en they came to a part where the thick grass grew
rank and high, rendering the work severe. As the sun rose high, they
came to a small pond, or pool.

"The rascal has halted here, I see!" cried Ian, pulling up, leaping off,
and running to the water, which he lifted to his mouth in both hands,
while his panting horse stooped and drank. "It was very likely more for
Tony's sake than for his own. But if he could stop, so can we for a few
minutes."

"It vill make de horses go more better," said Rollin, unstrapping the
pemmican bag.

"That's right," cried Victor, "give us a junk--a big one--so--thanks, we
can eat it as we go."

Up and away they went again, urging their horses now to do their utmost,
for they began to hope that the day of success had surely arrived.

Still far ahead of his pursuers, the Indian rode alone without check or
halt, to the alarm of Tony, who felt that something unusual had occurred
to make his self-appointed father look so fierce.

"What de matter?" he ventured to ask. "Nobody chase us."

"Let Tonyquat shut his mouth," was the brief reply. And Tony obeyed.
He was learning fast!

Suddenly the air on the horizon ahead became clouded. The eyes of the
savage dilated with an expression that almost amounted to alarm. Could
it be fire? It was--the prairie on fire! As the wind blew towards him,
the consuming flames and smoke approached him at greater speed than he
approached them. They must soon meet. Behind were the pursuers; in
front the flames.

There was but one course open. As the fire drew near the Indian
stopped, dismounted, and tore up and beat down a portion of the grass
around him. Then he struck a light with flint and steel and set fire to
the grass to leeward of the cleared space. It burned slowly at first,
and he looked anxiously back as the roar of the fiery storm swelled upon
his ear. Tony looked on in mute alarm and surprise. The horse raised
its head wildly and became restive, but the Indian, having now lighted
the long grass thoroughly, restrained it. Presently he sprang on its
back and drew Tony up beside him. Flames and smoke were now on both
sides of him. When the grass was consumed to leeward he rode on to the
blackened space--not a moment too soon, however. It was barely large
enough to serve as a spot of refuge when the storm rolled down and
almost suffocated horse and riders with smoke. Then the fire at that
spot went out for want of fuel, and thus th