Locating a Homestead 



;the wind was fortunately blowing away from 

 the longer grass and dried leaves of the bluff, 

 together we succeeded in beating out the fires. 



" I shouldn't have thought it," said Tom, as 

 we looked at each other. 



" No, you wouldn't," I returned, and added : 

 " But we both know now, and have come pretty 

 near signalizing our arrival by a catastrophe 

 to the district." 



Warned by this little experience, we carefully 

 chopped out a good-sized hole in the sod with 

 the axe, under the lee of the tent, and made a 

 little fire there, while I explained to Tom that 

 not only were heavy fines supposed to be levied 

 on any one starting a prairie fire, but elaborate 

 precautions laid down for their prevention, 

 which last were, however, as in our case, often 

 ignored. 



The wind had now stopped, and the dew 

 began to fall, as usually happens in the evening. 

 This lessens the danger of fire, and our kettle 

 was soon boiling, and some pork hissing in the 

 fiying-pan, and, as we comfortably enjoyed our 

 evening meal, we discussed the homestead 

 question. 



" I rather like this spot," remarked Tom ; "it 

 seems a nice place to build a palatial residence 

 on some day." 



67 



