ng to get his rifle, while I pointed mine at the
brute's head. On she came. I fired, and expected to see her roll over,
but the bullet did not strike a vital part, and so she made savagely at
me.

"The Delaware had by this time regained possession of his rifle, and
while I threw myself on one side, he fired with unerring aim full at the
bear's head. In another instant her claws would have been on my
shoulders, and her teeth in my cheeks. The ball struck her. With a
fierce growl she attempted to spring forward, but I stepped back, and
over she rolled at our feet. The cubs came waddling up to see what was
the matter with their mother, and as they were rather too big to be
pleasant companions, we were obliged to kill them. We ate some slices
of them afterwards. We spent the evening very pleasantly over our fire,
and next day at dawn we pushed on, that we might encamp while there was
an abundance of light to put up our wigwam, and to kill any game we
might require. Several days passed away without any event of interest
to tell you of. The Delaware was an excellent travelling companion, and
I believe that without him the Indians would speedily have found me out,
and would have left me without a top to my head. We had quitted the
banks of the river, and were progressing across a wide-rolling prairie.
Although the wind when it blew was keen, the sun had still at midday
great power. We toiled on through the high grass with not a breath of
air, hoping to get across the prairie before nightfall. We could see,
from the nature of the ground, very little way on either side of us.

"Suddenly we were conscious of a hot wind blowing on our right cheeks,
and then it came laden with smoke and fine dust. `On! on!' cried the
Delaware, grasping my arm to hasten my steps. There was reason for us
to hasten. `The prairie is on fire, and before long, if we delay, we
shall be surrounded by the raging flames!' he exclaimed. `On! on! on!'
I saw in the far distance a rocky mound, rising out of the prairie,
towards which my guide pointed. I saw that he meant that we should seek
safety there, but it seemed to me scarcely possible that we should reach
it before the fire would overtake us."

CHAPTER NINE.

OBED'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED--JOURNEY WITH THE DELAWARE--THE PRAIRIE ON
FIRE--THEY FLY FOR THEIR LIVES--A STAMPEDO--A NARROW ESCAPE ON THE
ROCK--LONG JOURNEY--APPROACH OF WINTER--THEIR LIFE IN A CAVE--EXPECTED
VISIT FROM BEAR