[Illustration:  The last shot.]

The Indian, having the firmest hold, began to draw the knife further out of its sheath, when Morgan, suddenly giving his finger a furious bite, twitched the knife dexterously through his hand, cutting it severely.  Both now sprung to their feet, Morgan brandishing his adversary’s knife, and still holding his finger between his teeth.  In vain the poor Indian struggled to get away, rearing, plunging, and bolting, like an unbroken colt.  The teeth of the white man were like a vice, and he at length succeeded in giving his savage foe a stab in the side.  The Indian received it without falling, the knife having struck his ribs; but a second blow, aimed at the stomach, proved more effectual, and the savage fell.  Morgan thrust the knife, handle and all, into the body, directed it upward, and, starting to his feet, made the best of his way home.

FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES.

The following account of one of those fearfully sublime spectacles—­a fire on the prairie—­is from the “Wild Western Scenes” by J.B.  Jones.  The hunters have been out and are overtaken by night, and are lost in the darkness.

Ere long, a change came over the scene.  About two-thirds of the distance around the verge of the horizon a faint light appeared, resembling the scene when a dense curtain of clouds hangs overhead, and the rays of the morning sun steal under the edge of the thick vapor.  But the stars could be seen, and the only appearance of clouds was immediately above the circle of light.  In a very few minutes the terrible truth flashed upon the mind of Glenn.  The dim light along the horizon was changed to an approaching flame.  Columns of smoke could be seen rolling upward, while the fire beneath imparted a lurid glare to them.  The wind blew more fiercely, and the fire approached from almost every quarter with the swiftness of a race-horse.  The darkened vault above became gradually illuminated with a crimson reflection, and the young man shuddered with the horrid apprehension of being burnt alive!  It was madness to proceed in a direction that must inevitably hasten their fate, the fire extending in one unbroken line from left to right, and in front of them, and they now turned in a course which seemed to place the greatest distance between them and the furious element.  Ever and anon a frightened deer or elk leaped past, and the hounds no longer noticed them, but remained close to the horses.  The flames came on with awful rapidity.  The light increased in brilliance, and objects were distinguishable far over the prairie.  A red glare could be seen on the sides of the deer as they bounded over the tall dry grass, which was soon to be no longer a refuge for them.  The young man heard a low continued roar, that increased every moment in loudness, and, looking in the direction whence they supposed it proceeded, they observed an