Homesteading 



rising in a column in calm weather is no un- 

 common sight, as homesteaders are allowed to 

 use fire for burning off stubble and brush (albeit 

 with precautions). 



Such smoke is often visible at very long dis- 

 tances, and usually creates little alarm, though 

 often watched with some interest, not unmixed 

 with a feeling of apprehension. 



I should more correctly have described the 

 wind as south-easterly, and as the >fire was in that 

 quarter also, though rather more easterly, dense 

 masses of smoke were rolling across the southern 

 sky beyond the low hills which lay immediately 

 to the south of us. They were of a light greyish 

 colour, and, as the wind was not strong, rose fairly 

 high, obscuring the former brightness of the sun. 



" Looks pretty big," I remarked, adding : 

 " Guess we had better stop a bit and see if it 

 means anything." 



After watching it for a few minutes, Tom 

 asked, " Do you think it will come this way ? " 



" Not unless the wind goes more southerly, 

 as it may with the sun," I replied. 



" We are fireguarded, anyway," said Tom. 



" I doubt if that will help us much, if the wind 

 increases, with this long grass and that bit of bluff 

 to windward," I answered. There was another 

 thick burst of smoke as the fire probably 



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