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 Tarrengower.  Even then we did not consider that we were in safety, for a change of wind would bring the fire upon us a second time, and then we should be hummed in between the sides of the mountain and the woods—­no very enviable situation.  We felt thankful, however, for our escape so far, and prayed as well as we were able that the wind would hold in its present position until we were in safety.

For a few minutes we sat upon our horses and watched the flames at our feet,—­for we were on elevated ground, and could overlook a large portion of the fire—­and a grand sight it was to see tree after tree fall with a tremendous crash, sending up sparks and jets of flame, and thick clouds of black smoke which rose high in the air, and then sailed in majestic grandeur in the direction of Ballarat.  We were too busy with our thoughts to converse for some time after our escape, but at length Mr. Brown suggested to Day that his sheep would suffer during his absence, even if they were not all destroyed by the fire.

“No fear of that’,” replied the shepherd, with a grin which showed how much interest he had in his employer’s property, forced, as he was, to take care of it by the strong arm of law.  “Sheep ain’t such devilish fools as to run into fires with their eyes wide open.  When I go back I shall find my flock all right, and if I don’t ’tain’t much matter.  My comrades, however, will wonder more about my absence than the animals, and I s’pose they will think I’m a goner.”

“How near are we to the station, Day?” I asked.

“Let me see,” replied the shepherd, after a moment’s reflection.  “We can’t be move than five miles from the Loddon, and if we follow the left bank of the river long enough we shall reach Wright’s station, where we can get something to eat, and perhaps be sure of a welcome.”

“Humph,” grunted Mr. Brown, “your directions are not very plain, and you seem to be in doubt whether we will fare well or ill after we gain the farm.  Why should we not be received with kindness?”

“Well, to tell you truth,” replied the shepherd, with commendable frankness, “I don’t think that the looks of you two coveys are very prepossessing, and I have a fear that you will be mistaken for bushrangers, and get a dose of lead instead of a dinner.  I ’spose that if I was to go ahead and speak for ye ’twould be all right.”