f the house. I'll go round and see who he is."

"Why, of course it's Willy," Mrs. Dickson answered. "Who else could it
be?"

Ailleen walked round the verandah to the other side, and as the man
approached, she was surprised to recognize Slaughter.

"Miss," he exclaimed, as he rode up, "the bush is afire all round. I've
come through to see if you were safe. You must come at once, for the
fire's coming down fast, and if you're not burned you'll be choked."

"But we're safe here," she replied.

"Safe here? You're right in the line of it. The wind's blowing it down
quicker than a horse can gallop, and when the grass catches it'll have
the house and everything in its track in no time. Come at once. If
you've----"

"Mrs. Dickson is here. She's blind. Come and tell her. She would not
believe me," Ailleen exclaimed, as she turned to hurry back to where the
blind woman was sitting.

Slaughter jumped off his horse and came close under the verandah.

"Miss," he exclaimed; and Ailleen turned back. "Begging your pardon,
miss," he went on, watching her face with anxious eyes, "but I've come
for you, not for them. It's you I want to see safe. I started before the
fire came up. I heard something, and I came out to see if you knew it,
for I promised I'd see you safe when--I said I'd do my best. There's a
bad lot about. It wasn't for me to do anything till now, but with the
fire coming down you've a reason to get away, and you can have my
horse."

She looked at him, with a smile on her face--a smile which came at his
anxiety, in spite of the memories his presence stirred.

"I have my own horse," she said quietly.

"You _had_, miss; you haven't now. It was a part of what I heard.
They've driven your horse away and all the others."

"Oh, nonsense!" she exclaimed.

"It's true," he answered earnestly. "I wouldn't tell you what isn't
true. It was young Dickson said it. Do you know where he is now? He's at
my place, he, and a mate of his, badly knocked about. There's another
one somewhere--and he's the one I've got out ahead of, it seems. But
there, look at the smoke rolling in! Come on, or we'll never get
through," he added excitedly, pointing up to the smoke which was
drifting rapidly over the house.

Ailleen glanced up and saw it. The fire was evidently coming down
rapidly.

"I must tell Mrs. Dickson," she exclaimed, and turned away, running
quickly along the verandah from the corner.

Slaughter climbed on to the veranda