he mad chorus of
yells that came sweeping down the wind, reckless of the clamor of the
coming charge, reckless of the whistling lead that almost instantly
began nipping and biting the turf about them, here, there and
everywhere, they, too, had started little fires; they, too had run their
line of flame across the windward front; they, too, had launched a wall
of flame sailing toward the grove, and then, back through blinding smoke
they ran for their saddle blankets, just as the sharp sputter of shots
burst forth on the northward side, and the Sioux, with magnificent dash,
came thundering within range.

Then followed a thrilling battle for life--two red enemies now enrolled
against the blue. "Fight fire with fire" is the old rule of the prairie.
Ray had promptly met the on-coming sweep of the torrent by starting a
smaller blaze that should at least clear the surface close at hand, and,
by eating off the fuel, stop, possibly, the progress of the greater
flame.

But the minor blaze had also to be stopped lest it come snapping and
devouring within the grove. It is no easy matter to check a prairie fire
against a prairie gale when every human aid is summoned. It is desperate
work to try to check one when to the fires of nature are added the
furious blaze of hostile arms, every rifle sighted by savage, vengeful
foe. "Check it, lads, ten yards out!" shouted Ray, to his gallant
fellows, now lost in the smoke, while he again rushed across the front
to meet the charging Sioux. With his brave young face all grime, Field
was already at work, guiding, urging, aiding his little band. "Both
hands! Both hands!" he cried, as, wielding his folded blanket, he smote
the fringe of flame. "Stamp it out! Great God! Wing, are you hit?"

For answer the sergeant by his side went plunging down, face foremost,
and little Trooper Denny, rushing to aid his young officer in the effort
to raise the stricken man, as suddenly loosed his hold and, together
again, these two sworn comrades of many a campaign lay side by side, as
they had lain in camp and bivouac all over the wide frontier, and poor
Denny could only gasp a loyal word of warning to his officer. "Get back,
sir; for God's sake, get back!" ere the life blood came gushing from his
mouth. Bending low, Field grabbed the faithful fellow in his strong arms
and, calling to the nearmost men to look to Wing, bore his helpless
burden back through stifling smoke clouds; laid him on the turf at the
foo