The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-01-12
COKRALLED BY FIRE.
Story Of q Wild Night Ride on
the Plains.

4 nc ncrOage Oh the prairie, winch
month before had been green and sue
culent. was withered to it's taproots.
The sun had drunk the last drop from
the slough bottoms, and the mud beds
were crlss-crossed with cracks till they
looked as if they never would hold
wate: again.
st last the sun had set, and, tired
out from long days hunting, I
tcthered my thirsty horse and
lay down myself. I had bur-
rowed with my heel and my knife fully
eighteen inches below the crust OF
mud, but had failed to find water.
know it would be morning before
enough moisture would filter into the
hole to satisfy the thirst of an abste-
mious ground hog.
A few ill-tempered mosquitoes buzzed
around, but succeeded in driving them
II with pipe of tobacco before going
20 sleep
l cannot tell how long l slept before
I was awakened by the wild snorting
and struggling of my horse, Peter.
only know that the sharp CHATTER OF
his hoofs upon the hard ground aroused
me, while at the same moment be-
came conscious OF a strange choking
sensation.
Great God-Firer' I exclaimed,
springing to my feet and rushing in
the direction of my horse.
The wind, which had barely waved
the srindly grass when l had laid
down, was now blowing quite strongly,
and dense black smoke rolled before
it along the prairie and enveloped
everything in obscurity. Through this
murSy mass, and above it, [ could dis
tinctly see dull red glow.
"Soh, Peter, soh!" | called as /
CROPPED my way toward the poor fright
encd horse, who was securely tethered
by the fore foot. and evidently believed
himself deserted.
"Soh, Peter, sohr' My hand was
upon him and he whinnied at the
touch, then stood trembling while
bitted him and threw the saddle upon
his back.
AS soon as had cinched the girths
cut the rawhide lariat from his fetlock,
then stood mol ionless for one instant
while listened to determine whether
| could spare the paltry time necessary
to take up the tether rope from the
other end.
The heated air blew into my face,
and row and then pieces Of burnt grass
fitted by me- but it was not either of
these warnings that made my heart
stop with fear 1t was the dull,
laundering rumble Of stampede-a
stampede of buifaioes! l knew it only
too well, for had heard it once be-
fore on the banks Of the Pipestone.
Easy, whoa, Pete,' | said severely.
as the horse began plunging violently
in his efforts to free himself from re-
Straint.
hcsitated no longer, but flung my
self upon his back, and he sprang mad
~ away over the smoke shrouded
prairie.
Mile after mile we raced along over a
comparatively unknown country, full
Of badger and gopher holes, and not
knowing al any moment whether the
next would find me still on horseback
or rolling head over heels down a
steep bank, with possibly broken
neck.
Suddenly felt myself flung over the
l'ommel OF the saddle into the ola tx
ROSS The conclusion was terrible, as
fell sQuarciy or ny back, but I die
not lose presence Of mind. Springing
10 iny feet, duZett as | was, | gropet
around ind grabbed Pete by the heat
just Us he was rising. 1 knew, how
ever, Us soon as | heard his laboreC
breathing that we could never renew
tts old rate of speed, but must fine
Nomc other method Of escape from tho
sur.ying ocean of life and fire that was
steadily rolling up behind us.
Pete" gasped, for the Earring
had received had to some extent given
mo back my power of speech, we're in
y pretty bad tx. but do the best you
can"
From time to time l turned in the
saddle and peered back into the mys-
terlous rudy haze, bat it was not I'M
til has! been deceived dozen times
by heavy pillows OF smoke that | at
last distn .cuishcd the forms of the buff
IGlOes ana realized that the living tide
was close upon u.s.
Presently l could hear their wild
snortin:gs as they jostled and crushed
one another in the mad race for life.
Then could see their dark grizzlcd
forms against the glare, made doubly
monstrous III appearance by the mag
nifying influence of the smoke and nv
own fear
y Showers of red-hOt straws and grass
blades that had been caught up by the
draught and hurried ahead of the
hiimes fell like fiery goads upon the
frenzicd animals driving them to re-
moved cxertions
Pete was beginning to fag, and now
and then his hind feet failed to carry
clear of the uneven sod and he was al
most thrown to- the ground, but each
timo he recovered himself and stag.
gered on with the energy born OF
terror.
Suddenly I was aware that we were
struggling through a heavy growth OF
rank grass, and then we plunged into
An empty slough hole!
Never shall / forget the moment
hen Pete's feet struck with a loud
spiutter into the sticky mud: or the
"alf-dozen frantic plunges he made be-
lore giving in, or the moment glanced
round over my shoulder to see how the
hutfaloes would fare.
Pete struggled on. pulling his feet
from the clay with noise like the draw.
lag OF cork, but. tired and handi.
capped by my weight, he was not able
20 keep ahead of the living line that
was gaining upon him with every
stride, and which was now scarcely
twenty-five yar.is behind us.
isprang from the horses back. and.
calling him encouragingly by name.