St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-02-15

In a short time Charlie had Sc
cured his little sure-footed beast,
and soaking his clothes with what
water could be spared from the
drinking water in the canteens he
was ready for the journey. As he
spurred his horse down into the fire,
the men gave him cheer. He waved
his big hat at them and was gone
amidst the smoke and falling logs.
Trees and underground were not
thick and there were patches left
here and there unburned owing to
the lodges of rock and huge piles of
powders.
He dug his spurs into the little
beast and down they went, into gull
lies, up over steep rocks, with Charlie
laying close to his horses neck
running, stumbling, all but falling at
times in the treacherous lights and
shadows of the blazing wood. Once
great pine came crashing down
few feet in front of his horse and
both were covered with burning
sparks. With a scream of pain the
little horse gathered himself up again
and passed in safety. By strange
good luck, or by instinct of the horse,
he struck trail that led him into
road to the old mans cabin in the
draw. Here he dug his spurs vicious
ly into the horses sides and forced
him to the top of his speed. Straight
| to the cabin he went, where he half
| fell from his horse, burst in the door,
yelling as he did SO to arouse the
sleeping occupants.
Williams and his daughter had
gone to bed, thinking themselves safe
from the fire owing to the wind driv-
ing it to the north and east away
from their home. Half asleep Will
liams aroused his daughter, and while
she hastily dressed he broke into the
! corral and secured horses. 1t was
but the work of a moment before
they were on the return trip, Charlie
leading the horse with the girl, fol-
lowed by the old man. Down the
road they went as fast as the horses
would carry them through the smoke.
Charlie had thoughtfully wrapped
the girl in blanket before the start.
| The flames swept SO close to the
ground that it was impossible to fol-
low the road. Williams was lost from
| the two ahead a short time after
leaving the cabin. Lewis turned and
yelled, but his voice was drowned in
the roar. To hesitate meant death.
The horse behind stumbled and fell.
In a moment Lewis was down beside
the girl and raised her in half un-
conscious condition onto the saddle
with him and continued his heroic
ride.
Almost hopelessly he spurred his
staggering horse Oh; it seemed hours
to him. Then wrapping the blanket
tightly around the girl, for one more
desperate effort, he jabbed the cruel
spurs into both sides of his tagging
/. bronco and plunged up steep hill
side and through the roaring flames.
He was nearly swept from his horse
by burning brands and partially
blinded as they struck him across the
face. AS he reached the brow of the
hill his horse stumbled and fell. In
q second he was on his feet, and with
the girl in his arms started again for
the outer edge of the fire.
At last hope gone, blinded, weak
from his gallant fight, SCARED in a
hundred places, his face and hands
burned almost to crisp, he fell ex-
hausted with his burden. He had
reached the limit of human endur-
ance. He had hardly fallen when he
heard familiar voice near at hand
yelling to his men:
''Cut away that log, men! Heave
it into the canyon below
"Help, cap; help, quick he man
aged to scream, and in less time than
the telling takes Lewis and the girl
were whisked from the sea of flames
with willing hands. In short time
the girl recovered sufficient to tell
the story of the wild ride, but Lewis
remained unconscious for days.
A search was instituted for the
missing Williams as soon as it was
possible to do SO, but it was weeks
afterward that his charred remains
were found beside the bones of his
faithful horse. He had wandered
around in the fire until both were
suffocated.
Except for the effects of the smoke
Mabel Williams suffered no i'll effects
from the ride. Charles forethought
in wrapping her in the blanket had
saved her from burns.
The man seemed remarkably well
content with his nurse during the
time his burns were healing. One
day he said to her:
II think I'd ought to have to pay
for that horse and saddle, Mabel
mighty good horse and double cinc1
saddle, too"
', Il don't think you should have
more than you can carry, Charlie
on a warm day, anyhow
"Ouch, May, that's my sore arm
that got foolin' round in the fire;
you'll have to hug me on the Other
side.'
And pay for that horse and saddle
is standing joke between them yet
| Particular.