gth.

We turned our horses' heads and urged them through the smoke, avoiding
the fire as well as possible, so that our animals would not become
alarmed and refuse to move, except in the direction of danger. By this
means we made some progress, and soon hoped to get clear of the trees;
but before we had advanced a quarter of a mile a long wall of fire
headed us off, and again brought us to a stand still. To retreat was
impossible, for the fire was surging after us, and feeding upon the long
grass with a fierceness that told us we could not cross the line and
hope to live, while if we advanced a like result was certain. On every
side of us we could hear the trees crack, and sway to and fro, and then
fall with a heavy crash that showed how rapidly the flames had spread,
and with what intensity the fire was burning. Our fate began to look
doubtful, and I had almost a mind to throw away the gold which loaded
down my pockets, and to possess which I had encountered so many dangers.

"What shall we do now?" demanded Mr. Brown, his voice as firm and
apparently as composed as when in Ballarat, surrounded by his policemen.

Day was evidently at the end of his expedients, for he sat on his horse
and only stared at us in reply, not offering a word.

"In which direction is Mount Tarrengower?" I asked.

The stockman pointed with his hand to the right of us.

"Are you sure?" I demanded.

"Positive," he answered.

"Then follow me!" and with a word I encouraged my horse, and started at
as rapid a pace as possible in the direction indicated.

Mr. Brown and Day followed as close as possible, and for a few minutes
we were kept hard at work dodging the branches of trees, and guiding our
blindfolded horses through the labyrinths for the purpose of avoiding
the fire as much as possible. Sometimes we were compelled to halt until
a cloud of black smoke, impregnated with the juice of gum trees and
stately palms, had passed over us and revealed the course which it was
necessary for us to pursue to find safety. Amidst all this it was a
consolation to know that we were not getting into hotter localities, and
that the flames were raging more extensively in the quarter which we had
left but a minute before, for we could see fire rolling over the very
spot we had stopped at when Day had relinquished the head of the party.

On we went, and at length the smoke gradually diminished, and above the
tree tops could be seen the rugged sides of Mount