ght than
in her parts. Here many of the animals which had passed us, paralysed
by fear, had halted as if expecting that they would be safe from the
flames. Deer and wolves, bison, and even a huge bear--not a grizzly,
however--and many smaller creatures were lying down or running round and
round.

I thought Pierre would advise our stopping here, but he shouted, "On,
on! This is no place for us; de beasts soon get up and run away too!"

We accordingly dashed forward, but every moment the heat and smell of
the fire was increasing. The smoke, which blew around us in thick
wreaths driven by the wind, was almost overpowering. This made the
conflagration appear even nearer than it really was. At length, Pierre
shouted out:

"Dis way, messieurs, dis way!" and I found that we had reached the foot
of a rocky hill which rose abruptly out of the plain. He led us round
its base until we arrived at a part up which we could manage to drag our
horses. Still it seemed very doubtful if we should be safe, for grass
covered the lower parts, and, as far as I could judge, shrubs and trees
the upper: still there was nothing else to be done. Throwing ourselves
from our horses, we continued to drag them up the height, Pierre's
shouts guiding us. I was the last but one, Dick insisting on taking the
post of danger in the rear and sending Charley and me before him. The
horses were as eager to get up as we were, their instinct showing them
that safety was to be found near human beings. Our only fear was that
the other animals would follow, and that we should have more companions
than we desired. The top was soon gained, when we lost no time in
setting to work to clear a space in which we could remain, by cutting
down the grass immediately surrounding us, and then firing the rest on
the side of the hill towards which the conflagration was approaching.
We next beat down the flames we had kindled, with our blankets--a hot
occupation during which we were nearly smothered by the smoke rushing in
our faces. The fire burnt but slowly against the wind, which was so far
an advantage.

"We are safe now, messieurs!" exclaimed Pierre at last; and we all, in
one sense, began to breathe more freely, although the feeling of
suffocation from the smoke was trying in the extreme.

We could now watch, more calmly than before, the progress of the fire as
it rushed across the country, stretching far on either side of us, and
lighting up the hills to