At two o'clock in the morning I was roused up by the
loud neighing of the horses. Old Blacky's hoarse voice was
especially strong. As I opened my eyes there was a reddish glare
coming through the white cover. "Prairie fire!" flashed into my
mind instantly, and I gave Jack a shake and got out of the front
of the wagon as quickly as I could. I had guessed aright; the
flames were sweeping up the shallow valley of the creek before
the wind as fast as a horse could travel.
[Illustration: In the Prairie Fire]
Jack came tumbling out, and we knew instantly what to do. We both
ran a few yards ahead of the wagon and knelt in the grass, and
struck matches almost at the same moment. Jack's went out, but
mine caught, and a little flame leaped up, reached over and to both
sides, and then rolled away before the wind, spreading wider and
wider. I beat out the feeble blaze which tried to work to
windward, and ran back to the wagon, while Jack went after the
horses. The coming flames were almost upon us by this time; but
Ollie was out, and together, aided by the wind, we rolled the wagon
ahead on our little new-made oasis of safety.
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