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?