There were three miles to go ere I cleared the forest, and got among the short grass, where I could save myself--three miles! Ten minutes nearly of intolerable heat, blinding smoke, and mortal terror.

Any death but this! Drowning were pleasant, glorious to sink down into the cool sparkling water.

But, to be burnt alive! Fool that I was to venture so far! I would give all my money now to be naked and penniless, rolling about in a cool pleasant river.
The maddened, terrified horse, went like the wind, but not like the hurricane--that was too swift for us.

The fire had outstripped us over-head, and I could see it dimly through the infernal choking reek, leaping and blazing a hundred yards before me, among the feathery foliage, devouring it, as the south wind devours the thunder clouds.
Then I could see nothing.

Was I clear of the forest?
Thank the Lord, yes--I was riding over grass.
I managed to pull up the horse, and as I did so, a mob of kangaroos blundered by, blinded, almost against me, noticing me no more in their terror than if I had been a stump or a stone.