| Show surrounded BF FIRC lifo upon the bonier is always attended with moro or less danger and excitement cit ement anil even iowa in her advanced stage is not exempt from it there aro still large tracts of prairie over which devastating names sweep annually notwithstanding thalur laws attach heavy penalties to the crime of selling out firc s at this season of tho year on tho evening of november 2 I 1 rodo out for the distance of scan miles to w a prairie lira that I 1 might accurately describe des it to our readers the settlement extends about hac miles cost of bur oak grove and from thence an uncultivated prairie twenty filc miles in width offers a grand scope for the llames on the evening in question wo ascended an eminence and beheld one unbroken line of firo extending from north to south as far as the oye could reach now bending to tho cast for a milo or two and now to the west bounded on one side by a blackened waste on the other by a brown expanse over which the llames were steadily advancing van cing As it moved over alio short upland grass it was not more than a toot in height in other places it cliot skyward in acry jets as it struck tho swampy ground reeds and flags grew rank and tall over space huge pyramids of name lighted the scene lor miles around marking places tons of hay acra making midnight fires WAS low and the line moved leisurely along in strong contrast with the evening before when a young ann residing with his widowed mother upon the outskirts of the settlement had dis cov croil abo firo sweeping flown upon them borne by a furco headwind head wind that threatened to destroy all before it the usual mode of protecting isolated farms is to plow a strip of land about IH anty width around alie premises and in ordinary cases the tiro will not pass over but it was evident that with such a breeze plowing would be of but liello avail and in company willi the neighbor the young man undertook the hazardous work of lighting it by back fires that is by burning the prairie in small patches before it lias time to sweep down in one extended line in places it was easy enough in others it required all their efforts to keep it from getting beyond their control for several hours alicy kept it within bounds but suddenly a whirlwind passed through alio fin scattering tho sparks and burning grass in a luminous about them the fire started anew in a thousand places as sparks caught and ignited cx landing in blaming sheets grew wider and wider with every breath of the wind merciful heaven we abc surrounded exclaimed tho older man as lie glanced hastily about for borne means of escape there was no time for consultation alio flames w ere sw emping down from tho cast borne by the resistless force of tho wind which caught alio tall grass as it burned ait oit at tho roots and it forward upon alie inflammable vegetation beyond if they retreated before it they must pass over a piece of swampy ground grass and reeds grew anuk and strong with every prospect of being overtaken in a dorsc place than where they were on camo the flames like a wrathful fiend every moment the air grew hotter and alio llio sparks thicker as the dangerous clement was borne toward them on the wings of the wind and each acting upon his own impulse fled in opposite di the ran toward alie flames and although alio llio burning epach appeared to be only a line lie found it much wider alian ho supposed and instead of clearing it with a bound as ho had intended ho was obliged to pas pasi i over several rods of blazing grass and when lio ica clied tho already burned his hair and eyebrows were badly singed and his coat on lire quickly drawing off the garment ho succeeded in extinguishing it and looked around expecting to sec liis neighbor but the older man had ron out into the slough and iby down only lils head above alio water to await alie coming of alio in a few moments the place was completely hidden from view by the crimson that swept over it liow a human being could live in the midst of so much llamo and smoke too deep a mystery and as soon as the grass had burned itly away tho young man returned to for his missing comrade when tho had cleared the man roso from his place of doubtful and stood gasping upon tho shore how arc you asked tho younger advancing toward him lam very nearly boiled about how I 1 am DC said as coon as he could recover breath enough to speak the d the air until I 1 was obliged to duck my head under then the burning reeds fell into tho water till they set it to steaming and when I 1 raised my head I 1 got a of hot air that mado me my choice lay between boiling and roasting id like to sec tho fellow that kindled the firo in my place awhile how fared you 1 I nm scorched some but very glad to escape so easily although I 1 haic not ho least desire to try it again chit hakl what was hint tho two men listened anxiously for a moment and lie sound was repeated striking a chill to hearts far luord terrible than anything they biad before experienced it waa a human cry and so full of ng ony and clial the two men trembled as it cilc borne across tho waste fearfully wild and distinct abao tho roar of alic llames tig a womans comans voice tho cider inan as a shudder ran through his frame at thought of a fellow perishing horribly eo near that could licar the heartrending heart rending shrieks look look shouted tho younger roan pointing in alie direction from which alio llio sound proceeded where darkly outlined against the lurid sky a form was visible retreating before tho which every moment gained upon glicr 0 god i it is my lily my own precious child Is there no way to ivo sivo s her exclaimed alic older man despairingly as his gazo fell upon the fleeing girl alas none were the words eliat rose to tho lips of his companion as his eye measured lie distance and lio saw how utterly futile would be any attempt at rescue the father comprehended single glance biad revealed to alio oilier that the flames would overtake her before they could traverse distance di stanco and it would only involve a useless uco of two more lives iio raved in agony A lifetime of torture seemed to concentrate in the moments aa they watched the fragile girl as she sped hopelessly on as to evade if only for a moment talc thai awaited her look look again shouted the couii man pointing to a dark object which neither had previously observed it was a horseman riding at full speed toward lio fleeing girl di alling straight in toward the firo aa it willing to meet lie llames halfway half way to the men who watched his course it seemed like lushing into hie of decalli but the horseman never ailt crad with an encouraging shout to lie gill alio now ran to meet him lio dashed onward unheeding alie current of air and stilling that waa batted toward him too late too itc ditc iio cannot ro pass alio ground groaned the father as his eye measured the hopeless distance lay between liia child and safety if there is a man in alio world alio can save her it is john harper said his companion encouragingly john harper Is tt ac ho fitchor fi thor and it was only yesterday hat I 1 told her never to bo seen in his company again and now the brave fellow is railing straight into alic llames to perish willi her and the groaned in anguish fcc ho has reached bior ho swings her to a scat behind liim and about to alic ground and with a cheering shout the young lann ared to encourage the fellow he gone lie asked a few moments later he is not taking alic shortest cut but is bearing away to alie right it matters not but a hopeless race with tho winds and no horse in could run it 0 my poor child 0 mv bravo boy and alic father covered his face with his lands anil groaned in agony tho rider knew tho strength of tho animal as well as any one he could feel alic panting sides and note the slackened speed of tho willing beast and realized the inability of the horse to carry liis double burden across the intervening space ant if lie could him to make bounds ho could reach the solitary tree that stood like a in tho midst of that scene f terror and desolation alic hono nl ready staggered with exhaustion ha but with whip and voice ho urged him on until trembling in acry amb he paused beside tho tree quick lily climb tor your life he wd standing erect in alio llio saddle and helping glicr as far lie could reach then swinging himself up he assisted her to n scat upon a branch out of the reach ol 01 the scorching llames the horse stood for a fuw seconds as if to recover breath for a final effort and freed from his burden made another effort for his own safely he staggered convard and fell upon his knees just aside the region where tho men acro standing and not a moment too soon the fatlich ran to him and ng his arms around his neck caressed lim with acan of gratitude ill take it all bock john youre good enough for alie presidents daughter lake lily and my whole farm her it ou want to lie as lie grasped alio llio bravo mans hands as lie descended from the tree ill accept your oner minus the farm was alic smiling reply how came out lily asked the father to look for you you biad been gone so long that we thai the names biad overtaken you afi answered well don t you over get john into such a again and she never did arthurs magazine |
