A Ride for Life

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 15

A Ride for Life

(By Bernice Entwist/le.)

Madge Graham gazed around her, noting the wild, -beauty of the hills-. Far away the §ea shone beneath the afternoon isun. She was standing on the top of a large hill covered in luxuriant New Zealand bush, and around her lay the fertile valley, dotted here and there with farm lauds, won from the hush by the hard-working pioneers. But still the bush conquered. Ten miles away the small township of Puapatu looked verv small beside the vastness of the hills and bush. Every year bush fires spread their destruction throughout the valley, wiping out many small homesteads, and causing people to flee for their lives As Madge looked, she was unconsci-, ous of the picture she herself made. Clad in white blouse, and short brown riding skirt, her wide felt hat in- her hand, the wind ruffling her short brown curlv hair, she looked the picture of health Her skin was tanned a healthy brown, but her usually merry brown eyes were now 'clouded and sad. Down there at her home farm, which she could* see four miles away, she had parted from her chum Gipsy Sedgeworth. No two girls in the whole of tho valley were closer friends thaii these two. Madge seemed to loiovv it was her fault —this quarrel. She had flared up over such a small thing :as where thav were to go for their picnic, a gu* of fifteen Well now it was too late. They had parted, their first quarrel Madge sighed heavily. , Suddenly her inertness vanished and her gaze became rigid. What was that thin, red line in the hush behind Puanatn? Five minutes later that line became a blazing band of fire and S ™°rhe hush is on fire!” cried'Madge. -‘And old Mr. Thomas is m bed with that broken leg. Oh, I must send help or do something!” Only yesterday old Thomas had! fallen from a ‘ladder and broken his leg. He lived in a lonely shack the other side the town, and right in the line of the fire, and Madge was afraid that in the general confusion he would! be forgotAway she raced to; where (her horse was tethered, and, with a quiclc spiiiig into the saddle was galloping off. On, on she went until she reached the first farm. A minute sufficed to give the warning, and then she was off again-Cio-ht miles still to go. Could she reach the town before it was too late? A smouldering heap on the side.of the road caught her eye, and she pulled up quickly and dismounted. “Some careless tramp I suppose, and Madgo endeavoured to kill this new danger, but it was too- late. A little puff of wind and a-wav went sparks and a little darting flame. With a hiss it scrambled along the dry grass, while the brave girl beat at it until all hope was lost. The fire had won She mounted hurriedly, her horse plunging dangerously, and dug her heels into his flanks,’ driving him into the blinding smoke and fixe and out beyond it again. „ , jn Madge’s face and arms were badly burned, but she raced on, heedless of the pain, and now! with a new danger, a fast-moving bush fire behind to outdistance, Only three miles to go! And then when hope seemed fulfilled, her horse slipped, fell, and tried in vain to rise. He had broken his leg. “Well, Dar.kie, I must ileave you old thing,” she sobbed. “There is a more important life than yours to save, but I don’t think I will .race the fire now,’’ 1 and Madge began to run the last miles, realising that her own life was in danger as well as that of old Thomas Innumerable times she fell and recovered herself, only to fall again. Ever nearer crept the fire while the brave girl struggled onwards, choking and gasping as smoke filled her nostrils." Then an unlucky slip brought her down heavily on her arm. Ohi! the pain! When she attempted to rise it i shot through her like sword thrusts; - out she was uot yet done. The sturdy nirit, which was the making of the pioneers, was strong in Madge, and setting: her lips grim’ly on su-ei went Behind the fire was roaring down on her but she -had reached the last hill. ry.‘ up, slowly—and there below was Puapatu, and nearer still a hand of fire-fighters. Kindly hands carried her to . “Old Thomas—send help to him,” she murmured as she slid into blessed oblivion.

“Madge dear!” Madge groaned as returning consciousness brought back the pain. “Where am J?—qh. the bush, its burning— Darkv leaving you—Thomas —he can’t move—oh—<” ~ . , , “Hush, Madge, its all right old thing. Thomas is safe. Some fellows went at once and got him in iust in time. His hut was burned to the ground. Now you’re in the- hospital. If you haun t remembered, Madge—Gipsy shuddered. , , , , By this time Madge had opened her eyes wide and looked straight into the b'iue eyes of Gipsy! “Oh, Grp!” was all she managed to gulp, while that girl hugged her as much, as bandages permitted. Then and there the quarrel was forgiven and forgotten.