raked away all fuel, almost up to the woods, when they heard Sam's
voice calling them--

"Come back, come back! the black fellows are close upon us! I wasn't
comfortable in my mind, and went out to listen. I heard them calling to
each other, and their dogs barking."

Although they believed that the bullock-driver's anxiety or fears might
somewhat exaggerate the danger, they felt that it was, at all events,
prudent to retreat to their hut. All remained quiet: they were
beginning to hope that the alarm might be a false one. Arthur again
went out, and as, rifle in hand, he was pacing as sentry round the hut,
he saw a bright light burst forth above the trees, half a mile or so off
to the south-west. He watched it for some minutes; it increased,
extending on either hand, the forked points of the flames appearing high
above the intervening trees. There could be no doubt that the wood was
on fire. Thus far the information obtained by the bullock-driver was
correct. There was too much reason, therefore, to fear that their
destruction would be attempted by the savages. He hurried into the hut
to consult what was best to be done. Their horses were at hand; they
might mount them and ride away from the danger; but such a proceeding
was not to be thought of. If, however, they were not secured, they
would be carried off by the blacks. Arthur and Sam accordingly went out
and brought them up to the hut; there was just room for them to stand in
the kitchen by removing the table; the door was then closed and barred.
None of the party, however, felt inclined to wait inactive till the
conflagration reached their neighbourhood without knowing what progress
it was making. There was no window at the back of the hut.

"We will make holes in the roof," said Arthur; "we shall be able to see
through them what is going on, and if we are besieged in our fortress by
the savages, we shall be the better able to defend ourselves and annoy
them."

A stool, placed on the top of the table, enabled them to reach the roof,
and by stringing some boards to the rafters, they found convenient
standing places. The square holes cut in the shingles forming the roof
gave them a look-out. There was enough in the spectacle they beheld to
try the courage of the stoutest hearted. In front of them, that is to
say, at the back of the hut, was a narrow neck of forest, which was as
yet intact, but above the branches--between the stems which stood out in