he
flames were upon us. We dashed through the intervening space of grass,
and ran on for a hundred yards before Ned thought of stopping.

"Here, mate!" he said at last. "Help the poor fellow down, and hand me
a drop of water. It's hot work, but we have escaped a frying this time
at all events."

We put Pedro on the ground, and then, as he insisted on walking, we
moved on a little further, and sat down by him to watch the progress of
the conflagration. It quickly worked its way across the belt we had
passed across; and then the scrub beyond towards the mountain caught
fire and blazed up furiously, extending far away to the east, till the
whole country before us seemed one mass of flame. Had it been night it
would have been magnificent, but we were truly glad that it was day,
that we might more easily see our road.

"Well, I hope there are no poor people's farms in that direction, or any
Indians hiding away, for the fire doesn't seem inclined to spare them,"
said Ned. "And now, mates, let's have some prog; we've a long day's
journey before us, and have had a sharp morning's work."

We took our frugal meal, and then seeing that Pedro required some rest,
we made him lie down for half an hour before we recommenced our journey.

"I'm thinking, mate, that this fire will be bringing some Indians down
to look at it," observed Ned, as we walked on. "If they are friends
they will be welcome, as they will help to carry our poor friend here.
Howsomdever, `it's an ill wind that blows no one good,' and, to my mind,
if any Spaniards are on our track they won't much like crossing that
little bit of blaze astern, till we are pretty well out of their reach."

I agreed with him that I should much like to meet any friendly Indians.
We had another reason for being anxious to do so, as our provisions were
running short, and, at the slower rate we were now compelled to travel,
would scarcely last us till we could reach that part of the country
where I expected to find some of Manco's followers. With regard to the
Spaniards harming us, I did not think they would venture so far; but
should they have done so, the fire would afford us a better chance of
escape, and prevent their dreadful bloodhounds from scenting out our
track. Pedro bore up manfully in spite of the pain he suffered from his
hurts. From the very temperate life he had led, his blood was cool and
healthy, and no inflammation set in; which I was afraid would have been