One of the most striking features in the geography of the Western
states, is the prairies, or natural meadows. These are immense plains,
often stretching, in every direction, further than the eye can reach,
entirely destitute of trees, and covered with grass and wild flowers.
These prairies cover a vast extent of country north of the Ohio and west
of the Mississippi, affording pasturage to countless herds of the
buffalo, deer and other wild animals. When the grass has been dried and
parched by the heat of summer, it sometimes takes fire, as represented
in the cut above, and then a sea of flame is swept by the wind over
these vast plains, spreading, it is said, more swiftly than the fleetest
horse can run before it. In such cases, the only resort is, to pull up
the grass around one, and kindle on every side a counter-flame, which
burning _outward_, in every direction, leaves the hunter or traveler in
a place of safety.
[Illustration: THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE.]