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

CHAPTER XIV.
There was no difficulty in following the
tracks Mr.. Mercer had possessed near
ly thousand cattle and five thousand
sheep, and the ground was trampled in
broad, unmistakable line. Once or
twice Mr.. Hardy consulted his compass.
The trail ran southwest by west.
At nightfall there was a general I'M
rolling of ponchos, and soon afterward
only sleeping figures could be seen by
the dim light of the smoldering fire. Mr.
Hardy, indeed, was the only one of the
party who did not fall to sleep. Thoughts
of the events of the last twenty-four
hours, of the best course to be adopted
and of the heavy responsibility upon him
self as leader of this perilous expedition,
prevented him from sleeping. He heard
the watch rouse the relief and lay down
in their places. In another half hour he
himself rose, and walked out toward the
sentry.
1t was a young man named Cook, one
of the new settlers to the east of Mount
Pleasant. rs that you, Mr.. Hardy?'
he asked, as he approached. Il was just
coming in to wake you"
What is it, Mr.. Cook?"
ut strikes me, sir, that there is a
strange light away to the southwest.
have only noticed it the last few minutes,
and thought it was fancy, but it gets
more distinct every minute"
Mr.. Hardy looked out anxously into
the gloom and quickly perceived the ap
pearance that his friend alluded to. For
a minute or two he did not speak, and
then, as the light evidently increased he
said, almost with groan, 1T is what |
feared they would do; they have set the
prairie on fire. You need not keep watch
any longer. We are as much separated
from the Indians as il the ocean divided
u.s."
Cook gave the two short whistles
agreed upon to recall the other men on
guard, and then returned with Mr.. Hardy
to the rest of the party. Then Mr.. Har-
dy reused all his companions Every man
leaped up, rifle in hand, believing that the
Indians were approaching.
I'VE must be up and doing" Mr.. Har-
dy said cheerfully; "the Indians have
fired the pampas."
There was a thrill of apprehension in
the bosom of many present, who had
heard terrible ACCOUNTS of prairie fires,
but this speedily subsidized at the calm
manner of Mr.. Hardy.
The fire." he said, may be ten miles
away yet. | should say that it was, but
it is difficult to judge, for this grass does
not flame very high, and the smoke drifts
between it and us. The wind, fortunate
ly, is light, but it vil be here in little
over half an hour Now, let the four
gauchos attend to the horses, to see they
do not stampede. The rest form a line
couple of yards apart, and pull up the
grass by the roots. throwing it behind
them, so as to leave the ground clear
The wider we can make it the BETTER
All fell to work with hearty zeal Look
ing over their shoulders, the sky now
appeared on fire. Pickering tongues of
fame seemed to struggle upward. There
was an occasional sound of feet, as herds
of deer flew by before the danger.
How far will it go, papa, do you
think" Hubert asked his father next to
whom he was at work.
Il should say tElat it would most likely
stop at the stre&rn where we halted to-
day, Hubert, Tae ground was wet and
Doggy for some distance on the other
side"
The horses were now getting very res
tive, and there Nas mOmentary pause
from work to wrap ponchos round their
heads, so as to prevent their seeing the
glare.
The fire coulS not have been more than
three miles distant, when the space clear
ed was as wide as Mr.. Hardy deemed
necessary for safety. 4 regular noise,
something between a hiss and a roar, was
plainly audible; and when the wind lifted
the smoke the flames could be seen run
ming along in an unbroken wall of fire.
Birds flew past overhead with terrified
cries, and 4 close, hot smell of burning
was very plainly distinguishable.
Starting abdut half way along the side
of the cleared piece of ground, Mr.. Har-
dy set the dfS grass alight For a mo-
ment or two it burned slowly, and then,
famed by the wind, it gained force, and
spread in a Semi-circle of flame.
The horses were already unprotected,
and half az the party held them at a
short distanfe in the rear, while the rest
stood in readiness to eXtnguish the ire
if it crossed the cleared space.
Over ane over again the fire crept par
TALLY acroes-for the clearing had been
done but eoughly-but it was speedily
stamped out by the heavy boots of the
watchers.
The spectacle as the fire swept away
before the wind, was fine in the extreme.
The parts seemed inclosed between two
walls of fire. The main conhagration
was now +earfully close, burning fakes
were alrssdy falling among them, and
the sounC of the fire was like the hiss of
the surf epon a pebbly beach.
Now Mr.. Hardy said, forward with
the horses. Every one to his own ami
NAL I.1t your ponchos over your own
heads Az well as your horses.''