w lost no time in making our way back to the camp. Our progress
was of necessity slow, but we reached it at last, having been guided
during the latter part of the distance by the bright flames of Toby's
fire.

We immediately set to work to cook the wombat. Toby however had
satisfied his hunger on the flesh of the emu, though he managed after a
little rest to devour no small portion of the meat we had brought.

We then lay down to sleep, pretty well tired by the fatigue we had gone
through. To our dismay Hector was utterly unable to walk the next
morning, but fortunately our friends discovered us on their way to the
rendezvous, and he mounting one of the horses we set off for home. We
carried with us the emu, which it was calculated would yield between six
and seven quarts of fine oil. It is for the sake of this valuable
product that the bird is generally hunted.

Hector very good-naturedly bore the bantering of the rest of the party
on the subject of his adventure among the wombats.

We had ridden some distance across the open country, when we observed
ahead what looked like a dense black mist in the far distance above the
scrub.

"What can that be?" I asked of Bracewell.

"I don't like its appearance," he answered. "I fear that the bush is on
fire, and if so it is impossible to say where it will stop. It appears
to be at no great distance from the station. What do you think,
Hector?"

"I'm sure it's very near," he answered hurriedly; "and during this dry
weather the rapidity with which it spreads is extraordinary. Push on,
all of you; don't mind me, I can be of no use with this lame foot, but
you may still be in time to assist in saving our dear ones at home
should the fire reach the house. Here, Maurice, do you mount my horse,
and I'll get on the animal carrying the emu; there's not a moment to
lose."

I willingly acted according to his suggestion; and, leaving him with his
two younger brothers and Toby, Bracewell, Guy, and I galloped forward.

Bracewell appeared more agitated than I had ever seen him before. He
had been paying great attention to Mary Strong, and the thought now
occurred to him that she was in danger. While we were dashing on as
hard as we could go, it appeared to us that the conflagration was
rapidly extending. Already dense wreaths of smoke, rising towards the
sky, formed a thick canopy overhead; while we could see every now and
then the bright flames darting upwards above t