79 



I plunged with the others into the flames to save, if pos- 

 sible, the arms and equipments. We had hardly got to 

 work before the carbines (laid across the saddles on the 

 ground) began to go off with the heat ; and this fire, added 

 to the other, and an occasional explosion of a cartridge- 

 box, made it so hot that we were all obliged to get out of 

 the camp and take cover. Some of the horses broke 

 their lariat ropes and stampeded ; and in five minutes 

 from the first alarm we were reduced from a well-armed, 

 well-mounted aggressive force, to an apparently half- 

 armed, half-mounted, singed, and dilapidated party. 



Most fortunately for us the wind was so high that the 

 flames passed with extreme rapidity ; and though the heat 

 was intense for a moment, it soon subsided. The wood- 

 work of the arms was scorched and charred, but their 

 utility was not impaired ; many of the saddles and equip- 

 ments were almost ruined, some of the rations destroyed, 

 and all lighter articles of clothing gone completely. I 

 moved camp across the stream. By next evening the 

 guards and pickets had found and brought in all the 

 stampeded animals, the saddles and accoutrements were 

 mended as skilfully as our means permitted, and I was 

 very glad, after such an experience, to continue my scout 

 with only the loss of one day, though I had lost bedding 

 and every article of clothing except what was on my 

 person. Under the circumstances we got off remarkably 

 well, better than we deserved. 



The prairie fire of the high plains is a very insignificant 

 affair ; but in the canons, or rich alluvial deposits of the 

 great valleys, where the grass is high and vegetation of 

 all kinds is abundant, to be caught in one is a most 

 serious misadventure, from which it may require the ut- 

 most coolness and presence of mind to extricate oneself 

 without injury. 



Setting fire to the grass in the vicinity of the camp at 

 night is one of the Indian modes of annoying a party too 

 strong for attack and too vigilant for a successful attempt at 



