The suburban citizen., 1901-09-14

on. Itn blow everything sky high"
30 goodness. The oxen viii be
killed and the wagon blown to pieces
Since he explosion Lep and Coaly
were ri. ling faster and the flaming
load OF straw was bouncing and sway
ing down the road. We ran after It,
Keeping as close behind the dangerous
thing as we dared The prairie around
was brightly lighted, Wisps Of blaz.
ing straw had begun to fly Off behind.
Sinclair's two dogs were racing along
by the wagon.
The powder horn had been pretty
deeply buried in the straw. The oxen
must have run nearly a mile and Sin
clair and l were both painting loudly,
and | was beginning to hope that in
some way there might not be an eX-
plosion. when tbe flames, which had
been leapmg high, shot far higher.
spreading out rs they rose. An instant
later we heard a terrific report. The
air far above the wagon was full OF
fire and blazing straw.
Fortunately the powder, being high
up in the load and confined only in the
thin horn, had cxerted its force up
ward. Aside from scattering the sur
face straw and making n loud noise
and big fash it did nothing at all.
Poor Lep and Coaly! They had been
panlc.sricken before, but now they
left the road and broke into mad flight
across the prairie. The wagon load Of
fire bounding along behind them
seemed no cncumbrance.
NO danger - noww cried Sinclair,
breathlessly. Lets catch 'em-if we
canw v
We increased our speed. The blaz'
ing straw scattered by the wagon was
setting fire to the prairie, and we had
to Keep on one side. Soon the oxen
clrcled to the right, making straight
for the ridge. We cut across the
prairie, saving n few hundred yards,
and were again near the wagon.
IF we can-only-only over-over-
take 'em" l gasped, as we ran.
wagons gone-I guess-but we can
we must-must save-the oxen!
Won't do 10 10 let 'em - bur ~ to
deathr'
"No-that it-won't" painted Sin
clair. "And IL we can-Only get-get
her out-before shes-shc's burnt too
much-I can--trade her-for-for a."
He did not say what lie wanted to
trade the musket for.
Soon the wagon passed ever 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. 1t certainly made 4 brilliant
spectacle. The rope which had cut so
deep into the straw that the hre could
not get to it at first, had by this time
burnt in two, so that the straw had
jolted loose and blazed fiereely. The
rocking and plungiug wagon threat
cned every moment to turn over, but
always righted itself The dogs still
kept near it. Fire enyeloped the whole
load now. and the flames were leaplng
many feet s.syward A rain Of blazing
straws fell from the wagon upon the
dry grass, which quickly famed UP,
making a fiery trail behind that OK
! drawn comet. .r.r .....a
At that time was afraid that Lep
and Coaly were scOrched but as after
ward appeared they were only panic
stricken. Even the hair on their tails
was scarcely Singed. Tho 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 GnL Coaly swung to
one SIDE. The wagon was running toe
fast tJ turn short. Up rose the hind
end in the air, and over it went, hurl
inS fire many yards beyond The
frame stopped on it, Side leaning
| against the straw, ana tho wagon
rested on the frame.
rho oxen had been nearly jerked of
their feet They struggled wildly
tearing The wagon loose from thc
frame and dragged it on It's side till II
turned entirely ovc.. They might
have dragged it to pieces, Lut tax
twisting broke the tongue loose from
the yoke. Once free th2y piulgct
away across the prairie at Orcakleci
speed, ,...
Sinclair ana I were already running
dowa the slope. We did not bother
about the CEen; they could taGo car,
o. themselves now The prairie gras
was burning all around tho straw in ;
widening c.rcle, so.that he could 70
get nea: the straw and Crane, BIZ. W,
righteG til, overturned wagon ard k-p
DRAWN it back til the Cic'l2 wa
large enough. Then We gave It
push though ,h2 blazing grasJ Gr'
left X standing o. the DugHt ground.
We then took = rum nG ctar, jung
Cd over thc praui frc ilt) a. black
oneG circle and drew nca: 20 ,.lc b1rn
.ng Straw and the hay "gaLc. 3.nciai
gaZ2d @o":owfully ilto the ere Sn
thought OF his loss.
she was gooL gul-2 .Ezaty goo