CAPTAIN DAN HENRIE. 439 
his horse directly for the fire. On he went, not knowing 
where; the reins were tightened, and the lash and spur 
applied with the energy of desperation. 
Hotter and hotter the air became, but on he careered, 
heady and blind. The fire has struck him with a roaring 
surge! His hair flames crisply, and the flesh of his body 
seems to be burning! The frantic and panting horse 
attempts to shy: but no, the fierceness of the agony has 
turned that rider’s arm and will to iron! 
It cannot shy—the poor horse! On! on! scorching 
through the stifling blaze! A few bounds more and the 
terrific surges are past! The fresh air has met him! He 
tore the envelope from his face and leaped from the stag- 
gering horse upon the charred hot ground. The blanket 
is torn away from its mouth, and the animal begins to 
revive quickly, though it shivers and can scarcely stand 
for the mortal terror! He is safe! He has accomplished 
an unparalleled feat ! 
He hears faintly above the crackling and roar of the 
retiring flames a howl of triumph from his pursuers, who 
imagine they have driven him into the fire, and that he 
is burnt, horse and all. He makes a feeble attempt to 
answer them defiantly, but can scarcely hear his own voice. 
Stunned, and gasping to recover the use of their almost 
stifled lungs, he and his horse stand, side by side, upon 
that blackened plain, without moving a step for more than 
an hour. 
But the perils of the day were by no means passed. 
Before him, as far as the eye could reach, there was only 
one charred, level, smouldering waste, which had to be 
crossed before he could reach water, for which both himself 
and horse were now almost perishing. He started on at 
last, taking his course at random, for one seemed to his 
bewildered sense about as good as another. He did not 
ride at first, but mercifully led his poor horse, until tke 
