Part 25 (1/2)

The next day, about noon, I observed the Indian chief, who acted as our principal guide, standing up in his stirrups and looking anxiously towards the south-west He exchanged some words with our white leader; but still they advanced

I now noticed a long thin line of what appeared like ht and extending on either hand The rest of the party also began to look anxious I remembered the appearance of the prairie fire from which I had before so narrowly escaped, and I now becaer

The clouds of sher, and extended further both east and west Here and there, however, there were gaps, and our leaders seeh them At all events, we continued to advance

The Spaniards began to talk vehe the appearance of things The gaps, towards the broadest of which we had been directing our course, now began to close up, and presently a nuhtly aside to avoid us Whole herds followed--their instinct telling theion Our leaders thought likewise; so, turning our horses, we galloped back in the direction fro in somewhat less compact order than usual, and they now becaht, and ahead of ed on my steed to its utmost speed, for I kne rapidly the fire would spread over the tall, dry grass through which we had passed Before us hat, in the winter season, would have been a rew even ht, I avoided it

In our rear I heard a thundering sound, inter round for a ht of a herd of buffalo, which,on to escape the fla sound of which, I fancied, could now be heard

Another glance showedin thedown directly upon him and several of the Spaniards, who, it seemed to me, must inevitably be overwhelladly have gone to their assistance had I been able to do so Recollecting how Mike and I had before escaped, I kept verging her, and the grass would, I knew, though equally dry, be much shorter The fire too, in that direction, see much more slowly than it was behind us I therefore shouted to Pablo to follow me, but was uncertain whether he heard ht of my companions, but as I without difficulty kept well ahead of the flames, I was satisfied that I had followed the wisest course

On looking round I saw a nu buffalo, deer of several descriptions, wolves, and many smaller quadrupeds It would not do, however, to stop for a o, and after galloping several ained considerably on the fire

Looking to the right, it appeared toin that direction I was therefore about to changethe plain a band of Indians, who, I guessed, froeneral appearance, were on the war-path, and would not hesitate to take the scalp of a whiteto their trophies Were I to continue as I had been going, I should ride al, however, I felt sure--they would not willingly advance nearer the approaching fire

They soon espied alloped forward Should they come near me, my fate, I felt sure, would be sealed I had not a h the flafire

Directly in front of ht than in other places, and the belt of fire see the blanket I carried on y I tore off a broad strip and fastened it over er portion I threw overthe ends round my body

Before I had finished this operation I heard the hoops of the Indians directly behinded hi hi fro I waited till the s the blanket over my face and chest, in total darkness I dashed forward into the midst of the flames The heat was intense, and I felt that , but the blanket kept the sh with difficulty, to breathe

I could feel the fla sound, so s Should he fall, I th I knew that the worst was past I threw the blanket froun to fear that I should be suffocated I was able to draw a free breath, though the air was full of sh the fire, but my clothes were scorched, and round, too, over which I was passing was still streith s embers, which my horse's hoofs threw up behind hi on As I looked down my poor steed's neck and shoulders, I saw that the hair had been coe in cold water, therefore, could alone restore him A dreadful thirst, besides, had seized me I knew by the course the fire had taken, that away to the eastward I should find a broad stream or marsh I therefore rode towards it, and the instinct ofto where he could obtain relief fro for soth I couldbetween the scorched trees As I neared it, nothing could restrain the suffering ani me with hiot him into shalloater, and was able to leap off his back on to the shore

Scarcely had I dis up, I saw a score orin the rear of the fire, according to their custom, to feed on the carcasses of the ani into the water, and were swi the bank I fired at the nearest and knocked hi the cowardly creatures at bay; but their sentinels, who remained on the upper part of the bank, were all the ti the fearful howls theyanimal, or to feed on the carcass they have discovered I knew that in a few e creatures, and though I ht keep a few at bay, I should be unable to resist the nu surroundback the wolves, I reloaded , while the howling pack retreated Iup roundto seize his neck, but I beat the those his heels reached right and left Scorched and suffering froh he was, he strained everypack, and soon completely distanced the the pursuit As I looked overfrom all sides

On and on ent, till we left behind the region blackened by the fire, and I saw before me a hich the fla that the wolves would not follow; or, if they did, then I ht climb a tree, and defend my horse with my rifle as I sat amid the branches

I reached the wood, and discovered on the very borders just such a tree as I desired The poor aniht My first aih which I knew that the wolves would not venture to pass While engaged in collecting fuel, their yelps again sounded inon My only chance noas toon to my horse, I climbed from his back into the fork of the tree, where I was out of the reach of my foes This was the last servicetowards the wolves, I perceived, tothee of their tribe I no that Imy horse I fired at the nearest white wolf and knocked the creature over, but this did not avail my poor steed, for in an instant he was surrounded and pulled to the ground, where the dreadful brutes quickly destroyed hie, as fast as I could; and though at each shot I killed a wolf, it appeared in no way to di lost no ti their dead co brutes set upon hie as itthe e animals of those wilds; but fortunately I reht exhaust my aing down one of the larger ani on, but still the wolves showed no inclination to take their departure As far as I could tell, they ht starve me to death Not a particle of my horse was by this time left, for they had torn even the saddle and bridle to threads, and, excepting the wood and ironwork, had devoured the whole

Matters were becory

Could I have discovered even a sht have satisfied the gnawings of th, when I was beginning to despair of relief,sound which had warned me of the approach of the wolves when I was in the river On looking out, I saw a couple of buffalo bulls galloping across the prairie, with a pack of wolves on their trail The ani the tree also heard the sounds They looked up wistfully ata few desperate efforts to reach the branch on which I was seated; but finding that all their attempts were vain, first one started off in the direction the other pack had taken, then another and another went away In a fewat the bones of the white wolves and some of their own nearer relatives who one fro, I jumped down fro at me; but I shot him, and knocked the other over with the butt of e of powder and lead