there was half a quarter of a mile of flame. He had therefore ridden
on before the fire, had called his own two men to him, and had at
once lighted the grass himself some two hundred yards in front,
making a second fire, but so keeping it down that it should be always
under control. Before the hinder flames had caught him, Bender and
Jacko had been with him, and they had thus managed to consume the
fuel which, had it remained there, would have fed the fire which was
too strong to be mastered. By watching the extremities of the line of
fire, they overpowered it, and so the damage was for the moment at an
end.

The method of dealing with the enemy was so well known in the bush,
and had been so often canvassed in the hearing of the two sisters,
that it was clearly intelligible to them. The evil had been met in
the proper way, and the remedy had been effective. But why did not
Harry come home?

Mickey O'Dowd, after his fashion, explained that too. The ladies were
not to wait dinner. The master felt himself obliged to remain out at
night, and had gotten food at the German's hut. He, Mickey, was
commissioned to return with a flask full of brandy, as it would be
necessary that Harry, with all the men whom he could trust, should be
"on the rampage" all night. This small body was to consist of Harry
himself, of the German, of Jacko, and, according to the story as at
present told, especially of Mickey O'Dowd. Much as she would have
wished to have kept the man at the station for protection, she did
not think of disobeying her husband's orders. So Mickey was fed, and
then sent back with the flask--with tidings also as to the desertion
of that wretched cook, Sing Sing.