38 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



fuel. The poor man dared not, for some hours, leave 

 his watery fortress, but at last made good his escape 

 from the ruined neighborhood. His log-hut and every- 

 thing in it was of course destroyed ; but happily for him, 

 some of the provisions lying in a cellar, escaped injury ; 

 otherwise, after escaping fire, he might hav* died of 

 starvation, before he could get away. His companions 

 were lost in the burning forest. 



The lumberer himself told the story of his wonderful 

 escape to Major Strickland, who relates it in the man's 

 own words in his account of his own life as a settler in 

 Canada. 



Mr. Charles Murray, in his travels in North America, 

 describes this setting fire to the woods as being done on 

 purpose by Indians, in order to drive himself and his 

 companions from their hunting grounds. In whatever 

 direction they turned for sport, a light was certain to be 

 applied to the dry grass, and then all was in a blaze. 

 On more than one occasion, not only was his sport 

 spoiled, but his life endangered by this practice. One 

 day he had to take to the water, to escape from the flames, 

 which they had kindled in the wood for his particular 

 accommodation. Another time, seeing him cross the 

 prairie to a wood where it was supposed deer might be 

 found, they fired the grass in several places, and in such 

 a direction that the wind, which was rather high, might 

 carry the flames his way. Mr. Murray soon perceived 

 that he could not outrun the fire, and therefore adopted 

 the plan of which we have spoken, curing fire by means 

 of fire. He set the grass near him alight, and then, when 

 it was burnt out, took up his post in the centre of the 



