Warren sheaf., 1899-10-26
. IN A MOUNTAIN FIRE.
BY ADA E. FERRIS.
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BY ADA E. FERRIS.
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A MOUNTAIN fire at night that
A was the sight which Louise Elt-
ham, a visitor from the prairie states
to her uncle's home in California, was
regarding with awe and admirat ton. b
Lets ride up and take a nearer
view,'' said her Cousin Phil. You will
never see any thing like this in Illinois
nor very often here, for that ma ter.
There isn't "a bit Sof 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 ''It is like my pic
ture of The Last days of Pompeii, s., =
Louise painted, ''only this isn't doing
any harm"
A wagon came gathering 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.
tsThe house was all right when I left,
but I don't suppose shall ever see it
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
cathedral and out by Wilson'S road,
if they were delayed too long. Our
pretty home
She choked, but almost instantly re-
covered herself, and asked hurriedly:
ssIs your mother at home? think I'll
drop in on her until the matter is set
tled," she drove on. e i
Poor Mrs. Hastings!" Louisesighed.
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 a fiery furnace, their
ravine was still dark and unharmeds
Phil looked up it longingly, but dared
not take his cousin in, for the house
was some half mile up the canyon, the
road thither was bare cut through
tangled thickets, and if5the> fire once
started there it would be impossible to
get back. Yet he was aching to go to
Mr.. Hasting's assistance. s@ 20 ssa
Here's just the place, Louise. Come
on,' he cried, turning up a cattle-path
to the top of a 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. I'll be back presently, but
I 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
herself listening to the distant barking
Of dog. Louise loved dogs and recog-
nized this at once as the voiceeof aslarges
one, frightened, angry and appealing.
It was up the canyon eastward of the
Hastings ravine. She had been up that
trail once with Phil and Nina. s
There she had seen small, rough
shanty, and two small toddlers. playing
with a 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. s.. \
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!
.sPhil! Phil!'' Louise screamed, in
voluntarily, but Phil was far beyond
hearing, and already there was. a dull
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 moment or
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!
II ''P ,rince, we've got to try iit!,' Louise
sobbed, sprnging back into the saddle.
and turning him to the eastward.
Prince snorted as if he understood,
and plunged down a steep attle-path
to the narrow trail that wound up the
canyon. Half mile Of this cave-like
gloom, the crooked trail SO narrow that