ir eyes
with sheepskins."

The idea was a capital one, and was immediately carried into effect The
skins which Day had used to play the ghost were now employed to cover
the heads of our restless animals, for as the fire increased they seemed
to be aware of their danger, and were with difficulty prevented from
plunging into the bog, where they would soon have been smothered in
defiance of our exertions. The instant that their eyes were blindfolded
they became perfectly quiet, and suffered themselves to be led to the
peninsula, which they crossed without accident, and while we debated for
a few minutes which course we should take to avoid the danger, the
animals remained motionless, as though they had every confidence in our
wisdom.

"We must look to you for guidance here," Mr. Brown said, turning to the
shepherd, who was attentively watching the course of the flames. "There
is a horse for each of us, and a few blows must not be spared to make
them carry us safe through the fire."

We threw ourselves into the saddles, and left the pack horse, a stout
brute, for Day to take charge of. Every thing that we had packed upon
his back we had left on the island, and the only articles that we
carried on our own persons were revolvers. Even our powder flasks we
emptied for fear of an explosion, as the air was full of cinders blown
in all directions by light breezes which began to spring up with the
morning sun.

"Which direction shall we take, Day?" I asked, thinking that it was
about time we started, as the fire was creeping towards us at a rapid
rate.

"'Pon my word, I don't know," he replied, with a puzzled expression upon
his face. "You see that the woods on our right are on fire, and so are
those on our left lending to the banks of the Loddon. 'Tisn't the trees
that I care so much about as the grass. If I only knew whether the grass
was on fire beyond the woods on our right I'd give half of the gold I've
got in my pockets, and think myself fortunate."

"If our situation is so desperate it won't do to stand here and talk
about it. Let us make a bold push and reach the river if possible,
unless you think the bushrangers have retreated in that direction," I
remarked.

"Them coveys are safe enough," replied Day, pointing to the mountain,
from which we were separated by a wall of fire that almost blistered our
faces where we stood. "They have gone up there like so many kangaroos,
and no doubt are laughing at the sight, an