WESTERN INCIDENTS. 107

and killed prairie-dogs, owls and rattlesnakes, in the im-
mediate vicinity of the same town.

FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES.

Reaching the lower end of the Platte Valley a little
after dark, the excursionists were electrified by what, to
most of them, was their first view of a night-fire on the
prairies.

The train was immediately halted, and time given for
all to drink their fill of the sublime spectacle. The
flames extended in an unbroken line a distance of from
fifteen to twenty miles ; and one end of the belt of fire
was so near, that we could feel the heat, and distinctly
hear the roaring and crackling of the devouring element,
as it swept over the plains with almost railroad velocity,
and shot up its forked flames into the sombre smoky sky.

“What surprise awaits us next?” “When, and where
will these wonders end?” “We did not know that this
was in the programme!” exclaimed the excursionists,
little dreaming that Mr. Durant had given private in-
structions upon this very subject, as the train passed up
the valley two days before.

RETURN TO OMAHA.

The train arrived at Omaha at about ten in the even-
ing. Carriages were in waiting to convey the excursion-
ists either to the Hernden House, or the steamer “ Den-
ver,’ where an excellent supper, and good quarters
awaited them. And all retired to rest, “perchance to
dream” of the “loved ones at home,” whose happy faces
would soon be seen again; and whose ears would soon
be tingling with the most romantic and improbable tales,