St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-10-16

laundering hoofs over the plain there
herds of cattle running with bloodshot
eyes and hanging tongues, they knew
not whittier, from the fires f; troops o
kangaroos leaping frantically across
the riders path, their hair singed and
giving out strongly the stencil of fire
birds of all kinds and colors shriekine
piteously as they drove wildly by, anc
yet saw no spot of safety thousands
of sheep standing huddled in terror OF
the scorched flats, with singed wool
deserted by their shepherds, who hae
fed for their lives.
But onward few the intrepid Sorcer
er, onward stretched his rider, think
ing lightning-winged thoughts of his
home, and of his helpless, paralyseo
mother there.
/ With caution inspired by former
outbreaks of bush-fres, he had made
at some distance round his homestead
bare circle He had felled the forest
trees, leaving only one here and there
at such distances that there was little
fear of ignition. AS the summer dried
the grass, he had set fire to it on days
when the wind was gentle enough to
leave the flame at command watch
ing, branch in hand to beat out any
blaze that might have travelled into
the forest. By this means he had hith.
erto prevented the fire from reaching
his homestead and he had strongly
recommended the same plan to his
neighbors, though generally with lit
tie effect. Now, the fire was so terri.
BILE, and sparks few so wide on the
wind, that he feared they might kindle
the grass round his homestead, and
that he might find everything and ev
cry person there consumed.
But, behold the cleaning, welcome
waters of Lake Colac (. Sorcerer
rushed headlong towards it; and wad.
ing hastily up to his sides in it's cool
ing flood, thrust his head to the eyes
into it and drank, as if he could never
be satisfied with less than the whole
lake. Englishmen, new to the scene
would have trembled for the horse
but the bush steed knows best what
he needs, eats and drinks as likes him
best and flourishes on it. Smoking
hot, the rider lets him drink his fill.
and all goes we'll. The heat produces
perspiration, and the evaporation cools
and soothes him. Robert Patterson
did not lose moment in following
sorcerers example. He flung himsel.
headlong from the saddle, dressed al
he was, dived, and splashed, and dranl
exuberantly. He held again .ant
again his smarting face and singet
hands in the delicious water then
threw it over the steed, that now, sa
tiated, stood painting in the flood. He
laved and rubbed down the grateful
animal with wave after wave, clean
ing the dried perspiration from every
hair, giving him refreshmcnt at every
pore. Then up and away again.
He had not ridden two hundred
yards, before he saw, lying on the
plain, a horse that had fallen in saddle
and bride, and lay with his legs un.
der him, and head stretched stiffiy for.
ward, with'glaring eyeballs but dead
Near him was a man, alive, but sunk
in exhaustion. His eyes turned wild
ly on the young squatter, and his parch
ed lips moved, but without a sound
Robert Patterson comprehendcd his
need; and, running to the lake, brought
his pannikin full Of water, and put il
to his mouth. 1t was the water o1
life to him. His voice and some de
gree Of strength came quickly back
He had come from the north, and had
ridden a race with the fire, till horse
and man had dropped here, the horse
never to rise again. But Patterson's
need was to urgent for delay. He
found the man had no lack of provis.
ions he carried him in his arms to
the margin of the lake, mounted. and
rode on.
As he galloped forward, it was still
fire-fire everywhere. He felt con
vinced that the confagration-fanneG
by the strong wind, and acting upol
fires in hundred quarters-extendee
over the whole sun-dried colony.
1t was still early noon, when, will
straining eyes, and a heart which
seemed almost to stand still with ;
terrible anxiety, he came near his owl
home. He darted over the brow of .
hill-there it lay safe The circl,
within his cleared boundary was un
touched by the fire. There were hi.
paddocks, his cattle, his huts, ane
home. With a lightning thought his
thanks flew up to heaven, and he was
the next moment at his door, in his
house, in his mothers arms.
Roberts anxiety had been great fol
the safety of his mother, her anxiet,
was tripled for him. Terror occasion
ed by former conhagration had par
alysed her lower cxtremities; and now
the idea of her only son, her only re
naming relative in the colony, beins
met by this unexampled fire in the
dense defiles Of the terrible DIVA,
Forest, kept her in state of the mos
fearful tension of mind. Mrs. Patter
son, though confined to her wheeled
chair, was a woman of pre-eminen
energy and ability. Left with hel
boy mere infant, she had managed
| all her affairs with q skill and diScre