A FOREST- FIRE. 



225 



" Here you are. I've got my felling axe. Give 

 'em a rattler to let 'em know we are close handy." 



With whoop and halloo we dash down the valley 

 horns sounding. What a sight it is ! Men and 

 boys, some of the latter mere children, cutting, hack- 

 ing, and beating with fir boughs to thrash out the fire. 

 " Here they come, lads, to help up. Well done ! for 

 we are near beat." No time for many words ; the 

 situation is taken in at a glance. The men take their 

 places in knots of twos and threes. The boys are on 

 the edge of the fire with their boughs for beating. 



" Where are the stock ? " is the inquiry shouted. 



" Ahead of the fire ; but in the cover we can hear 

 their bells. They are not far off; they will break 

 cover directly ; look out for 'em ! " 



And now we can see the fire. At racing speed it 

 gathers, in one sheet of flame, running up and over- 

 topping the firs, with one fierce lick clearing all before 

 it. With bellow, snort, and bleat, the animals, mad 

 with fright, break into the glade which parts the two 

 hills. The ponies, some with colts, rush past with 

 shrill neigh and whinny, nostrils distended, and their 

 shaggy manes tossing from side to side. On the crest 

 of the hill they halt for one moment, looking like 

 P 



