z 
: 
4 
CONSEQUENCES TO BE FEARED. 139 
been described, and though the perils of these 
disasters are not unfrequently exaggerated, 
they are sometimes sufficient to daunt the 
stoutest heart. Mr. Kendall relates a fright- 
ful incident of this kind which occurred to 
the Texan Santa Fé Expedition; and all 
those who have crossed the Prairies have had 
more or less experience as to the danger 
which occasionally threatens the caravans 
from these sweeping visitations. The worst 
evil to be apprehended with those bound for 
Santa Fé is from the explosion of gunpow- 
der, as a keg or two of twenty-five pounds 
each, is usually to be found in every wagon. 
: When we saw the fire gaining so rapidly upon 
us, we had to use the whip very unsparingly ; 
and it was only when the lurid flames were 
actually rolling upon the heels of our teams, 
that we succeeded itt reaching a spot of short- 
ss prairie, where there was no further dan- 
ger to be apprehended. 
The headway of the conflagration was soon 
after checked by a small stream which tra- 
versed our route; and we had only emerged 
fairly from its smoke, on the following day 
ne ot anh when our Comanche guide returned 
om his accustomed post in advance, 
oF pious us that he had espied three buf- 
faloes, not far off They were the first we had 
met with, and, being heartily anxious for a 
change from the dried beef with which we 
were provided, I directed the Comanche, who 
was by far our surest hunter, to prepare at once 
for the chasse. He said he preferred to hunt on 
