let me introduce you to
my friends," said Dick. The usual forms were gone through. Mr
Armitage then introduced his companion as Pierre Buffet, one of the best
hunters and trappers throughout the continent. The Indians, he said,
had been engaged by Pierre and himself to act as guides and scouts, and
to take care of the horses and baggage-mules. As our objects were the
same, before we had ridden very far we agreed to continue together, as
we should thus, in passing through territories infested by hostile
Indians, be the better able to defend ourselves.

We had reason, before long, to be thankful that our party had thus been
strengthened. We encamped as usual; and, not forgetting the lesson we
had lately received, we set a watch so that we should not be surprised,
either by wolves or Redskins. Though the former were heard howling in
the distance, we were not otherwise disturbed by them, and at dawn we
were once more in our saddles traversing the wide extending prairie, our
new associates and we exchanging accounts of the various adventures we
had met with. Armitage was not very talkative, but Dick managed to draw
him out more than could any of the rest of the party. Buffet, in his
broken English, talked away sufficiently to make ample amends for his
employer's taciturnity. Our midday halt was over, and we did not again
intend to encamp until nightfall, at a spot described by Buffet on the
banks of a stream which ran round a rocky height on the borders of the
prairie. It was, however, some distance off, and we did not expect to
reach it until later in the day than usual.

We were riding on, when I saw one of the Indians standing up in his
stirrups and looking to the northeast. Presently he called to Buntin
and pointed in the same direction. The words uttered were such as to
cause us no little anxiety. The prairie was on fire. The sharp eyes of
the Indian had distinguished the wreaths of smoke which rose above the
tall grass, and which I should have taken for a thick mist or cloud
gathering in the horizon. The wind blew from the same quarter.

"Messieurs, we must put our horses to their best speed," exclaimed
Pierre. "If the wind gets up, that fire will come on faster than we can
go, and we shall all be burnt into cinders if once overtaken."

"How far off is it?" asked Dick. "Maybe eight or ten miles, but that is
as nothing. It will travel five or six miles in the hour, even with
this wind blowing--and t