PEAIRIE FIllES. 25 



more distinctly than in the day time, the crackling 

 caused by the fierce flames as they lick up the light 

 grass and reeds in their onward course. 



Instances are not wanting of bands of Indians, or 

 even parties of white emigrants, losing their lives in 

 these fierce fires ; especially if they have been over- 

 taken where the grass is four, five, or six feet in height. 

 In such cases it forms an impediment through which 

 a man cannot travel so fast as the flames behind him. 



On an ordinary prairie the traveller can generally 

 make his escape, if he acts with promptness, and does 

 not lose his presence of mind. If he fires the prairie 

 before hhn he can gradually advance, so that by the 

 time the flames behind him reach the spot, he is 

 scores of yards off on the smoking ashes which his own 

 hand has caused. Sometimes it happens that streams, 

 or chasms (caiions), check the progress of the flames, 

 or a sandy ridge intervenes, or a part which has 

 recently been burned, on which the grass has not yet 

 attained sufficient growth to serve as fuel. But at 

 other times, when the wind is rough, showers of sparks, 

 overleaping these barriers, continue the work of 

 destruction on the other side. 



During the time I hunted in Texas with companions, 

 for the purpose of supplying a town, we generally 

 camped four together, and divided the labour in the 

 following manner : 



One of the party would go to the town nearly every 



