necessary steps to
escape. Uncle Stephen had also a waggon in which to convey his
household goods out of the way of danger.

As we got near the village, we were satisfied that the inhabitants were
aroused; for already several waggons were moving forward in the
direction we were going, while we heard the shouts of the men driving
others in the rear. Fortunate, indeed, were those who had waggons, as
the rest of the people would have to carry on their shoulders everything
they wished to save.

The wind, which had increased, hurried forward the fire with terrific
rapidity, and drove the smoke in dense masses round us, so that, bright
as were the flames, we could often see but a short distance ahead. The
shouts and cries of the terrified settlers increased in loudness. All
hope that the village would be preserved must by this time have been
abandoned. The fire was coming up from the west and north-west, leaping
at a bound, as it seemed, over the clearings; the burning branches,
driven by the wind, quickly igniting all combustible matters amid which
they fell.

We at last reached the ground I have spoken of; but not without the loss
of some of our hogs, which had got away from us, in spite of our efforts
to drive them forward. Having early taken the alarm, we were the first
to arrive, but others from the village quickly followed; when we
immediately set to work to cut down every bush and blade of grass which
might catch fire.

In a short time I heard Uncle Stephen's voice, and thankful indeed was I
to see Lily and Aunt Hannah safe. They had found time to load their
waggon with the most valuable part of their property and a store of
provisions. The Claxtons directly afterwards arrived, and reported that
there were still several persons remaining in the village, who believed
that the conflagration would not reach it, and that they would be
perfectly safe. We were, however, too busily engaged in clearing the
ground to think of anything else.

It was fortunate that these precautions had been taken. In a short
time, as we looked towards the village, we saw the flames rising up in
all directions. The fire came working its way along; in some places in
thin lines, in others like a wave rolling over the sandy beach, and
consuming everything in its course.

Before the night was half over a semicircle of flame was blazing up
round the spot we occupied; the river, which was here very broad,
preventing the progress of