es, ana it was =
long, trying time before Mort could I
catch two of them, swear. pray. try
as he might-and the great fire rolled !
swiftly nearer The wind had shifted /
from northeast TO northwest. Nor, /
saw, with q sinking at his heart, that
there was an even chance OF getting |
cut of from the river.