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, and thinking how surprised the ghost will be when he appears to-night.  Them coveys hain’t got much respects for beings of this world or ’tother, I should judge by their treatment of the best specimen of a goblin ever got up in any country.”

“D——­n your long yarns, let’s get out of this confounded furnace before we stop to talk,” was the response of Mr. Brown, who began to grow impatient under the fiery ordeal.

Day looked as though he would like to discuss the matter, but he altered his mind when he found that the fire was within ten feet of where we stood.