FIEE 91 



As the main fire reached us our attention was re- 

 quired not only at isolated spots but all along the 

 front. More and more we found ourselves fighting 

 a continuous line of flames, combating a hydra- 

 headed enemy. No sooner was the fire crushed in 

 one place than it broke out in a dozen others and we 

 rushed off to attack them one after another. 



The battle was general. Hour succeeded wearing 

 hour. We hardly heeded the passage of time. 

 Bushing hither and thither through the clouds of 

 smoke, howling warnings and suggestions to one an- 

 other, running to the assistance of a hard pressed 

 comrade or calling for aid ourselves, we fought 

 through the hours of the night, looking in the un- 

 canny ruby glow for all the world like a crowd of 

 imps toiling to feed the furnaces of hell. 



It is hard now to remember, to pick out special 

 scenes or incidents of that kaleidoscopic night. The 

 picture that recollection holds fast to is blurred and 

 smoke dimmed, just a confused, endless, ever shift- 

 ing succession of bright flames springing at us out 

 of the dark, a weary hand to hand battle with the 

 tireless enemy, a growing fatigue that ached and 

 throbbed like a prisoned spirit of evil and a joyful 

 underlying consciousness, leavening and lightening 

 all, that we were holding our own, that no hungry 

 shred of fire had passed our defences and penetrated 

 to the rich timbered region behind us. 



We were on our feet in almost constant action till 

 morning. Bert and the packers, between trips for 



