There they stood in the water to their necks, and watched the great fire as it divided at the little prairie, and swept around them, passing to left and right.

It was a grim sight.

All the heavens seemed ablaze, and the clouds of smoke were suffocating.

Even there in the river the heat was most oppressive, and at times the faces of the boys were almost scorched.

Then they would thrust their heads under the water, and keep them there as long as they could hold their breath, coming up again greatly refreshed.