Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-10-09
He did not say what he wanted to
trade the musket for.

}
trade the musket for.
| Soon the wagon passed over the
ridge and started down the sloping
prairie beyond. On reaching the high
est ground we stopped, putting loudly.
AS we stood resting, with gasping
lungs and pounding hearts, we
watched the wagon rush down the
slope. It certainly made brilliant
spectacle. The rope which had cut SO
deep into the straw that the fire could
not get to 1t at first, had by this time
burnt In two, so that the straw had
jolted loose and blazed fiercely. The
rocking and plunging wagon threat
ened every moment to turn over, but
always righted itself. The dogs still
kept near 1t. Fire enveloped the whole
load now, and the flames were leaping
many feet skyward. A rain Of blazing
straws fell from the wagon upon the
dry grass, which aquickly famed up,
making a fiery trail behind that OK
drawn comet.
At that time I was afraid that Eep
and Coaly were scorched, but as after
ward appeared they were only panic
stricken. Even the hair on their tails
was scarcely singed. The upright
pieces In front prevented any Of the
straw from falling forward, and so
fast did the wagon keep going that the
flying wisps and the heat too, must
have been swept backward by the
rushing air.
Presently Lep and Coaly swung to
one side. The wagon was running too
fast to turn short. Up rose the hind
end In the air, and over 1t went, hurl-
Ing fire many yards beyond! The
frame stopped on Its side. leaning
against the straw, and the wagon
rested on the frame.
The oxen had been nearly jerked of
their feet. They struggled wildly,
tearing the wagon loose from the
frame and dragged it on Its side till 1t
turned entirely over. They might
have dragged it to pieces. but the
twisting broke the tongue loose from
the yoke. Once free they plunged
away across the prairie at brealkneck
speed.
Sinclair and were already running
down Tie slope. We did not bother
about the oxen; they could take care
of themselves now. The prairie grass
was burning all around the straw in a
widening circle, so that he could not
get near the straw and frame, but we
righted the overturned wagon and kept
drawing it back till the circle was
large enough. Then we gave it
push through the blazing grass and
left 1t standing on the burnt ground.
We then took running start. jump
ed over the prairie fire into the black
ened circle and drew near to the burn
ing straw and the hay frame. Sinclair
gazed sorrowfully into the fire and
thought Of his loss.
"She was good gun-a mighty good
gun" he sighed. eff we'd only saved
her I could have got a fine trade for
her from somebody. Guess, though,
I'd have kept her to hunt with. Oh,
you needn't laugh! know she didn't
shoot so overly well the first few
times, but that must have been be-
cause I didn't know how to load het.
I'd never loaded q musket before.
That last shot sounded mighty like it
would have killed something If 1t had
half chance"
"That's so, Sink" I said, "but don't
worry about the old thing. Hunt up
another one. The owner will be glad
to. trade it to you for pocket knife.
It'was pity, though, that you lost so
much good powder. What tickles me
is the way that wagon was saved. If
we'd stopped the oxen before they up
set 1t, as we tried to, we couldn't have
got the load off, and straw, wagon and
all would have burnt up before our
eyes. in spite Of everything we could
do. Lucky turnover for me-"
A little later, after we had rested
and after the prairie fires had opened
a way for us, we turned and trudged
OF toward home-Youth's Companion.