The Indians fired the dry
grass, and if the wind had been stronger we must have been burned to
death. As it was we were nearly suffocated from traveling in a dense
smoke for several hours. Then, fortunately, we reached the bottom
lands of the Arkansas River and were safe from fire, as the valley
was very wide and covered with tall green grass which could not burn;
and no sooner was the last wagon on safe ground than the fire gained
the rim of the green bottomland. Our oxen were exhausted and in a bad
plight, so we fortified and camped here for several days to
recuperate before we forded the river. This took up several days, as
the water was quite high and the river bottom a dangerous quicksand.
To stop the wheels of a wagon for one moment meant the loss of the
wagon and the lives of the cattle, perhaps. The treacherous sands
would have engulfed them. Forty yoke of oxen were hitched to every
vehicle, and we had no losses. On the other side we found the prairie
burned over, and we traveled all day until evening in order to reach
a suitable camping place with sufficient grass for our animals. As
there was no water and the cattle were suffering, we were compelled
to drive our herd back to the river and return again that same night.
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