RUNNING BEFORE A FOREST FIRE 
high tower upon a conical hill, and another castle-like 
structure surmounting a conical base. The two were most 
impressive as they stood in their sombre red against the 
brilliantly blue sky. 
Next to the second section of the range, to the north, 
was a high mountain of two twin-pointed peaks, shaped 
like a badly pitched tent. Then came another plateau, 
much eroded on its south side. Beyond was an immense, 
black plateau on three successive tiers; and this one, unlike 
the others of which it was merely a continuation, had 
sloping instead of vertical sides. 
We had a nasty experience that day, which for the 
moment made us forget the beauty of that wonderful 
scenery. We were going through high scrub and stunted 
trees and tall grass, much dried by the intense heat, quite 
suffocating in the basin with the refraction from the huge 
rocks. A strong breeze sprang up, and we were delighted, 
when we saw, fast approaching, a dense black and white 
cloud rolling, as it were, along the ground. As it got 
nearer there was such loud crackling and explosions that 
it seemed like the volleys of musketry in a battle. My 
horses and mules pricked up their ears, lifting their heads 
high, sniffing, neighing, and braying. They became rest¬ 
less. Before we had time to realize what was the matter, 
we saw tongues of flames shoot out from the earth. 
Within a few seconds, with the wind which was blowing 
high, we found ourselves with a barrier of fire close behind 
us and fast gaining upon us. The trees seemed to flare 
up in a moment like matches or fireworks. A wave of 
terrific heat took our breath away. We were almost suffo¬ 
cated. There was only one way of escape — in front of 
us. For to the left we had the impassable barrier of 
rock; to the right the flames had already gained on us 
in a semicircle like a claw of fire. We stirred on our 
animals, lashing them. My men, with their heads wrapped 
to prevent suffocation from the stifling smoke, were in a 
vol. i. —22 337 
