A WESTEEN ADVENTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5874, 12 March 1887, Page 1

A WESTEEN ADVENTURE.

The days were beginning to shorten as our four-in-hand dashed up to receive us at 7 a.m., after a breakfast by candle-light, for our return drive. A hard climb found us at the summit of the mountain near by. In the distance — seemingly fifteen or twenty miles ahead — the view was obscured by smoke; indeed a pruirie fire — not a strange Bight to any of us. On we travelled, but the expression and earnest look on Jim's face indicated to us that it might be something serious. About noon, as we were emerging from a dark, wild, narrow canon in cutting our way through the mountains, we were confronted with three prairie wolveß, who were just entering the canon we were leaving. They were fleeing with desperate speed, and seeing us they stopped short, gazing about them with a petrified Btare, uncertain as to which course to take, but they quickly dashed by us, within twenty feet, and soon disappeared. " A danger signal," Baid Jim, as he took an extra grip on his reins and stretched his neck. " A big fire we've got about üb." True enough, for as we passed out into the open prairie we beheld a sight which sent a thrill of horror through our veins when we comprehended the situation. We had been travelling westward while the fire had been travelling in an easterly direction, and had apparently closed up our retreat. The horses sniffed the air excitedly, looking about them in a wild, uneasy manner, their eara moving to and fro, as they nervously neighed to each other. Away in the distance, where the prairie met the sky, a heated, quivering line arose, Bnrmounted by a dark, wavering cloud. 'Twao the prairie on fire ! The wind was blowing almost a gale directly towards us, and the long, dead grass was as dry as tinder j the fire was plainly spreading rapidly, and with a wild shout to the horees, Jim showed -the stuff of which he was made. Of! to the fight we shot at a furious speed, leaving the road aud taking to the pathless prairie. A band of antelopes, with eyes like fire, came rushing past us, adding to the excitement and fury of our horses. A glance to the left showed that the fire was gaining on us ; with a horrible cracking aound, we could see the bright flames, twenty feet high, shooting upward, and tongues of fire leaping ten yards at a time ■before the gale. The fire was fast overhauling us. The dark rolling smoke soon overcast the sky above our heads, seeming to imprison us. Jim muttered something, and his face grew ashen as the fleckß of foam from our wild horses flew over hiß breast. It seemed as if our hour had come. On we went, the fire momentarily drawingnearer, the billows of smoke each instant growing denser and the heat more Buffo■cating, at times seeming as though it would blister our faoeß. Should we throw out our guns and traps and lighten the waggon P Not a word from Jim, but his strong arm and steady eye were intent on saving us, as we thundered on at terrific speed. Shall we ever forget that moment, when for an instant the smoke cleared and we realised we were being literally encircled by the raging fire—caused by •contrary and varying winds, only about a quarter of a mile ahead there was an opening of several hundred feet for our escape ! Could we reach it before the gap closed ? Again tho smoke wreaths whirled around

us ; our eyes were smarting from the heat ; the panting horses, mad with terror, blindly rushed through the darkness, as we yelled words of encouragement to them. Could they hold out? It was a race for life ! A few moments and ' we dashed through the opening, then not 100 ft wide, and were safe ! We reined up in a short time, after fording a stream, and with deep drawn sighß of relief, bounded out of the waggon. Our noble horses, our preservers, were shivering with excitement, reeking with perspiration, and almost white with foam. Indeed, we all set to work to rub and dry them, while soothing and quieting them with words of praise, for we owed our lives to these four noble fellows.— E. Smith, in N*Y. Post.