The midland journal., 1894-01-12

10 rlgIG duu lelG DIS 1dr rs cOulu see
the struggling front of the herd extend
ed, and it was now across the bare
patch of mud, so it was clearly impos-
sible to evade them by turning from
their course.
The bare ground offered the only
natural protection that was available
from the fire, and l decided that /
might as well be trampled to death as
roasted by the flames, which were al
ready within a quarter of mile.
Against the glowing background
could see the vast herd surging and
rolling up behind me like 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 magnificent, but it was
terriblel "What would be my lot when
overtaken?" I asked myself.
In my despair looked along the line
for Peter, without for one moment ex-
pecting to see him, but he was there,
struggling along just in front of the
foremost buffaloes. l knew in an in
slant that could look for no assistance
from him, for he had all he could do to
keep himself from falling beneath the
crushing hoofs of the herd.
Then thought of firing the grass on
the far side of the slough when l
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
already l was at the edge OF the mud
and about to plunge into the tall grass
again. There was no help for it; /
must try the flint and steel AS thrust
my hands into my pockets to search for
them, 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 patch of thick
grass poured out the powder / un-
slung the rifle from my shoulder and,
placing the muzzle close to the little
black heap, pulled the trigger A
lurid flame and a cloud of white smoke
shot up from the grass, but for a
moment feared the scheme was a fail
ure, for the spot where the powder had
lain showed no signs of fire. An in
stant later, however, I 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
a handful of grass to feed it. 1t was an
anxious moment, but it took fire Pull
ing another handful, I lighted it and,
running along the edge of the slough,
set fire to the grass as l went.
BY the time this torch had burned
out, the first fire had gained considera-
BILE headway and already great tongues
of flame were curling and licking along
the surface of the ground fully hun
dred feet from the starting point.
l turned to see what effect it would |
have on the buffaloes and saw with re-
lief that the leaders were swerving,
some to the right and some to the left.
to avoid the new danger in front OF
them.
But the poor creatures were destined
to disappointment, for the fire which
had been pursuing them had made ter
rife progress while they were in the
mud, and was now racing down the |
slough sides at the rate of twenty-five
miles an hour. Before they reached
the end of the slough the flames had |
rounded the corners, and were rapidly |
closing in to meet the fire which l 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 round the cir
Gle of fire which, owing to the high |
wind and the weight of the grass, con-
tinued to burn long after the fore
part of the line of flame had passed
over it.
Twice they rushed by me, going in
opposite directions, and then the two
bands met and in a few terrible min
utes, while the clashing of their horns
and the bellows of the wounded
drowned the noise of the conf1agration,
great numbers were trampled to death.
The stampede was over, but the
smoke was still suffocating, and found
it necessary 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 ter
rible slaughter of buffaloes, but l was
in no mood to take life. l contented
mrself with watching, and, strange as
it may appear, the buffaloes seemed to
understand that they were safe In the
slough, for they remained quiet until
morning, many of the cows even lying
down and chewing their cuds, while the
bulls, like stalwart sentries, paced
round and round the herd, or stood
snuffing the tainted air.
In the morning the herd moved off to
seek fresh pastures, but leaving the
bodies of fully hundred dead scat
tered 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 Rawley, in Atlanta
Constitution.
Coo0dfnr