only turning slightly
aside to avoid us. Whole herds followed--their instinct telling them it
was time to make their escape from that region. Our leaders thought
likewise; so, turning our horses, we galloped back in the direction from
whence we had come.

The whole party had been riding in somewhat less compact order than
usual, and they now became widely scattered. I was on the extreme
right, and ahead of most of them. Pablo was near me. I urged on my
steed to its utmost speed, for I knew how rapidly the fire would spread
over the tall, dry grass through which we had passed. Before us was
what, in the winter season, would have been a marsh. It was now mostly
solid, and here the grass grew even more luxuriantly than in other
places. By keeping to the right, I avoided it.

In our rear I heard a thundering sound, intermixed with loud bellowing,
and glancing round for a moment I caught sight of a herd of buffalo,
which, mad with fright, were dashing on to escape the flames, the
crackling and hissing sound of which, I fancied, could now be heard.
Another glance showed me the horse of the chief plunging in the marsh,
and the frantic herd bearing down directly upon him and several of the
Spaniards, who, it seemed to me, must inevitably be overwhelmed; but I
had to take care of myself, though I would gladly have gone to their
assistance had I been able to do so. Recollecting how Mike and I had
before escaped, I kept verging more and more to the right, where the
country was higher, and the grass would, I knew, though equally dry, be
much shorter. The fire too, in that direction, seemed to be advancing
much more slowly than it was behind us. I therefore shouted to Pablo to
follow me, but was uncertain whether he heard my voice.

I at length lost sight of my companions, but as I without difficulty
kept well ahead of the flames, I was satisfied that I had followed the
wisest course.

On looking round I saw a number of animals following me: straggling
buffalo, deer of several descriptions, wolves, and many smaller
quadrupeds. It would not do, however, to stop for a moment; so I pushed
on as fast as my horse could go, and after galloping several miles I was
satisfied that I had gained considerably on the fire.

Looking to the right, it appeared to me that I might double on it, as it
seemed not to be extending in that direction. I was therefore about to
change my course with that object, when I saw scampering along