Meanwhile, Mrs. Allis busied herself, weary as she was, in providing
a comfortable supper for her husband, who had eaten nothing since
dinner-time. It was past midnight when Mr. Allis and Mary came to the
house, and they too were tired enough, as we may suppose.

But, above all, they were grateful to that kind heavenly Father who had so
mercifully preserved and protected them from harm amid such dangers. Little
did any of them sleep that night; and it was not strange that the morning,
which came on wet and showery, found them but little refreshed after the
unusual fatigue of the preceding night. But the children were awake with
the first light, and eagerly asking questions about the fire.

"But what is a _back-fire?_" said Annie, when her father had finished
telling them about the matter. "How do you set a back-fire?"

"Well, Annie, we light _another fire_, nearer the house or fence which
we are trying to save, and then, with a brush or broom, or sometimes a
little stick, _whip it out_, so that it cannot burn very fast. When the
grass is burnt off in this way there is nothing left for what we call the
'prairie-fire' to burn, you see. If we can do this in season, the house
or stacks are generally safe."


* * * * *



THE BABY.