ADVENTURES IN LOUISIANA. 167 



ful truth flashed upon us, and at the very same mo- 

 ment Carleton and I exclaimed, " The prairie is on 

 fire ! " 



As we uttered the words, there was a loud rustling 

 behind us, and a herd of deer broke headlong through 

 a thicket of tall reeds and bulrushes, and dashed up 

 to their necks into the water. There they remained, 

 not fifty paces from us, little more than their heads 

 above the surface, gazing at us, as though imploring 

 our help and compassion. We fancied we could see 

 tears in the poor beasts' eyes. 



We looked behind us. On came the pillars of 

 flame, flickering and threatening through the smoke, 

 licking up all before them ; and, at times, a gust of 

 so hot and blasting a wind as seemed to dry the 

 very marrow in our bones. The roaring of the fire 

 was now distinctly audible, mingled with hissing, 

 Avhistling sounds, and cracking noises, as of mighty 

 trees falling. Suddenly a bright flame shot up 

 through the stifling smoke, and immediately after- 

 wards a sea of fire burst upon our aching eyeballs. 

 The whole palmetto field was in flames. 



The heat was so great that we every moment ex- 

 pected to see our clothes take fire. Our horses dragged 

 us still nearer to the creek, sprang into the water, 

 and drew us down the bank after them. Another 

 rustling and noise in the thicket of reeds. A she- 

 bear, with her cubs at her heels, came towards us ; 

 and at the same time a second herd of deer rushed 



