The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11

flames at a mad pace.
Joe watched the fire for n minute
or 50. then he turned 20 re-enter the
tent.
The creek IS between the fire and
here" he said. so we're safe enough
He had taken r seat and picked up
an old and begun reading,
when suddenly he thought OF the
ranch and the cowboys. Throwing the
paper dowa and s~pringing excstedly TO
his feet. he cried:
The ranch will burn shor'n fate.
for it's right in the track Of the fire.
an I'm glad OF IT,"
For a little while n feeling o. exul-
tation possessed him, and. with a little
laugh. he continued:
Serves I'm right FOR drivin' settlers
off their claims. an now they'll know
how Il goes 10 have to give up ever
thing"
Suddenly Joe stopped and startled.
scared expressions came to his face.
My gracious" he cried. with a grasp.
them cowboys is asleep and don't
be burned up"
The thought was terrible.
Two or three minutes passed in ST.
lent thought; then Joe sprang 10 his
feet, exclaiming:
They're mean as pizen, them cow
boys is, III / can't think OF EN- burn
ing to death an me not dom not.lin'
to ave EN-"
He ran out quickly to where one of
his fathers mules was staked ouc on
the prairie to Craze Hastily bridling
il he mounted to the animals back
and set off across the prairie in the
direction of the ranch TO try TO warn
the cowboys of their danger.
He had a long hard ride before him
n he knew hat at the rate the wind
was blowing he would have no time
to lose If he reached h ranch and got
back to the timber and safely across
the creek before the flames should
overtake him.
Wen have 70 git down an hustle"
ne said, speaking to the mule, AN
We may git ketched and burned to
death ourselves, but We got to try to
save them snea'lin' cowboys. They're
| as mean as pizen, but they're human
befn's." zoe dill not spare the mule
brit mile after mile urged him on. He
could see distictly that the flames
We're rapidly advar cling. The wind
that was blowing from the west was
, grow ng stronger. too.
II dent know if we'll ever git there
an then git back to the timber before
it ketctes U.s. he said again to the
mule, but we must try"
1t l>quired a world of courage to
| ride right against that fast-advancing
wall Of leaping, tossing flame and
none but a brave person could have
done it.
Joe knew that those cowboys were
fast asleep in the ranch and that I'M
less they were warned they would not
discover the fire until it was too late
(, to escape. And he knew hat there
T, ives no one to warn them except him.
tn1 80 -ny-4 par, - 10 r,,-aS
| they'll try to drive us off tomorrow,
an steal our claim. an maybe kill us.
But" he concluded, 'it 'ud be terrible
for 'em to burn up"
1t took him a long time to reach The
! ranch and the time seemed much long
er han it really was. When at last
he drew UP in front Of the cowboys
cabin the fire seemer not over a fourth
of a mile distant. He could plaintly
hear the cracking Of the leaping.
dancing flames, n h smoke swept
up about him in binding clouds.
It required but a moment to arouse
h cowboys and inform them Of their
danger; and directly there was a
mighty hurrying and stirring, as
horses were quickly bridled end sad
died, and the boys" prepared to mount
Joe did not wait but turned about
and began his backward journey.
We've got to do some tall climbin'
now" he admonished the mule, "cause
the fires right after U.S."
The mule laid back his ears as If
understanding the situation. and got
dow to the best speed of which he
was c~apable.l Bue the long, hard
ride was beginning to tell on him and
he could not make the speed he had
made going.
1T became a race now for life or
death, and as the cracking of the
flames grew more and more distinct
Joe began to lose hope.
Wen never make it," he said, with
a shudder.
After a time the smoke became Sc
dense about hin hat he could scarce.
ly breathe and the heat from the fire
was intense. He gave one glance back
and a Shrek Of terror escaped his lips
The fire was almost upon him. II
was appalling to see the flames dance
roll, toss and tumble.
Then suddenly the mule stopped and
an instant later Joe rolled to the
ground, unconscious, overcome by the
heat and the smoke.
But, after all he was not lost.
Two hours later, when his senses
returned, he was lying on the bed in
his fathers tent and his father and a
h~alf-doZen cowboys were gathered
about him. In a momen the remem-
brance came back to him, and the ter.
rible ride all came back to him, ever
to his falling from the back of the
mule. and in a whisper he asked:
How did / escape?"
Jake reached you jest as you fell
one of h cowboys replied, IAN ne
grabbed You up and carried you be-
fore him on his boss. It was a close
shave for all Of US, an Jake fell be-
hind a little, SO he was list ready r.
drap when he crossed the creek"
I'D been pizen emery If 1 hadn't
saved the kid when he was losing his
life to save U.s." Jake said. Thar ain,
n boy in 10000 that would "a done
what this chap did-ride right into the
jaws o death. to save US, an specially
after what we'd said to him."
I couldn't think o. you all burnin'
up Joe replied weakly. ''even II you
was mean an was goin' to try to git
our claim"
There was a short silence, then Jake