" The parson drew out his also,
and repeated the same, "half-past one."
At that moment the breeze freshened, and I heard the distant and muffled
noise, which in the West announces either an earthquake, or an
"estampede" of herds of wild cattle and other animals. Our horses, too,
were aware of some danger, for now they were positively mad, struggling
to break the lassoes and escape.
"Up!" I cried, "up! Gabriel, Roche, up!--up, strangers, quick! saddle
your beasts! run for your lives! the prairie is on fire, and the
buffaloes are upon us."
They all started upon their feet, but not a word was exchanged; each
felt the danger of his position; speed was our only resource, if it was
not already too late. In a minute our horses were saddled, in another we
were madly galloping across the prairie, the bridles upon the necks of
our steeds, allowing them to follow their instinct. Such had been our
hurry, that all our blankets were left behind, except that of Gabriel;
the lawyers had never thought of their saddle-bags, and the parson had
forgotten his holsters and his rifle.
For an hour we dashed on with undiminished speed, when we felt the earth
trembling behind us, and soon afterwards the distant bellowing, mixed up
with the roaring and sharper cries of other animals, were borne down
unto our ears.
Pages:
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378