our intention became clearly evident, the chief despatched two of
his people in pursuit of us; but we kept well ahead of our pursuers, and
they, fearing that the fire would overtake them, turned and took the
same direction as the main body. Soon after this we lost sight of our
late companions.

"I would be well contint never to set eyes on you again, me jewels,"
said Mike, shaking his spear as a sign of farewell.

Although my companion kept up his spirits, I could not avoid fearing
that, after all, the fire would overtake us. Happily our horses were
fleet and in good wind, as we had not exhausted them during the early
part of the day; and all we could do at present was to gallop on. The
wind, of which there had hitherto been very little, now got up, and blew
almost in our faces, driving the fire in the direction the Indians had
taken, and at the same time keeping it back from that in which we were
going. Still on came the fire, the whole country in our rear apparently
one mass of flame. Even now, did we stop, we should be overtaken.
Happily for us, there were no buffalo in the direction from which the
fire was coming, or we should have run the danger of being overwhelmed
by them. Smaller animals, however, came rushing by us or close at our
heels, but too much frightened even to notice us; and we were in too
great a hurry to interfere with them.

I am almost afraid to say how many miles we covered in a couple of
hours, but certainly not till that time had elapsed did we get to a safe
distance from the fire; and even then, on looking back, we could see it
raging along the whole verge of the horizon to the westward and
southward. It was clear to me that Mike was mistaken about the swamps,
and had not the wind, providentially for us, changed, we should probably
have fallen victims.

We now slackened our speed a little, hoping to meet with some broad
river which might prove a barrier to the flames, should another change
of wind drive them towards us, as there was nothing, so far as we could
see, to stop the fire from quickly overtaking us. Our horses, too, were
already suffering from want of water, and so were we. We therefore
eagerly looked out for a pool or stream at which we might slake our
thirst. At length, greatly to our joy, as evening was approaching, we
caught sight in the far distance of a silvery line of water glittering
in the rays of the western sun. It was a river running from the
north-west to