The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-12-23

with suffocating smoke and terrible
roar and crackle of dry brush. In a
few minutes it was near the house, then
the matched roof was in flames.
Ah, could the fugitives reach the one
place of safely before the devouring
flames should lick them up, too, as
they had the malice? They could
already feel the heat of the fl ames upon
them, and the bright glare lighted up
their pale faces.
On, on they ran, painting and tremb.
ling, and stumbling through the narrow
path. They were not alone, for the
scrub was alive with terrified creatures,
all fleeing before the oncoming fire.
Mrs. Ellerton's strength was nearly
gone. 81 cannot reach it girlsl" she
painted. "Save yourselvesl 1t is bet
ter that 1 should perish, than all of
us!"
"Oh, no, mol" cried Susy. I" We
cannot, cannot live without you? Here,
Sally, catch hold on the other side of
mother. Nab, seize her skirt in front
and pull Pull Nth all your strengthi
Onion now! We must get therel
Half carrying the fainting mother,
the girls sped along, the scrub tearing
at their clothes and tender flesh.
The fire was now close upon them,
and the smoke was driven in volumes
over their heads. The heat was in
tense, and every moment it seemed as
if they must drop from exhaustion.
But each step brought them nearer
the haven of safety. They could see
the CLEAN of water through the scrub
"a moment more and they were
stumbling down the cattle path. Ankle
deep they dragged themselves through
the mud to the edge of the precious
goal and sank down exhausted in its
cool waters.
In all the rivers of Australia, with
one or two exceptions, the structure of
the river beds is the samoa channel
broken at intervals by deep depressions,
which serve as reservoirs to retainn the
water for the use of the thirsty land in
times of drouth. During the rainy
season the channel is full to overflow
ing, but at midsummer series of
these water-holes and perhaps little
rill trickling along the pebbly bed and
through the reeds, show the rivers
course. Some of these water-holes are
quite respectable ponds, being three
quarters of mile in length, thirty or
forty yards wide, and very deep toward
the center. Upon these, not only is
the settler and his herds dependent,
but they lare the great resort of wild
animals as well.
The Ellertons had escaped, only by
the greatest courage and perseverance,.
A cool, brisk breeze, fast merging Into
gale, was now sweeping over them
direct from the sea, and after little
time Sue ventured up the path to the
top of the bank and gazed off over the
burned and smoking district. But the
flames had been checked most unac.
countably. What had happened? All,
twas Toms southerly buster" beat
ing back the flamas upon their own
track till they were about to expire for
want of fuel
"Oh, if it had come little soonerl
to have save the house!" cried Susy.
But they were safe, and the provi.
dental check of the flames had saved
the weary travellers from Sydney who
were in Its terrible path; and although
homeless and in a strange land, after
they learned that the sheep run had
escaped the ravages of the fire and al
was well with Tom and Robert, the
Ellertons had good cause to thank God
for his mercies and his Christmas gift
of life.-Portland Transcript.