chine went on again, Maud Barrington, who had watched the
struggle with the wife of one of her neighbors, stood wide-eyed,
half-afraid and yet thrilled in every fiber.

"It was splendid," she said. "They can't be beaten."

Her companion seemed to shiver a little. "Yes," she said, "perhaps it
was, but I wish it was over. It would appeal to you differently, my
dear, if you had a husband at one of those horses' heads."

For a moment Maud Barrington wondered whether it would, and then, when
a red flame flickered out towards the team, felt a little chill of
dread. In another second the smoke whirled about them, and she moved
backward choking with her companion. The teams, however, went on, and
came out, frantic with fear, on the farther side. The men who led them
afterwards wondered how they kept their grip on the horses' heads.
Then it was that while the machines swung round and other men ran to
help, Winston, springing from the driving-seat, found Dane amid the
swaying, plunging medley of beasts and men.

"If you can't find hook or clevis, cut the trace," he said. "It can't
burn the plow, and the devils are out of hand now. The fire will jump
these furrows, and we've got to try again."

In another minute four maddened beasts were careering across the
prairie with portions of their trappings banging about them, while one
man who was badly kicked sat down gray in face and gasping, and the
fire rolled up to the ridge of loam, checked, and then sprang across it
here and there.

"I'll take one of those lad's places," said Dane. "That fellow can't
hold the breaker straight, Courthorne."

It was a minute or two later when he flung a breathless lad away from
his plow, and the latter turned upon him hoarse with indignation.

"I raced Stapleton for it. Loose your hold, confound you. It's mine,"
he said.

Dane turned and laughed at him as he signed to one of the Ontario hired
men to take the near horse's head.

"You're a plucky lad, and you've done what you could," he said.
"Still, if you get in the way of a grown man now, I'll break your head
for you."

He was off in another moment, crossed Winston, who had found fresh
beasts, in his furrow, and had turned and doubled it before the fire
that had passed the other barrier came close upon them. Once more the
smoke grew blinding, and one of Dane's beasts went down.

"I'm out of action now," he said. "Try back. That team will never
face it, Courthorne."

Wi