Homesteading 



door, so the bulls can't go in ; unhitch them from 

 the wagon, and leave it." 



At such times, if the doors of stables and out- 

 buildings are left open, animals are apt to seek 

 a fancied shelter there, to their destruction. We 

 were now a pretty heavy load, but the team soon 

 got up a gallop, and as we raced away before 

 the oncoming fire, it was a relief to see the bulls, 

 after a short hesitation, following in our trail. 



Fortunately, the course was still open to the 

 north-west, where the flames were not travelling 

 quite so fast, as the dry grass was more scanty 

 and the land free from scrub or bluffs. Abou 

 a mile in that direction lived another homesteader, 

 who was, as the saying is, " well fixed," and it 

 seemed possible that a good stand against the 

 devouring element might be made at his place. 



Arrived there, it was soon found that he had 

 a good piece of breaking waiting for seeding to 

 the south of his buildings, while a north and 

 south road ran along the west side, and there 

 was a little slough near at hand. He had 

 good fireguard to the eastward, and was busy 

 with his team of horses ploughing a second som 

 twenty yards further east. Now, it will be seen 

 that if the fire could be kept from crossing the 

 breaking, the guards, and the road, this man's 

 place was fairly safe. One of the most effective 



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