r pipe,
thrown carelessly into the dry grass, sometimes sets it on fire; but
the greatest danger lies in kindling camp-fires.

To prevent accidents of this kind, before kindling the fire a space
should be cleared away sufficient to embrace the limits of the flame,
and all combustibles removed therefrom, and while the fire is being
made men should be stationed around with blankets ready to put it out
if it takes the grass.

When a fire is approaching, and escape from its track is impossible, it
may be repelled in the following manner: The train and animals are
parked compactly together; then several men, provided with blankets,
set fire to the grass on the lee side, burning it away gradually from
the train, and extinguishing it on the side next the train. This can
easily be done, and the fire controlled with the blankets, or with dry
sand thrown upon it, until an area large enough to give room for the
train has been burned clear. Now the train moves on to this ground of
safety, and the fire passes by harmless.

JERKING MEAT.

So pure is the atmosphere in the interior of our continent that fresh
meat may be cured, or _jerked,_ as it is termed in the language of
the prairies, by cutting it into strips about an inch thick, and
hanging it in the sun, where in a few days it will dry so well that it
may be packed in sacks, and transported over long journeys without
putrefying.

When there is not time to jerk the meat by the slow process described,
it may be done in a few hours by building an open frame-work of small
sticks about two feet above the ground, placing the strips of meat upon
the top of it, and keeping up a slow fire beneath, which dries the meat
rapidly.

The jerking process may be done upon the march without any loss of time
by stretching lines from front to rear upon the outside of loaded
wagons, and suspending the meat upon them, where it is allowed to
remain until sufficiently cured to be packed away. Salt is never used
in this process, and is not required, as the meat, if kept dry, rarely
putrefies.

If travelers have ample transportation, it will be a wise precaution,
in passing through the buffalo range, to lay in a supply of jerked meat
for future exigences.

LARIATS.

It frequently happens upon long journeys that the lariat ropes wear out
or are lost, and if there were no means of replacing them great
inconvenience might result therefrom. A very good substitute may be
made by taking the g