438 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



to run on his trail. He strained his horse tremendously, and 

 succeeded, for when the sudden burst of their voices came 

 from time to time, proving that they had reached the comb 

 of the ridge, he looked back, and could not see it or them. 



He felt a little less tight about the heart now, and had 

 time to think something of his best course. It seemed a 

 forlorn chance for an escape — ^he was over six miles from 

 timber. He suddenly remembered that he had observed, 

 for several days past, a heavy smoke off towards the south, 

 and looking now in that direction, saw it filling the whole 

 horizon with gloomy masses, which seemed to be rising but 

 a few miles off. Observing that it was not very high, it 

 instantly occurred to him in his extremity, for he felt sure 

 from the action of his horse, that he would not last much 

 longer in the hard run before them, that the safest course 

 for him would be the most desperate, and this was to make 

 directly for the approaching line of this fire, and take his 

 chance of being able to force his way through it alive. 

 With such a barrier between himself and the Indians, he 

 was safe ! Acting upon this stern and strange alternative, 

 he urged his horse steadily towards the fire. It was not 

 long before he met the dark advance guard of the smoke, 

 as it rolled along the grass, and rode beneath its stifling 

 shelter, the fire being yet a mile off. 



He was now securely enough out of sight of the Indians, 

 and springing from his horse, proceeded to prepare himself 

 for a trial of the fiery sea. He cut his blanket into pieces, 

 with one of which he blindfolded his horse ; another he tied 

 in a loose bag about the lower part of its head, enveloping 

 the mouth and nostrils. He then enveloped his own face 

 in a loose vizor of the same material. The blanket was 

 coarse and let in air enough to barely sustain life for a 

 short time, while it kept out the smoke. He could hear 

 the yells of his pursuers seemingly close at hand. He was 

 now in utter darkness, and mounting quickly again, headed 



