guides, without whom he could
not venture across it, discover far-away on the horizon columns of smoke
ascending to the skies. The Indians, standing up in their stirrups,
gaze at it anxiously for a moment to watch its direction, and then
pressing their steeds to their utmost speed, urge him to fly for life.
At first he can scarcely believe that yon distant line of smoke is
menacing them with danger; but soon onwards it comes, the burning
torrent rolling rapidly towards them. Now and then they turn their
heads to watch its progress. In vain they look out in every direction
for a darker patch in the plain, which may indicate a water pool, and
amid which they may seek refuge. None appears. On they rush, urging
their horses by whip and spur--their steeds seeming to know their
danger. Already they see the bright glare of the flames below the dark
mass of smoke. Already the bursting and crackling of the leaves, as the
threatening column rushes on, reaches their ears. A fearful death is
following them. At length the sharp eyes of one of the guides discover
a slight eminence; towards this, though almost despairing of safety,
they direct their course. They reach its base. It is but thinly
covered with vegetation. Scarcely have they urged up their panting
horses to the summit than the flames overtake them. And now the sea of
fire rolls its devouring billows around, and the suffocating smoke,
striking in their faces, compels them to fall on the ground, in the hope
of obtaining sufficient air for breathing, till the flames have passed
by. The fire mounts the hill, but happily, finding little nourishment,
is speedily extinguished. And now the waving mass, rolling onwards,
recedes further and further from their gaze.

Whole swarms of voracious vultures follow in circling flight the smoky
column, like so many hungry jackals, and pounce upon the snakes and
lizards which the blaze has stifled and half calcined in its murderous
embrace. Then, with the rapidity of lightning, they dart on their prey
and disappear in the clouds of smoke, as if they were voluntarily
devoting themselves to a fiery death. Soon the deafening noise of the
conflagration ceases, and the dense black clouds in the distance are the
only signs that the flames are still proceeding on their devastating
path over the wide waste of the savannah.

The travellers thus happily saved may now proceed on their course,
provided they have a supply of water for