228 ON SURREY HILLS. 



it is on us ! Stand back ! " With a roar like thunder, 

 and in one red sheet of flame, it burst out and laps 

 the heather. A few hurried words and half the band 

 rush down the hill into the valley beyond. There is 

 a small farm there. The rest skirt the side of the 

 hill, driving all stock that may be in their line before 

 them. I, with my companion, go to the farm. Like 

 men gone wild, they cut and slash and carry all furze 

 and heath away from the farm enclosure. " Well done, 

 lads ! well done ! Saved by the skin of the teeth ! 

 Look ! mercy alive ! " The furze cover is on fire. Not 

 many live things are left to roast there ; they had 

 good warning, and here they come, a mixed flock of 

 birds full bat overhead, showing, in that fierce light, 

 as distinctly as if you had them in your hand, for their 

 flight is low down just overhead, no more. One or 

 two are caught with outstretched hand, tired out by 

 their first flight from the firs in the valley, which 

 has proved to many of their kin to-night a valley 

 of death. Next comes a sight seldom seen : rabbits, 

 a few hares, and right in front of them a fox. As 

 misery makes man acquainted with strange bed- 

 fellows, calamity causes him to rub shoulders with 



