atch
all of you, with open eyes, for that stripe of glittering water: we
shall not be safe until it is flowing between our trail and these sharp
sighted Tetons."

The latter declaration was enough to ensure a vigilant look out for the
desired stream, on the part of all the trapper's followers. With this
object in view, the party proceeded in profound silence, the old man
having admonished them of the necessity of caution, as they entered the
clouds of smoke, which were rolling like masses of fog along the plain,
more particularly over those spots where the fire had encountered
occasional pools of stagnant water.

They travelled near a league in this manner, without obtaining the
desired glimpse of the river. The fire was still raging in the distance,
and as the air swept away the first vapour of the conflagration, fresh
volumes rolled along the place, limiting the view. At length the old
man, who had begun to betray some little uneasiness, which caused his
followers to apprehend that even his acute faculties were beginning
to be confused, in the mazes of the smoke, made a sudden pause, and
dropping his rifle to the ground, he stood, apparently musing over some
object at his feet. Middleton and the rest rode up to his side, and
demanded the reason of the halt.

"Look ye, here," returned the trapper, pointing to the mutilated carcass
of a horse, that lay more than half consumed in a little hollow of the
ground; "here may you see the power of a prairie conflagration. The
'arth is moist, hereaway, and the grass has been taller than usual.
This miserable beast has been caught in his bed. You see the bones; the
crackling and scorched hide, and the grinning teeth. A thousand winters
could not wither an animal so thoroughly, as the element has done it in
a minute."

"And this might have been our fate," said Middleton, "had the flames
come upon us, in our sleep!"

"Nay, I do not say that, I do not say that. Not but that man will burn
as well as tinder; but, that being more reasoning than a horse, he would
better know how to avoid the danger."

"Perhaps this then has been but the carcass of an animal, or he too
would have fled?"

"See you these marks in the damp soil? Here have been his hoofs,--and
there is a moccasin print, as I'm a sinner! The owner of the beast has
tried hard to move him from the place, but it is in the instinct of the
creatur' to be faint-hearted and obstinate in a fire."

"It is a well-known fact.