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 Its
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 perceived
that, a mile ahead, the immense herds before us had entered a deep,
broad chasm, into which they dashed, thousands upon thousands, tumbling
headlong into the abyss. But now, the fire rushing quicker, blazing
fiercer than before, as if determined not to lose its prey, curled its
waves above our heads, smothering us with its heat and lurid smoke.

A few seconds more we spurred in agony; speed was life; the chasm was to
be our preservation or our tomb. Down we darted? actually borne upon the
backs of the descending mass, and landed, without sense or motion, more
than a hundred feet below. As soon as we recovered from the shock, we
found that we had been most mercifully preserved; strange to say,
neither horse nor rider had received any serious injury. We heard, above
our heads,