On a Selection 53 



brought, and the branches do their work more 

 effectually after a drenching. The fight is re- 

 sumed with new vigour, for the worst of the fire 

 has passed. It is sweeping through the country 

 a mile away, leaving in its track a wake of blazing 

 trees, charred fences, and blackened soil. But the 

 home is saved and the stock as well, and the set- 

 tlers, with blackened faces and smoke-reddened 

 eyes, congratulate one another that it is no worse. 

 Next day, the selector is able to estimate the ex- 

 tent of his misfortune. Fences burned every- 

 where, not a mouthful of feed left on his selection 

 to keep the stock alive until the rain comes. Ah, 

 well! it might have been worse. Hp must pay 

 for pasturing the stocks in somebody's paddock 

 until the grass shoots again, and he is lucky to 

 have saved his crop and so to be able to find the 

 money. 



Bush fire is not the only disaster the selector is 

 called upon to face. The rainy season may swell 

 the little creek that runs through the selection 

 until it overflows its banks, and floods the pad- 

 docks. Then the selector looks across a waste of 

 waters, and can only hope that they will not cover 

 the little islands of high ground where his animals 

 have taken refuge. He may work hard with his 

 neighbours to carry out the instructions issued by 

 the Government for the destruction of the eggs 

 and young of the locusts, only to find his green 

 crop devoured by a swarm nurtured somewhere 

 else. Rabbits and other pests, both animal and 



