THE PRAIRIE. 39 



bare space thus created. He had the satisfaction of see- 

 ing that the Indians' fire could not pass its circumference 

 for want of fuel, but skirting it, seized grass, and brush- 

 wood, and timber, and so carried the conflagration on- 

 wards, leaving him safe, though half suffocated. 



The next day he went out in a different direction, 

 where there had not been any fire. But his Indian 

 friends were ready foT him. As evening drew on, slight 

 columns of smoke were seen spiring out of the wood ; and 

 presently the flames burst forth, the old dry timber crash- 

 ing down, and sending up a shower of sparks. The 

 flames crept here, along the brushwood, and leaped up 

 there, as they folded themselves round some resinous 

 tree ; while huge clouds of smoke, black and lurid, as they 

 shifted about, canopied the magnificent scene. 



The Indians had the best of it, for they fairly burnt 

 out Mr. Murray and his sporting friends. 



THE PRAIRIE. 



THE ponderous buffalo is the "game" of the north 

 American plains or prairies ; in some of which it still 

 abounds, notwithstanding the incredible destruction which 

 necessity, or mere wantonness, has wrought among these 

 beasts. Some idea of the killing that goes on among 

 herds of buffalo may be formed from a knowledge of the 

 circumstance of a hundred thousand prepared skins buf- 

 falo robes they are called being every year brought into 



