A PRAIRIE CONFLAGRATION, 29 
where he purposed to lead a lonely life, in 
hopes of escaping the vengeance of his in- 
censed predecessor. From this, it would ap- 
pear that affairs of gallantry are not evils ex- 
clusively confined to civilization. Plausible, 
however, as the Indian’s story seemed to be, 
we had strong suspicions that others of his 
band were not far off; and that he, with his 
‘better half” had only been skulking about in 
hopes of exercising their ‘acquisitiveness’ at 
our expense ; when, on finding themselves 
discovered, they deemed it the best policy 
fearlessly to approach us. This singular visit 
afforded a specimen of that confidence with 
which civilization inspires even the most un- 
tutored savages. They remained with us, in 
the utmost nonchalance, till the following 
morning. 
Shortly after the arrival of the visitors, we 
were terribly alarmed at a sudden prairie con- 
flacration. The old grass of the valley in 
which we were encamped had not been 
burned off, and one of our cooks having un- 
wittingly kindled a fire in the midst of it, it 
spread at once with wonderful rapidity, and 
a brisk wind springing up at the time, the 
flames were carried over the valley, in spite 
of every effort we could make to check them. 
Fortunately for us, the fire had broken out to 
the leeward of our wagons, and therefore oc- 
casioned us no damage; but the accident it- 
self was a forcible illustration of the danger 
that might 23 incurred by pitching a camp in 
the of os grass, and the advantages 
