Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-01-11

tered upon the black and smoking ground
which the fire they had kindled had
swept clear. There, for FIVE minutes, they
remained without moving, unscorched by
the raging element around them, bur
half-choked with the smoke.
Then Mr.. Hardy spoke: 1T Is over
now. You can look up
There was a general expression of as
tonishment as the heads emerged from
their wrappers, and the eyes recovered
sufficiently from the effects of the blind
ing smoke to look round. Where had the
fire gone? Where, indeed! The main
confiagration had swept by them, had
divided in two when it reached the
ground already burned, and these col
umns, growing further and further asun-
der as the newly kindled fire had widen
ed, were already far away to the right
and left, while beyond and between them
was the fire that they themselves had
kind1ed, now two miles wide, and already
far in the distance.
The fires in the pampas, although they
frequently extend over vast tract OF
country are seldom fatal to life. Ihe
grass rarely attains height exceeding
three feet, and burns out almost like so
much cotton. A man on horseback, hav-
ing no other method Of escape, can, by
blindfolding his horse and wrapping his
own face in a poncho, ride fearlessly
through the wall of fire without damage
to horse or rider.
At daybreak they were soon in the sad
die and on their way. They had many
an hours ride before they came upon thu
trail They followed it all that day. To-
wards shutdown one of the gauchos told
Mr. Hardy that he knew that at short
distance further to the west there was
spring of water much used by the In
dams. Finding that it was not more
than half an hours ride, Mr.. Hardy, af-
ter a brief consultation, determined to
go over there to water the horses and
breakfast, before retracing their foot
steps across the burned prairie.
In little over the time named they
came to a small pool of bright water
from which little stream issued, run
ming nearly due north across the plain
After drinking heartily themselves, and
filling the water skins and Kettle, the
horses were allowed to drink; and Dash
plunged in with the greatest delight,
emerging with his usual bright chestnut
color, whereas he had gone into the
water perfectly black.
After he had come out and shake him
self he commenced hunting about, sniff
fing so violently that Hubert's attention
was attracted. Presently the dog ran
forward a few PAGES and gave a sharp
bark of pleasure, and Hubert, running
forward, gave so loud cry that all the
party rushed up.
Hubert could not speak. There, half
buried in the ground, and pointing west,
was an Indian arrow, and round the
head was twisted a piece of white Calico
with little blue spots upon it, which Mr..
Hardy instantly recognized as piece Of
the dress Ethel had worn when she left
home.
"Oh, papa, papa" cried Hubert, 81
know this arrowv'
"Know the arrow" he repeated.
eyes, | am quite, quite sure | know it,
Don't you remember, Charley, the day
that those wounded Indians started. as
we were taking the quivers down to them
| noticed that one arrow had two feath
ers which I had never seen before, and
could not guess what bird they came
from They were light blue with a Grim
SUI ny. puliSu OIic Oll " COuIpdLp II
with my others. 1t is at home now.
remember that [ chose the one [ did be-
cause the other one had two Of the little
side feathers gone. This is the feather
l can almost soemnly declare, and you
see the fellow is gone. That arrow be-
longs to one Of the men we recovered"
All crowded round to examine the ar
row, and Mr.. Hardy said solemnly:
THANK God for His mercy He has de-
cided our way now. Undoubtedly, as
Hubert says, one of the men we aided
is of the party and wishes to show his
gratitude. So he has managed to get a
piece of Ethefs dress, and has tied it to
this arrow, hoping that we should recog-
nize the feather. Thank God, there is
no more doubt, and thank heaven too,
that Ethel has at least one friend near
her"
All was now joy and congratulation,
and Hubert rubbed his hands and said
triumphantly: ''There, Charley, you we're
always chatting me and wanting to know
what was the good of my collection, and
now you see what was the good. 1t has
put us on the right trail for Ethel, and
you will never be able to laugh at me
about my collection again."
(To be contnued)