scream, and fainted. On came the
maddened myriads, nearer and nearer; I could see their wild eyes
glaring; they wheeled not, opened not a passage, but came on like
messengers of death--nearer--nearer--nearer still. My brain reeled, my
eyes grew dim; it was horrible, most horrible! I dashed down, with my
face covered, to meet my fate.

At that moment I heard an explosion, then a roar, as if proceeding from
ten millions of buffalo-bulls--so stunning, so stupefying was the sound
from the mass of animals, not twenty yards from us. Each moment I
expected the hoofs which were to trample us to atoms; and yet, death
came not. I only heard the rushing as of a mighty wind and the
trembling of the earth. I raised my head, and looked.

Gabriel at the critical moment had poured some whisky upon the flames,
the leathern bottle had exploded, with a blaze like lightning, and, at
the expense of thousands crushed to death, the animals had swerved from
contact with the fierce, blue column of fire which had been created.
Before and behind, all around us, we could see nothing but the shaggy
wool of the huge monsters; not a crevice was to be seen in the flying
masses, but the narrow line which had been opened to avoid our fire.

In this dangerous position we remained for one hour, our lives depending
upon the animals not closing the line; but Providence watched over us,
and after what appeared an eternity of intense suspense, the columns
became thinner and thinner, till we found ourselves only encircled with
the weaker and more exhausted animals, which brought up the rear. Our
first danger was over, but we had still to escape from one as imminent--
the pursuing flame, now so much closer to us. The whole prairie behind
us was on fire, and the roaring element was gaining on us with a
frightful speed. Once more we sprang upon our saddles, and the horses,
with recovered wind and with strength tenfold increased by their fear,
soon brought us to the rear of the buffaloes.

It was an awful sight! a sea of fire roaring in its fury, with heaving
waves and unearthly hisses, approaching nearer and nearer, rushing on
swifter than the sharp morning breeze. Had we not just escaped so
unexpectedly a danger almost as terrible, we should have despaired and
left off an apparently useless struggle for our lives.

Away we dashed, over hills and down declivities; for now the ground had
become more broken. The fire was gaining fast upon us, when we