which he accompanied this remark, elicited a return from the women, and
he proceeded:—
" It is a difficult thing, Sir, to describe, but I will do my best to
make your time pass pleasantly. We were sound asleep one night, in a
cabin about a hundred miles from this, when about two hours before
day, the snorting of the horses and lowing of the cattle which 1 had
ranging in the woods suddenly wakened 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 of 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 burning 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 quickly 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 attached 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 all 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 neighbours, as we proceeded,
and knew that they were in the same predicament. 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 whip up
her horse, we set off at full speed, making the best way we could over the
fallen trees and the brush heaps, which lay like so many articles placed
on purpose to keep up the terrific fires that advanced with a broad front
upon us.
By this time we could feel the heat; and we were afraid that our
horses would drop every instant. A singular kind of breeze was passing
over our heads, and the glare of the atmosphere shone over the day light.
I was sensible of a slight faintness, and my wife looked pale. The heat
had produced such a flush in the child's face, that when she turned towards
either of us, our grief and perplexity were greatly increased. . Ten
miles, you know, are soon gone over on swift horses; but, notwithstanding
this, when we reached the borders of the lake, covered with sweat
and quite exhausted, our hearts failed us. The heat of the smoke was
insufferable, and sheets of blazing fire flew over us in a manner beyond
belief. We reached the shores, however, coasted the lake for a while,
and got round to the lee side. There we gave up our horses, which we
never saw again. Down among the rushes we plunged by the edge of
the water, and laid ourselves flat, to wait the chance of escaping from being
burnt or devoured. The water refreshed us, and we enjoyed the
coolness.
u On went the fire, rushing and crashing through the woods. Such a
sight may we never see! The heavens themselves, I thought, were
frightened, for all above us was a red glare, mixed with clouds of smoke,
rolling and sweeping away. Our bodies were cool enough, but our heads
were scorching, and the child, who now seemed to understand the matter,
cried so as nearly to break our hearts.
" The day passed on, and we became hungry, Many wild beasts came
plunging into the water beside us, and others swam across to our side
and stood still. Although faint and weary, I managed to shoot a porcupine,
and we all tasted its flesh. The night passed I cannot tell you
how. Smouldering fires covered the ground, and the trees stood like
pillars of fire, or fell across each other. The stifling and sickening smoke
still rushed over us, and the burnt cinders and ashes fell thick about us.
How we got through that night I really cannot tell, for about some of it
I remember nothing." Here the hunter paused, and took breath. The
recital of his adventure seemed to have exhausted him. His wife proposed
that we should have a bowl of milk, and the daughter having
handed it to us, we each took a draught.
" Now," said he, " I will proceed. Towards morning, although the
heat did not abate, the smoke became less, and blasts of fresh air sometimes
made their way to us. When morning came, all was calm, but a
dismal smoke still filled the air, and the smell seemed worse than ever.
We were now cooled enough, and shivered as if in an ague fit; so we
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