BUSH FIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

BUSH FIRE

"Isn't the sky a queer colour." remarked -lean. as she looked oiii omt tin- dry fiH<U and drooping tree:-. "Ye-. it s been so dry I wouldn't l«i if there were a lire." an-wcr«-d Frcd:i.

"Well—that's a nice comfortal-l'-thought, isn't it." said her lier lingers moving swiftly over the delicate embroidery she was working. "We are quite safe, anyway."' -lean said complacently, "although I suppose the }iras«; would Imrii up.*' "Oh. you could put it out quite easily, couldn't you. all on your own.'' Freda put in sarcastically. "There is no rea-ofi to take your bad temper out on me just because Edna wouldn't come over last week-end." Jean returned sharply. "Well. slieV a mean thing and I told lier so, the re-ult being that we are not speaking now." Freda said. The girls watched the darkening sky with concern and towards the afternoon they could see the men who worked on the farm running with bags "and stoul sticks to the bush surrounding it. Some were chopping down treer.. while others were hastily dipping a wide firc-lireak. "How on earth do they think a thing like lliat is going to rU>p a fire," .lean said disparagingly. "The\ are doin™ their bc-t." «.'ract-. lier -istcr. said quietly. "[ think somehow. ue had boiter go down to the -trenin until it's all over. I believe the house will be all right, but just in I'a.-c," r-he added. They bundled their work together and. taking some fool, they clipped down to the stream further back front the house. n icir worried eyes scanned the oncoming fire, then (Jraee cried suddenlv:

"Look. 1 lie wind haf .hanged, tie i- t'jward? McXeillV "Kdna is ' here by herself - eRMrt l reda. "Remember the fami]j into town this week instead oi la*t."

The girls ]<•«•!«■(} at <'4<-h other in i®. up the small Freda yelled: "I am going over then." a n<l her sisters p n ld gtay htshe wa« speedily away, ber fcp taking her to the stable*. She bridle over Dannie's head and liim out ahe turned faim twraid JitXeill's home, about two aUg foli* up the bush track.

By GWEN DRINK AN

"Kdna. Kdna." she called loudly ai she nea red the house. Smoke was poor in« through the trees and the cradfe <•!" lire could l»e heard in the distance. "Well." Kdna said, as she cuse wit i<i the verandah, her eves still diowinj fi?ny of hostility to Iter friend. "Kdna. don't you know the Sn ji coming this way?" Freda asked. "Why, no.", Edna said in dismay. -1 thought the. men were just baminj tw old timber in Trent's section. I* it tot far away!" AH sign of enmity kd gone from lier frightened face. "It is near and it is moving vay fitst." Freda asaid, slipping off Dusk* back and laying the reins across hk back. "Is there anything job wast to bring with you?" "No, but. hava a look round »i3r 1 get a fevr clot lies together." They t»oth ran into the bout asi the acrid smell of smoke and fcniaiiif came more clearly to them. "Are you ready?"' Edna railed. "Vc*. come on,""* and they j*n octafe "Ifctniiie." screamed Freda. "Bf* gone." .Sure enough the frightened hfl* on finding himself alone near tie Si* had turned and galloped home. "Oh. why didn't I tic him up," Wtfei Kre<la. "Well, don't wa&tc time: *eTlk«nlo run every inch of the way," F4l «ii The lirst mile was easy eDWfkj tkßthrough some inishap, Freda twiftedl® ankle. Already sparks were coaing t»» close for their peace of mind and i* wind was carrying the scorching tot over them, the smoke Maekni* tkw clothes and smarting their eyefe"How much further is H?" Freda, spasms of pain rnnmf >p

"Not very far. but it wffl ( our time to get to the E®"* panted, as she tighfened her if TOW Freda. Tliev paused for I gather their breath for the last •l"' * when Edna turned for a ■o®**t. rw a sickening second she thought tWj were trapped. Somehow the fit® teered to their left, cutting path ahead, but ber amarting «?|* ••crned tlie old water-track Jhe ri2hJ. She looked down at Frettwho wa> trying to deaden tie as tliev showered down on Wv..ii «e"t. We'll yet there in a WW"" or two." !-)h* said confidently, her white, black streaked ff i * rtN tin* tone of her voice. . "Listen, you mn on and jet others."" Freda said, '"and HI o ® v ' slowlv." "Don't be *i»y: look bow <*** fire is tiow." Edna cried frwrt** l J Freda"«« eyes distended wned horror. '"Oh. hurry. or weH he

alive." . y Tin- . of the tm« « -hot forth invriads of fl»T*g *F~\ Flames ran tlwir barainf tapp*j| jrreedily along the brancbe*. „ rtic-korin? for a moment liefoJ* on to their nest helpless brittle wood snapped ** mtcob* while ibe fiery heat §trort to the two girl#, fighting

the open. js "Look. there s Jean. «*"*•** w a cracked. Jrv voice- **Sbc» help us." With nee * d u < ?s| I>dL tumbled out into tie W **V supported hv the ° tl^ r t way to Die s-tream. where the relief and pain too When -he i-anie to the

inar quietly. „ jM . uti f "Von are a jjreat one. , lfl her, "jfoinjr to fret Edn*» bring vou back." . t 3 to ••We'll. I did my he*t Ho» r<3 kn<i'.\ Dannie would run t\vi~ t my ankle " she coB "» Sn» "Leave her alone. Je» B -, frfdiand she Mniled as -ncrirdhand. ' Friend® ags«>"Ye.r it—landed Fred* **&■