ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



was sweeping over the plains from Texas north- 

 ward, and that it would be well for him to " back 

 fire " if he wished to save his life and belongings 

 (" traps " or " outfit " as the westerner expresses 

 it). Great herds of buffalo, wild ponies and 

 other animals of the plains rushed in frantic 

 stampedes for the rivers and mountainous dis- 

 tricts before the mad, wild flames. Once over- 

 taken by the fire there would have been left but 

 a lifeless, charred object to tell the cruel story. 

 Such has been the fate of many an unfortunate 

 man as well as animal, surprised and overtaken 

 by the relentless flames, fed by the long slough 

 grass, the thick bunch or buffalo grass and great 

 tumble-weeds which often carry the fires across 

 a stream more than half a mile wide, setting the 

 flames loose on the opposite side. Sam took 

 the hint given him by the stage-driver and set 

 fire to the grass around his home, after breaking 

 a " fire line " to prevent his own fire from get- 

 ting beyond control and destroying that which 

 he was endeavoring to save. When the main 

 fire came, within half an hour, it swept by leav- 

 ing the prairie, as far as one could see, a black, 

 desolate waste. 



[60] 



