The Frontier Fort | Page 4

hue, vivid with lightning, where rain appeared to be
descending in torrents. The whole atmosphere was charged with
electricity. The lightning rushed towards the earth, in straight and
zig-zag currents, the thunder varying from the sharp rattle of musketry
to the roar of artillery. Still no rain had fallen from overhead, while
scarcely a breath of air was blowing.
Meantime, however, the fire came rushing on across the prairie, the
flames, as they caught the tall grass, growing brighter and brighter,
every now and then rising and expanding, as they seized on shrubs and
trees in their onward course.
Burnett at last seemed to think that matters were growing serious, and
made a signal to the drivers of the carts to push forward. There was no
necessity, as they were doing their utmost to urge on their steeds by
uttering strange oaths and by the liberal use of their whips.
"We must try and get to the other side of the knoll, and camp; for we as
yet have only seen the beginning of the storm," remarked Burnett.
Scarcely had he said this, than, with the suddenness of a tornado, the
wind came rushing down upon them; at first, without a drop of rain, but
so fiercely that the horses were forced from the track. Again and again
it seemed hopeless to drive against it. The lightning flashed more
vividly than before; the thunder roared; while the fire advanced across
the prairie like a fiery host bent on their destruction.
"I say, I don't see why we should lose our lives, even though Burnett
thinks it is his duty to stick by the carts," said Hector, riding up to
Loraine. "We can gallop ahead, in spite of the wind; it will be better
than being turned into Guy Fawkeses."

Loraine was much inclined to follow his young friend's advice; indeed,
he suspected the rest of the party would soon leave the carts to their
fates, and try to save themselves by flight from the fiery sea, which was
tossing and heaving not a quarter of a mile away from them. He would
not go, however, without first urging Burnett, the other clerks, and the
Doctor to try and save themselves.
He had turned his horse for the purpose, when the rain came down
thick and furious, with even greater suddenness than the wind had
arisen. They saw that it almost immediately produced an effect on the
fire. It was a struggle between the two elements. At first it seemed
doubtful, however, which would prove victorious; but water, they
trusted, had gained the day; for, mingled with the rain came hail, not
only ordinary hail, but mixed with lumps half an inch to an inch across.
"Och! I'd as soon have a whack from an honest shillaly as be pelted by
thim threacherous lumps," cried Dan Maloney.
The travellers in vain raised their hands to protect their heads from the
hail. The long line of horses and carts was broken. Some of the poor
creatures clung to the road, struggling desperately. Others were driven
on to the prairie, and turning their backs to the storm, stood still or
moved sideways, with cowering heads, their manes and tails floating
wildly, like those of Highland shelties.
Hector declared that he could hear the hissing of the rain as it fell on
the hitherto victorious fire, effectually, however, quenching it. A few
minutes after the storm had broken, the whole ground to the left was a
blackened expanse. The danger was passed, and they hastened on to the
foot of the knoll, where a lakelet, fringed by aspens and poplars,
afforded them good camping ground. With astonishing speed the
arrangements for the night were made; every man exerted himself. The
horses were unharnessed, the erratic ones hobbled, the tents pitched,
and the travellers assembled round the blazing fires which were quickly
lighted to dry their saturated clothing.
Almost before these arrangements were made, the storm passed away.
The setting sun burst forth again until not a blot was left in the sky,

save fragments of mist to the south and south-east. It was too late to
think of moving on again, and Leblanc was glad of the opportunity of
halting to repair some of the carts with the ever serviceable
"Shaganappi," a large supply of which was carried for the purpose, as
also to mend the harness and other gear which had been broken by the
restive movements of the horses during the storm.
In the mean time, while Francois, another Canadian, who acted as cook,
was preparing the evening meal, Loraine and Hector took their guns to
shoot some ducks which were seen on the other side of the lakelet.
Having knocked over several birds, before returning they took a
refreshing plunge in the water,