cattle, horses, and deer, is altogether as fine as can be conceived anywhere."

Sometimes, during the hot season, these prairies take fire, and then the scene is truly terrific. Over a tract of country, for miles distant, clouds of smoke, interspersed with volumes of flame, are seen spreading destruction and death. Urged by the wind, the flames often run with a rapidity that puts the speed of the fleetest animals to the test. When the fire breaks out, away start herds of buffaloes, wild horses, and wolves, running with the greatest speed and alarm, to escape the furious flames, but often these creatures perish in the attempt.

We have read of one instance in which a man on horseback, chased by the red Indians, wildly dashed through the smoke and flames of a burning prairie, chosing to risk his life in the fire, rather than endure the cruelties which he knew the savage Indians would inflict upon him. Wonderful to state, he escaped with his life. His name was Captain Dan Henrie. One day, following the track of some wild horses, he came to the top of a steep crag, and, in the valley below, about a mile distant, he saw a large body of Indians encamped. This was a startling sight, and they perceived him at the same moment. Now he felt he would have indeed to run for his life. One glance, as he wheeled was sufficient to show him warriors mounting the horses of his friends! He did not dread a race with the horses of the Indians so much, because his horse was more than a match for the best of theirs; but the horses of his comrades were as swift, and in every sense as good as his-now they were to be turned against him! He cursed the rashness that had induced him to follow up their trail, but this was no time to pause for regrets he was off, down the hill, at the best speed his horse, already somewhat fagged, could raise. All depended upon getting back to the timber, and losing them. He could hear their pursuing yells distinctly for a moment, and this was no siren's music to draw him back. He had a good mile the start, but that was no great matter, if, as he supposed, their horses were fresher than his own. He had no time now to feel any alarm, but only that there was hot work before him, and he had it to attend to. His object was to get out of sight as soon as possible, for he gained a great deal by compelling them to run on his trail. strained his horse tremendously, and succeeded; for when the sudden burst of their voices came from time to time, proving that they had reached the comb of the ridge, he looked back, but could not see it or them.

He

It

He felt a little less tight about the heart now, and had time to think something of his best course. seemed a forlorn chance for an escape: he was above six miles from timber. He suddenly remembered that he had observed, for several days past, a heavy smoke off towards the south; and looking now in that direction, saw it filling the whole horizon with gloomy masses, which seemed to be rising but a few miles off. Observing that it was not very high, it instantly occurred to him in his extremity-for he felt sure from the action of his horse, that he would not last much longer in the hard run before themthat the safest course for him would be the most desperate, and this was to make directly for the approaching line of this fire, and take his chance of being able to force his way through it alive. With such a barrier between himself and the Indians, he was safe. Acting upon this stern and strange alternative, he urged

his horse steadily towards the fire. It was not long before he met the dark advance guard of the smoke, as it rolled along the grass, and rode beneath its stifling shelter, the fire being yet a mile off.

He was now securely enough out of sight of the Indians, and springing from his horse, proceeded to prepare himself for a trial of the fiery sea. He cut his blanket into pieces, with one of which he blindfolded his horse; another he tied in a loose bag about the lower part of its head, enveloping the mouth and nostrils. He then enveloped his own face in a loose visor of the same material. The blanket was coarse, and let in air enough to barely sustain life for a short time. while it kept out the smoke. He could hear the yells of his pursuers seemingly close at hand. He was now in utter darkness, and mounting quickly again, headed his horse directly for the fire. On he went, not knowing where; the reins were tightened, and the lash and spur applied with the energy of desperation.

1

Hotter and hotter the air became, but on he careered, heady and blind. The fire has struck him with a roaring surge. His hair flames crisply, and the flesh of his body seems to be burning. The frantic and panting horse attempts to shy; but no; the fierceness of the agony has turned that rider's arm and will to iron.

It cannot shy-the poor horse? On, on, scorching through the stifling blaze! A few bounds more, and the terrific surges are past. The fresh air has met him. He tore the envelope from his face, and leaped from the staggering horse upon the charred hot ground. The blanket is torn away from its mouth, and the animal begins to revive quickly, though it shivers, and can scarcely stand for the mortal terror. He is safe! He has accomplished an unparalleled feat!

He hears faintly above the crackling and roar of the retiring flames a howl of triumph from his pursuers, who imagine they have driven him into the fire, and that he is burnt, horse and all. He makes a feeble attempt to answer them defiantly, but can scarcely hear his own voice. Stunned and gasping to recover the use of their almost stifled lungs, he and his horse stand, side by side, upon that blackened plain, without moving a step for more than an hour.

But the perils of the day were by no means passed. Before him, as far as the eye could reach, there was only one charred, level, smouldering waste, which had to be crossed before he could reach water, for which both himself and horse were now almost perishing. He started on at last,

taking his course at random, for one seemed to his bewildered sense about as good as another. He did not ride at first, but mercifully led his poor horse, until the heat of the ground, and the still smouldering stubs of grass became insufferable to his feet, and then he turned to mount. He now, for the first time, looked at the animal carefully, and to his horror saw that nearly every hair upon its body was gone, and the bare skin was badly scorched.

This was dreadful enough; but water, water he must have, or they would both die. He sprang into the saddle, and urged the wretched creature along with the last energies of his sinking life. In an hour he had begun to grow dizzy, and the earth swam round and round, and tossed him to and fro. Now a strange noise was about him; and as the lifting waves of the earth would almost seem to leap up into his face, he would catch glimpses of huge wolves careering on them, turning up their fiery eyes to his, and howling at him with red open mouths and lolling tongues. Suddenly his horse rushed down a steep bank, and there was a great splashing. Water! Blessed water! He tumbled from his saddle into the cold delicious fluid.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATED.

ISRAEL TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY BY THE ASSYRIANS.

IN the engraving before us we have another representation of the state of captives conquered by their enemies. They are first bound separately, with cords or chains, and then tied together like so many cattle, cruelly driven before their enemies, and doomed either to death or perpetual bondage. Thus Israel was treated by the ancient Assyrians, whose capital was Nineveh, and among the explored ruins of that city are found monuments which not only depict the scene, but record the transaction. How wonderful, that after the lapse of about 2,500 years, those records should have been preserved beneath the earth which bear testimony to the literal truth of prophecy, and the fidelity of the sacred historian! "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

Let our young friends read carefully the prophecies contained in Isaiah, chap. x., and then turn to the history recorded in the 2nd book of Kings, chap. xv., xvi., xvii., and they will find the prophecies fulfilled to the very letter.

The marb e monuments lately dug out of the ruins of old

Nineveh prove to this day the truth of both scripture prophecy and narrative.

There is another remarkable fact. In 2 Kings xviii., 1316, there is an account of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, coming as far as Lachish, with a great army, to conquer Hezekiah, and subdue his kingdom; but Hezekiah sent to the king of Assyria, then at Lachish, a gift of 300 talents of silver, and 30 talents of gold, to procure deliverance. Now, in the monuments brought from Nineveh there is not only a general representation of this invasion, but the very names of Judea, Hezekiah, and Lachish are mentioned, and also the very large amount of silver and gold which Hezekiah gave for his deliverance is recorded. The amount of gold stated on the monu

ment is exactly the amount given in Scripture;

and

though the amount of gold is larger, yet Mr. Layard accounts