298 



AUDUBON 





this, when, about two hours before day, the snorting 

 of the horses and lowing of the cattle which I had rang- 

 ing in the woods suddenly awakened us. I took yon rifle 

 and went to the door, to see what beast had caused the 

 hubbub, when I was struck by the glare oi light reflected 

 on all the trees before me, as far as I could see through 

 the woods. My horses were leaping about, snorting 

 loudly, and the cattle ran among them with their tails 

 raised straight over their backs. On going to the back of 

 the house, I plainly heard the crackling made by the burn- 

 ing brushwood, and saw the flames coming towards us in 

 a far extended line. I ran to the house, told my wife 

 to dress herself and the child as quick as possible, and 

 take the little money we had, while I managed to catch 

 and saddle the two best horses. All this was done in a 

 very short time, for I guessed that every moment was 

 precious to us. 



" We then mounted, and made off from the fire. My 

 wife, who is an excellent rider, stuck close to me; my 

 daughter, who was then a small child, I took in one arm. 

 When making off as I said, I looked back and saw that 

 the frightful blaze was close upon us, and had already laid 

 hold of the house. By good luck, there was a horn at- 

 tached to my hunting-clothes, and I blew it, to bring after 

 us, if possible, the remainder of my live stock, as well as 

 the dogs. The cattle followed for a while ; but, before an 

 hour had elapsed, they all ran as if mad through the 

 woods, and that, sir, was the last of them. My dogs, too, 

 although at other times extremely tractable, ran after the 

 Deer that in bodies sprung before us, as if fully aware of 

 the death that was so rapidly approaching. 



" We heard blasts from the horns of our neighbors as 

 we proceeded, and knew that they were in the same pre- 

 dicament. Intent on striving to the utmost to preserve 

 our lives, I thought of a large lake some miles off, which 

 might possibly check the flames ; and, urging my wife to 



