Wych Hazel

hing to lighten the tedium of the way, beyond the ordinary courtesies. And after the first few hours the scenery had little to attract. The country became an ordin

indications of human life, too; tokens of thrift and of poverty, of weary toil and of well-to-do activity. Where the ploughs go, and the ploughmen; where the cattle are driven afield; where the farmyards tell how they are housed and kept; where the women sit with their milking pails or make journeys to the spring; where flowers trim the house-fronts, or where the little yard-gate says that everything, like itself, hangs by on

laces were taken by a couple of country women, one young and rustic, the other elderly and ditto. That was all that Wych Hazel saw of them. The fact

he hazy atmosphere, which grew every moment thicker and bluer and more intensely hazy. It almost seemed to take shape, to her eye, and to curl and wave like some animated thing among the still pines. The countrywomen were dozing now; Mr. Rollo and Mr. Falkirk mused, or possibly dozed too; it made her restless only to look at them. Softly moving off to her own corner, Wych Hazel leaned out of the window. Dark and still and blue-veiled as ever, the pines rose up in endless succession by the roadside; a yellow carpet of dead leaves at their feet, the woodpeckers busy, the squirrels at play over their work. How free they all were!- with what a sweet freedom. No danger that the brown rabbit darting away from his form, would ever transgress pretty limits!-no fear that vanity or folly or ill-humour would ever touch the grace of those grey squirrels. As for the red ones!-

l. The blue was spotted now with faint red fire; with dull streaks as of beds of coals, and little sharp points of flame. On both sides of the road, creeping among the pines and leaping up into them, the fire was raging. A

he matter

sir. We must turn

ified face, 'if there was any danger?' but nobody answered her. Roll

going to do?

e road ahead of us; and the horses might set their feet

s!-where we come from! Ca

ently,' said Rollo. 'Have

time they travelled back hopefully on their way, though the smoky atmosphere was too thick to let any one forget the obstacle which had turned them. It grew stifling, breathed so long, and it did not clear away; but though ev

Mr. Falkirk i

den stop and a volley of exclamations, smothered and not smo

ht I was to hum!'-and she showed the earnestness of the wish by beginning to cry. Her companion sat still and turned very p

th every minute; while a low, murmuring roar told of its out-of-sight progress. What was to be done? The driver declared, on being pressed, t

Rollo, turning to put W

d not know whether his hors

alf a second, but nature's telegraph works well at such instants. Wych Hazel saw an eye steady and clear, which seemed to brave dan

ink of it. The coach was moving on again; the women were very frightened, and cried and moaned by way of relieving their feelings at the expense of other people's. Mrs. Saddler, who has hitherto used only her eyes, now clasped her fin

Falkirk somewhat sternly. 'Be quiet, and try

half kindly, half amused, but with that mingled-though ever so slightly-an expression of meaning more punge

of the coach. 'It is dangerous to meddle with edge tools! Come, cheer up! we s

isibly more free of smoke. The driver was hopeful, and sending his horses along at a good pace. The shower withinside dried up; and Rollo throwing himself back upon the seat gazed steadfastly out of the wind

cially. But at length it became evident to the keener observers of the party that the air was thickening again; the smell of burning woods which filled the air was growing more pungent, the air more warm; those visible waves of the blue

on fire, Rollo,' Mr. Fal

oba

chman, and the cool tone in which he asked, 'What is it?' Wych Hazel felt at the time and re

r. Falkirk as he shut the door. 'Y

ught forced itself upon every one, they must have come upon the fire again. The woman wanted to get out. Mr. Falkirk dissuaded them. Wych Hazel kept absolut

lower still. 'Is

ce. She saw him throw his coat and hat on the ground; then catching one of the long lithe branches he was in a moment off the ground and in the tree; yes, and making determinately f

we waiting for? Can you s

ng to find out whi

atch the coach? would it frighten the horses? what were they stopping for?-were some of the simplest inquiries that Mr. Falkirk had to hear and answer; in the midst of which one of the ladies assured herself and him that if 'Isaiah had come along with them they would never have got into such a fix.' Mrs. Saddler Mr. Falkirk peremptorily silenced; the others he soothed as best he migh

on the box myself. Don't be concerned.

econd; then Rollo is on the box with the stage driver and the stage is in motion again. But it is motion straight on to where Wych Hazel has seen that the smoke is thickest. The horses go fast; they know that another hand has the reins; the ground is swiftly travelled over. Now the puffs of smoke roll out round and defined from the burn

s right into it! O stop him! we'll be bu

ot escape. How swiftly thoughts careered through the mind of the one silent member of the company-thoughts like those quick flashed of flame, those dark curls of smoke. The questions she had been debating two hours before-were they all to have one short, sharp answer?-And what would become of her then? Were such days as the one before yesterday forever ended? How would it feel to be caught and wreathed about like one of those pines-how would Mr. Rollo feel to see it-and what if all the rest should be dead, there in the fire, and she only half dead; together with a strange impatience to know the worst and endure the worst. She had drawn back a little from the window, driven in by the scorching air, but looked out still with both hands up to shield her eyes. She did not know into what pitiful lines her mouth had shaped itself, nor what faintness and sickness were creeping over her with every breath of that smoke. The time was, after all, not long; but in the thickest

ds of smoke. Bewildered, they had stopped short; and voice and whip were powerless against fear. That was a mome

said Mr. Falkirk. 'He's--what's he doing, Wych?-

ment the coach moved, doubtfully; then amid the rush and roar they could hear the cheer of their charioteer's voice, and the frightened animals plunged on again. Presently, encouraged perhaps by a little opening in the smoke, they dashed forward as heartily as ever, and-yes-the smoke was less thick and the air less dark, and momentarily brightening. The worst was over. Surely the worst was over, but

st flaming current which had blown full against her in that last charge through the fire, Wych Hazel drooped her head lower and lower till it rested on the sill of the window; but

team to do more'n that at a time, sir. 'Tain't no tavern, neither-but there

called out Mr. Falki

n ro

r side o' that 'ere flamin

where Braddock's mill used

-'that ere's West Lupinus. Wal-John Braddock's t

d Rollo. 'That will gi

here, and quiet sunshine lay along the fields. In the last mile or two the fields gave place again to broken country; a brawling stream was heard and seen by intervals, black a