The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-10-26
IN A MOUNTAIN FIRE.
BY ADA E. FERRIS.
MOUNTAIN fire at night-that


regarding with awe and admiration.
Lets ride up and take nearer
view" said her Cousin Phil "You will
never see anything like this in Illinois
-nor very often here, for that matter.
There isn't a bit of danger. Prince
goes easy and isn't skittish, and We'll
just go up on one of the foothills where
we can see it all. Get your thickest
cloak, though, for it's chilly, and you
don't want to freeze on one side while
you roast on the other"
Nothing loath, Louise ran for her
wraps, and very soon they were gal
Looping toward the blazing mountains.
How light it was! 1T is like my pic
ture of The Last days of Pompeii,' :"
Louise painted, "only this isn't doing
any HARM"
A wagon came clattering toward
them, and Phil drew up suddenly as
he recognized the lady who drove.
''Good evening, Mrs. Hastings! Why,
you are not burned out, surely?"
Mrs. Hastings laughed Historically
''The house was all right when left
but / don't suppose shall ever see II
again. The sparks were falling in
showers then. Mr.. Hastings and his
brother insisted on my coming out
with the colts before the road was
blocked by the fire. They said they
could go over the eastern ridge by the
cattle-trail and ont by Wilson's road.
if they were delayed too long. Our
pretty home"
She choked, but almost instantly re-
covered herself, and asked hurriedly:
''Is your mother at home? think I'll
drop in on her until the matter is set
tied" she drove on.
''Poor Mrs. Hastings!" Louise sighed.
A fire starting in one of these gulches
or canyons rushes up it as flames rush
up a chimney, but the steep rock walls
on either side often confine it. Though
the cleft just westward of the Hastings
place roared like fiery furnace. their
ravine was still dark and unharmed.
Phil looked up it 1ongingly, but dared
not take his cousin in. for the house
was some half mile up the canyon the
tangled thickets. and if the fire once
started there it would be impossible to
get back. Yet he was aching to go to
Mr.. Hastings assistance.
Here's just the place, Louise. Come
on" he cried. turning up cattle-path
to the topo partially detached knoll
to the eastward. "You can see it all
from here, and yet be perfectly safe.
If Prince gets restive. throw your
handkerchief over his eyes Don't go
any nearer. Til be back presently, but
! want to run up to the Hastings.
You don't mind, do you?"
Louise did mind. but would not say
so, knowing how much the Hastings
needed help. SO a moment later she was
alone on the stony knob. Almost in
the next moment, 1t seemed, she found
herself listening to the distant barking
of dog. Louise loved dogs and recog-
nized this at once as the voice of a large
one, frightened, angry and appealing.
1t was up the canyon eastward of the
Hastings rayine. She had been up that
trail once with Phil and Nina.
There she had seen small, rough
shanty, and two small toddlers playing
with great dog. half-hound. half-bull-
dog, which Phil informed her was the
terror of. the neighbors and the de-
voted slave and guardian of the chill
dren. Was he now afraid of the fire?
He had reason. If it swept up Hast
ings' canyon it could hardly fail to
take Wilson's also.
Then Louise felt her blood run chilly.
Only that morning she had seen Wilson
and his invalid wife drive by on their
way to town. twelve miles away. Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson. but not the children.
Nina had told her that when the Will
sons went to town they left the chill
dren locked up in the house. No Won
der poor Bose was barking frantically!
He scented danger in the air, and his
beloved little ones were unable to es-
cape!
'.Phil Phil" Louise screamed, in
voluntarily, but Phil was far beyond
hearing. and already there was duh
smolder of fire in the dead leaves be-
side the road. where spark had fallen.
She sprang from her horse and
crushed it out, but that could postpone
the inevitable for but q moment OF
two; flames were showing over the
western ridge. and other smoldering
fires were visible. She could not reach
Phil-there was not time to ride for
help-yet clearer than ever she heard
the frantic barking. Oh, the poor chill
dren, locked up in that little shanty
with its roof of redwood shakes, dry as
tinder!
prince. we've got to try it," Louise
sobbed. springing back into the saddle
and turning him to the eastward.
Prince snorted as If he understood,
and plunged down steep cattle-path
10 the narrow trail that wound mp the
canyon. Half mile Of this cave-like
gloom, the crooked trail 50 narrow that
her outstretched arrls might touch the
branches on either side, and now, in
deed, Louise felt that she had rushed
into the jaws of death. A few moments