The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-05-30

sought his bunk. Tired nature soon
drowned his fears in sleep.
Five hours later q slim, red tongue
reached over the crest Of the knoll
that bounded the horizon of Star
camp to the south. It writhed this
way and that among the long grass
stems. Another and another followed
It, then wall Of flame, reaching east
and west as far as the eve could fol-
low, rose over the ridge and bore down,
with race-horse speed, upon the de-
voted little settlement below.
Jake Ringer stirred uneasily in his
sleep, and flung q protecting arm over
the quiet figure beside him. A glare Of
lurid light filed the little room with
the brightness of MONDAY; but still
they slept on. Outside in the corral
horses were snorting and stamping,
their wild eyes staring at the distant
but swift-coming danger. The ami
mails picketed on the prairie tugged at
their stout ropes, rearing and scream
ing.
Old Tom Griffin, walked by the rising
clamor, sprang with bound to the
door. "Firel Firel" he shouted.
"Quick, out of this, or yen smother
like rats in a holel"
Four half-clad figures rushed out in
to the night, and Dick Elland beat on
Jake Ringers door, calling: "Upl Upi
II ye value yer ives!''
Reused from his heavy slumber Jake
stumbled across the floor; trembling,
Carmen followed close behind.
! One look at the oncoming demon
| r A. L e. l..
IA back-are, quick, you idiots!'' he
bawled, and made break for the
cook house
Old Tom laid powerful, restraining
hand on his shoulder.
"Too late, my lad!" he shouted above
the din of the frantic, penned-in herd.
THAT furnace 'ud reach us afore twas
even started"
Indeed, the fiery breath of the ad-
vsncing flames already scorched their
faces.
1--WE must trust to our good horse.
Aeshl" spoke up Dick Elland, quickly.
A rush for the picketed ponies-in
an instant more each man was riding
for his life.
Jack Ringer was first in the saddle;
he curbed his frightened steed with
one strong arm, and with the other
swung Garments light form to q seat
behind him.
It was old Tom who stopped at the
corral, snatched the chain from its
hook, and, finging wide the gates,
gave freedom to the poor, crazed crea-
lures within the walls
Fear lent wings to their feet-the
ridden and the riderless together
dashed eagerly toward the dark north
ern horizon, where, miles away, lay
safety in the cool waters Of the Brazos.
No one looked back in time to see how,
with a leap and roar, the hungry
flames pounced on the deserted build
ings, and, In one short moment, licked
up every trace Of mans handiwork.
On and on, mile after mile of dry
prairie slipping back from thar swift
beating hoofs, sped the fleeing band.
Anxious faces turned now and then
to see If they kept their start
from their evil pursuer. It was
Carmen, covering on old Generals
broad back-Carmen, clinging with
clutch of despair to Jake's shoul.
ders-who turned the oftenest II
was Carmen who first noticed the short
distance-so terribly, hopelessly short
between them and the eddying flamo.
cloud was lessening. She shrieked
aloud in her terror, but Jake bade hel
sternly: "Take couragel It's only two
miles more to the river"
Only two milesl-but the pace was
telling. The work-weary and laden
ponies were already distanced by the
flying herd. Old General, with his
double burden, still kept his place in
the van, but Jake could feel he was
weakening.
Nearer and ever nearer swept the de-
stroying element. Slower and slowe,
seemed to move the painting and strain
ing horses.
A mile-a half-mile-now but a quar-
ter-to safetyl Could they make it'
The fire was pressing them closely; tht
singing smoke blinded men anG
horses; their skins parched and cracked
In the awful heat. Inch by inch Ole
General lost his frontage; in vain Jak,
piled the spur, in vain he swore and HI
pleaded; the good old horse was spent
In one last, despairing glance back
ward, Jake saw that the flames wer,
upOa VucllS HIS OTdVc UctabU BULL bC6k
gered forward, but at that pace moth
ing could save them. Garments fac,
was buried on his shoulder.
With parched lips the man muttered
"At least we die togetherl''
A wild scream ran through the pal
of grass smoke. Old Tom on the rive,
bank heard it: "Adsos, caro- nsso, on,
alone may be saved!"
The clinging arms relaxed; relieved
of the woman's weight, the hors'
sprang forward.
For a second her figure stood haloed
as her hair and light garments blazsd
upward; then the swirling billow
shut out the terrible picture
Jake Ringer covered his eyes ant
, fell forward on Generals neck. II,
, did not know that his hair was singet
| ~ IL o1~ IL