THE ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE

All the troubles through which we had passed were mere child’s play compared to our situation at the present time, for a forest on fire was a danger that was calculated to test our energies to the utmost if we expected to escape with whole skins and our lives. For a few minutes, therefore, we were overwhelmed and speechless, and gazed into each other’s faces for counsel. Our first thoughts were that we could remain on the island and escape the fury of the flames, and so we might have done had we possessed water sufficient to quench not only our own thirst but that of the animals. A moment’s reflection, however, convinced us that we could not exist for half a day where we were, with a scorching sun overhead and a roaring fire in front, and that, if we intended to escape, we must begin to make preparations without delay, as every second the flames increased and extended on all sides.

“Pocket the gold,” shouted Day, setting us an example with his share. “We will try and save that and our own lives, but as for the rest of the baggage we must leave it behind.”

We were not backward in filling our pockets with the dust and coins and by the time we had secured the last scale Day was saddling the horses and putting on their bridles.

“We can never get the animals through the fire,” Mr. Brown said, well knowing the reluctance with which horses approach flames.

“I’ve thought of that,” responded Day, “and intend to cover their eyes with sheepskins.”

The idea was a capital one, and was immediately carried into effect The skins which Day had used to play the ghost were now employed to cover the heads of our restless animals, for as the fire increased they seemed to be aware of their danger, and were with difficulty prevented from plunging into the bog, where they would soon have been smothered in defiance of our exertions. The instant that their eyes were blindfolded they became perfectly quiet, and suffered themselves to be led to the peninsula, which they crossed without accident, and while we debated for a few minutes which course we should take to avoid the danger, the animals remained motionless, as though they had every confidence in our wisdom.

“We must look to you for guidance here,” Mr. Brown said, turning to the shepherd, who was attentively watching the course of the flames. “There is a horse for each of us, and a few blows must not be spared to make them carry us safe through the fire.”

We threw ourselves into the saddles, and left the pack horse, a stout brute, for Day to take charge of. Every thing that we had packed upon his back we had left on the island, and the only articles that we carried on our own persons were revolvers. Even our powder flasks we emptied for fear of an explosion, as the air was full of cinders blown in all directions by light breezes which began to spring up with the morning sun.

“Which direction shall we take, Day?” I asked, thinking that it was about time we started, as the fire was creeping towards us at a rapid rate.

“’Pon my word, I don’t know,” he replied, with a puzzled expression upon his face. “You see that the woods on our right are on fire, and so are those on our left lending to the banks of the Loddon. ’Tisn’t the trees that I care so much about as the grass. If I only knew whether the grass was on fire beyond the woods on our right I’d give half of the gold I’ve got in my pockets, and think myself fortunate.”

“If our situation is so desperate it won’t do to stand here and talk about it. Let us make a bold push and reach the river if possible, unless you think the bushrangers have retreated in that direction,” I remarked.

“Them coveys are safe enough,” replied Day, pointing to the mountain, from which we were separated by a wall of fire that almost blistered our faces where we stood. “They have gone up there like so many kangaroos, and no doubt are laughing at the sight, and thinking how surprised the ghost will be when he appears to-night. Them coveys hain’t got much respects for beings of this world or ’tother, I should judge by their treatment of the best specimen of a goblin ever got up in any country.”

“D n your long yarns, let’s get out of this confounded furnace before we stop to talk,” was the response of Mr. Brown, who began to grow impatient under the fiery ordeal.

Day looked as though he would like to discuss the matter, but he altered his mind when he found that the fire was within ten feet of where we stood.

“For God’s sake, are you going to keep us here till we are smothered?” yelled my friend; and there was some danger of it, for the smoke swept towards us in clouds, and made us gasp for breath and long for a drink of the sweet water of the Loddon.

Thus urged, Day made another hasty survey of the smoking plain, and then, striking his sharp, bony heels into the sides of his horse, led the way over the burning grass at a tremendous pace, closely followed by Mr. Brown and myself.

The animals, as though aware that their lives and our own depended upon their good behavior, galloped over the plain that separated us from the woods without once balking, although I feared and expected it every moment. After we reached the trees where the fire was raging severely, and where it was impossible to discover the path which we had followed when we were on our way to the treasure, I was fearful that we should be obliged to dismount and trust to our legs for an escape, for to have checked our animals even for a moment would have so bewildered them that we should have lost all control over them. Our good genius, Day, however, by some peculiar landmark, knew the trail in spite of the smoke, and did not hesitate for a moment.

“Keep close to me,” he shouted, looking back for a moment, and then, with a wild yell, he gave his horse free rein, and on we dashed close to his heels.

On each side of us the flames were roaring and surging like the breaking of a heavy surf upon the seashore, and every moment the fire was extending by the aid of the grass and dead branches of trees, which were like tinder, no rain having fallen in that part of the country for three months.

We could see but a short distance ahead of us owing to the smoke, and for a while we were in a state of great uncertainty whether there was an outlet in the direction which we were pursuing. Our retreat was cut off, for the fire had rolled across our track, consuming every blade of grass in its course, and our only hope of safety was to continue onward and endeavor to outstrip our enemy.

Suddenly Day checked his horse, and waited for us to gain his side.

“We can’t get to the river this way,” he said, hurriedly, “for the grass is all on fire in front of us, and is burning like a furnace. Our animals would drop before they got twenty rods, and then where should we be?”

The question was too pertinent to be answered readily, even if we had the time.

“I think that we had better take to the woods on our right and endeavor to gain the mountain, or the foot of it at least. The fire does not spread so fast in the vicinity of the trees, although there is more smoke than on the open land.”

“There is danger of our getting confused, and rushing into the fire, instead of out of it,” replied Mr. Brown, in answer to my suggestion.

“Not if Day knows the ground,” I replied.

“I know every rod of it between here and the Loddon,” he answered, promptly.

“Then lead the way, and the risk be on my head,” I said, turning my horse’s head in the direction of the woods.

The shepherd hesitated for a moment, and while he was considering the matter, a huge kangaroo bounded from the woods on our left, passed within ten feet of us, and disappeared in the smoke that was rising from the trees on our right. A second afterwards my horse suddenly started, and with difficulty could I control him. I thought that the fire had got under his feet, but a glance to the ground convinced me that such was not the case, and that the animal was frightened at something more dreadful than the flames, for creeping across the trail, with head erect and flashing eyes, was a huge diamond snake, nearly fifteen feet long and about fourteen inches in diameter. The serpent was too eager to make his escape, and was too much frightened to think of molesting us, but I was not sorry to lose sight of him, although at any other time I would have given him the contents of my revolver.

“That kangaroo knows the best route for getting clear of the danger. Let’s follow him.”

Day’s idea of following the animal was good, but it was exceedingly probable that the brute was half a mile from us before we made up our minds which direction to take. Kangaroos get over the ground with more than railroad speed, each bound which they make averaging from fifteen to twenty-five feet in length.

We turned our horses’ heads and urged them through the smoke, avoiding the fire as well as possible, so that our animals would not become alarmed and refuse to move, except in the direction of danger. By this means we made some progress, and soon hoped to get clear of the trees; but before we had advanced a quarter of a mile a long wall of fire headed us off, and again brought us to a stand still. To retreat was impossible, for the fire was surging after us, and feeding upon the long grass with a fierceness that told us we could not cross the line and hope to live, while if we advanced a like result was certain. On every side of us we could hear the trees crack, and sway to and fro, and then fall with a heavy crash that showed how rapidly the flames had spread, and with what intensity the fire was burning. Our fate began to look doubtful, and I had almost a mind to throw away the gold which loaded down my pockets, and to possess which I had encountered so many dangers.

“What shall we do now?” demanded Mr. Brown, his voice as firm and apparently as composed as when in Ballarat, surrounded by his policemen.

Day was evidently at the end of his expedients, for he sat on his horse and only stared at us in reply, not offering a word.

“In which direction is Mount Tarrengower?” I asked.

The stockman pointed with his hand to the right of us.

“Are you sure?” I demanded.

“Positive,” he answered.

“Then follow me!” and with a word I encouraged my horse, and started at as rapid a pace as possible in the direction indicated.

Mr. Brown and Day followed as close as possible, and for a few minutes we were kept hard at work dodging the branches of trees, and guiding our blindfolded horses through the labyrinths for the purpose of avoiding the fire as much as possible. Sometimes we were compelled to halt until a cloud of black smoke, impregnated with the juice of gum trees and stately palms, had passed over us and revealed the course which it was necessary for us to pursue to find safety. Amidst all this it was a consolation to know that we were not getting into hotter localities, and that the flames were raging more extensively in the quarter which we had left but a minute before, for we could see fire rolling over the very spot we had stopped at when Day had relinquished the head of the party.

On we went, and at length the smoke gradually diminished, and above the tree tops could be seen the rugged sides of Mount Tarrengower. Even then we did not consider that we were in safety, for a change of wind would bring the fire upon us a second time, and then we should be hummed in between the sides of the mountain and the woods no very enviable situation. We felt thankful, however, for our escape so far, and prayed as well as we were able that the wind would hold in its present position until we were in safety.

For a few minutes we sat upon our horses and watched the flames at our feet, for we were on elevated ground, and could overlook a large portion of the fire and a grand sight it was to see tree after tree fall with a tremendous crash, sending up sparks and jets of flame, and thick clouds of black smoke which rose high in the air, and then sailed in majestic grandeur in the direction of Ballarat. We were too busy with our thoughts to converse for some time after our escape, but at length Mr. Brown suggested to Day that his sheep would suffer during his absence, even if they were not all destroyed by the fire.

“No fear of that’,” replied the shepherd, with a grin which showed how much interest he had in his employer’s property, forced, as he was, to take care of it by the strong arm of law. “Sheep ain’t such devilish fools as to run into fires with their eyes wide open. When I go back I shall find my flock all right, and if I don’t ’tain’t much matter. My comrades, however, will wonder more about my absence than the animals, and I s’pose they will think I’m a goner.”

“How near are we to the station, Day?” I asked.

“Let me see,” replied the shepherd, after a moment’s reflection. “We can’t be move than five miles from the Loddon, and if we follow the left bank of the river long enough we shall reach Wright’s station, where we can get something to eat, and perhaps be sure of a welcome.”

“Humph,” grunted Mr. Brown, “your directions are not very plain, and you seem to be in doubt whether we will fare well or ill after we gain the farm. Why should we not be received with kindness?”

“Well, to tell you truth,” replied the shepherd, with commendable frankness, “I don’t think that the looks of you two coveys are very prepossessing, and I have a fear that you will be mistaken for bushrangers, and get a dose of lead instead of a dinner. I ’spose that if I was to go ahead and speak for ye ’twould be all right.”

We could not help laughing at the impudence of the fellow, and yet he was perfectly serious in his belief.

“Let us shape our course for the farm, and not be all day thinking of the matter,” Mr. Brown said testily. “If Wright won’t give us a supper and a bed we can go without.”

“Remember,” shouted Day, as we urged our horses along as fast as possible over the uneven ground, keeping close to the base of the mountain, to avoid the fire which was still raging parallel to our course, “I don’t bold out hopes that you will be well received. I ain’t much acquainted with the covey Wright, so that it will be no use for me to ride in advance.”

“Don’t distress yourself,” replied Mr. Brown, somewhat annoyed to think that a stockman should want to vouch for his respectability; but I looked at the matter in the light of a good joke, and, riding by the side of Day, I managed to discover the reasons for not wishing to appear before the farm house of the proprietor.

It seemed that Mr. Wright was engaged extensively, not only in agriculture but in stock raising, and that to carry on his business it was necessary to employ quite a small army of laborers, as well as a small colony of dogs, who guarded the sheep during the night, and formed regular cordon around them, into which circle none could enter or depart except the shepherds. In case of an alarm by an invasion of bushrangers, the employees were required to turn out and act as skirmishers to repel the enemy; and as every person was well armed and compelled to be a good marksman, Mr. Wright, after a few battles, in which the bushrangers suffered no insignificant loss, finally concluded that it was better to get their mutton at some station where blows were less plenty and flesh equally as good.

Still, in spite of these drawbacks, Mr. Wright was compelled to be constantly on the alert, and never laid his head upon his pillow of dried grass at night expecting to wake up alive in the morning, for the region in which his farm was situated was surrounded by bands of depredators; and how should he know but they would join forces and make common cause against a man whom they considered an enemy?