ind of life, that I began to consider the inhabitants themselves with
less apprehension; besides, I thought myself out of danger of meeting
with the hostile tribes; and all these people, unless irritated by
injuries or stimulated by revenge, are perhaps less strangers to the
rights of hospitality than any civilised nation. I therefore reflected,
that by directing my course to the river, and following the direction of
its waters, I should have the greatest probability of meeting with some
of my fellow-creatures, as the natives build their villages near lakes
and streams, and choose their banks as a residence when they are
employed in hunting. I therefore descended the mountain, and entered the
level district which I saw before me; and then marched along an open
champaign country for several hours, covered over with a species of rank
grass, and beheld numerous herds of buffaloes grazing all around.

"It was here that an accident befel me, which I will relate for its
singularity, both in respect to the dangers I incurred and my method of
escape. As I was thus journeying on, I discovered a prodigious light
that seemed to efface the sun itself, and streak the skies with an angry
kind of illumination. I looked round me to discover the cause of this
strange appearance, and beheld, with equal horror and astonishment, that
the whole country behind was in flames. In order to explain this event,
I must observe, that all the plains in America produce a rank, luxuriant
vegetation, the juices of which are exhausted by the heat of the
summer's sun; it is then as inflammable as straw or fodder, and when a
casual spark of fire communicates with it, the flame frequently drives
before the wind for miles together, and consumes everything it meets.
This was actually the case at present; far as my eye could reach, the
country was all in flames, a powerful wind added fresh fury to the fire,
and drove it on with a degree of swiftness which precluded all
possibility of flight. I must confess that I was struck with horror at
the sudden approach of a death so new, so dreadful, so unexpected! I saw
it was in vain to fly, the flaming line extended for several miles on
every side, and advanced with such velocity that I considered my fate as
inevitable. I looked round me with a kind of mute despair, and began to
envy the fate of my comrades who had fallen by honourable wounds in
battle. Already did the conflagration scorch me in its approach,
accompan