The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-01-26

ready within a quarter OF mile
Against the glowing background l
could see the vast herd surging and
rolling up behind me like tossing sea,
as the huge heads of the butfaloes were
lifted or sunk from view beneath the
common surface of their foam-fieclled
backs 1t was magnificent, but II was
terrible. what would be my lot when
overtaken?' / asked myself.
In nv despair looked along the line
for Peter, without for one moment eX-
pecting 10 see him, but he was there
struggling along just in front of the
foremost buffaloes. ] knew III an in
slant that could look for no assistance
from him, for he had all he could do 10
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 1
reached it, and so perhaps turn or stop
the stampede. But matches l had not
and flint and steel were too slow.
There was not moment 10 lose, for
already | was at the edge OF the mud
and about TO plunge into the tall grass
again. There was no help for II;
must try the flint and steel A. thrust
my hands into my pockets TO search for
them, l glanced To estimate how much
upon me In doing so my elbow came
in contact with the powder horn Al my
belt. and gave me an inspiration, 10
which l owe my life.
Drawing my hand from my pocket !
seized the horn and wrenched OF the
tJp; then turning To n 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. \
| lurid flame and 4 cloud of white smoke
shot up from the grass, but for
moment feared the scheme was fail
ure, for the spot where the powder had
! lain showed no signs of fire. An IN
slant 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 ray knees, bent
Z. handful of grass To feed it 1t was an
anxious moment, but it took fire. Pull
| ing another handful, lighted IT and,
running along the edge OF the slough,
set fire To the grass as | went
BY the time this torch had burned
out. the first fire had gained considera-
BILE headway and already great tongues
of flame We're curling and licking along
the surface of the ground fully hun
dred feet from the starting point.
| | turned TO see what effect il would
have on the buffaloes and saw with re-
lief that the leaders were swerving,
some TO the right and some 20 the left
to avoid the new danger in front of
them
But the poor creatures Were destined
TO disappointment, Tor the hrc which
had been pursuing them had made ter
rife progress while they were IN the
mud. and was now racing down the
sloup h 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 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 reclIlessly round the cir
cle of fire which, owing to the high
wind and the weight of the grass. con
tinued TO burn long after the fore
mart of the line OF flame had passed
, over il.
= Twice they rushed by me, going il
; opposite directions, and then the i've
I hands met and in few terrible min
utes, Will. the clashing Of their horns
! and the bellows of the wounded
4 | drowned the noise of the couflagratlon
= great mum bers were trampled 10 death
q Tht. stampede was over, but IN
y smoke was still suffocating, and ioun
d il necessary to keep my face eovere
e with my arm
: When could. ! looked around anon
the painting, shaggy animals Tor M
/ horse. but Pete was missing. coal
n not sec a sign of him anywhere
n Had band OF Indians come dow
III that night there would have been a tel
rible slaughter OF buffaloes, but / wa
,e in no mood to take life i coutente
s. rnrself with watching, and, strange
n IL may appear, the butfaloes seemed
as understand that they were safe IN u
AT slouph for they remained quiet unit
f. morning. many OF the cows even Iyln
Ie down and chewing their cuds, while u
bulIs. like stalxart sentrles, pace
Ia round and round the herd, or sto'
ed shutting the tainted air
- In the morning the herd moved of
ed seek fresh pastures, but leaving Z
Nv bodies of fully a hundred dead sca
q tered about the slough
nv Among them | found poor Pete
From a financial standpoint of vie'
,ss that prairie fire brought me gre
he n,,otit. for to the buffalo hides secur
no and cached owe the farm on which
he now live.-Capel Rawley, in Allan
re- Constitution