after the mid-day meal people agreed to separate and go their several ways. a goodly number proposed to climb up to the second and third falls, an impossible feat until lately, when the touring club had provided upright fixed ladders to scale the most inaccessible places, but the ladders were steep and slippery with damp, and it was only the younger and more venturesome of the party who proffered for the excursion.
"i shall want to take a few snapshots. they tell me the falls, viewed from the top, are simply magnificent," said tom, slinging his camera across his shoulders. "jack, you shall come with us. i'll answer for your safety," with a kindly hand laid on the boy's shoulder.
"i can't unless eva is going too. i've promised to be with her this afternoon, as it's her day, you know."
"eva!" laughed eva's mother. "eva won't go, will you, pussy? she's the most arrant little coward in the world, but, encouraged by betty, i mean to venture, tom, and it will take all your time to look after me. betty can look after herself."
"i should think so," said betty, with fine scorn. "i should be ashamed of myself if i needed help to climb a few ladders."
it was with eyes of longing regret that jack watched the party start off through the aisle of tree ferns and heard their merry voices gradually dying away in the distance, but eva's hand tugged at his.
"it was just splendid of you, jack, to stay with me instead of going with them, and now, as mother and aunt betty are gone, we need ask no one's leave to go off by ourselves."
"of course not," said jack, a little shortly, still smarting with the pain of refusal. "i'm big enough to take care of a girl half your age."
mrs. treherne and various other matrons drew out their work and their books and settled themselves on a green oasis not far from the river, where they could catch a glimpse of it as it rushed in headlong impetuosity towards the valleys below, and the children slipped away through the trees towards the bridge which they must recross on their way to the bush track which jack had traversed with tom only a few days ago.
"but how lovely this is!" said eva, peering into the recesses of the bush on either side. "we can pretend that all sorts of things are happening; that we've lost our way, you and i, and—and—the best of pretending things is that you've all the fun of things happening and never get frightened. we might pretend that it was night, and that we'd had nothing to eat all day."
but jack, a matter-of-fact schoolboy, whose days of pretending were over, had little patience with all these fancies.
"but where's the good of pretending when we aren't lost, and when we've had tons to eat? i'll tell you what isn't pretence. if you went on along this track through a big clearing which we shall come to presently, you would reach woodlands, jessie's home."
"could we get there?" said eva excitedly. "i'd rather see jessie than gather cartloads of blackberries."
"that's the worst of girls," retorted jack. "you never know what they want! which would you really rather do—get blackberries or go to jessie, for it's flat we can't do both?"
eva hesitated, moving restlessly from one foot to the other.
"well, speak up! blackberries or jessie? for, if you choose jessie, we've no time to lose. it's a goodish distance."
"could i walk it?"
"yes, i think you could."
"well, then, let's make for jessie. she will be surprised to see us, more surprised even than when you went with uncle tom, because, you see, you were on horseback, and i'm only on my legs. she'll wonder how on earth i got there," and eva gave an anticipatory chuckle at the thought of the astonishment her appearance would create.
it was rough walking through the bush, and eva's legs began to ache a little.
"is it a great deal further, jack?"
"we're only about half way there. i believe we'd better go back, though we shall look rather fools having done neither one thing nor the other," but the suggestion of turning back did not please his companion.
"let's rest a little, and then i'll get on all right. there's heaps of time before us," so they sat with their backs supported against the trunk of a tree, whilst jack told stories of his late experiences. at last he sprang to his feet.
"and now if we mean to get there at all this afternoon," he said, "we must be getting on, unless you would rather go back."
"no, i'll go on; jessie will be so surprised," reiterated eva, and the children little knew that the decision, made so lightly, possibly saved both their lives. as they neared the clearing which was only about a mile and a half from jessie's home, jack became aware of a distant fitful roar that he could only imagine was the rising of the wind before a coming storm, and wondered within himself what he could do with eva in such a predicament.
"the sun's gone in and the sky's all copper-coloured," said eva, as they emerged into open country, "i believe it's going to thunder;" but jack's quick eyes, glancing towards the horizon, saw flames partially concealed by smoke leaping and dancing through the bush, and knew that for the first time in his life he was within reach of a bush fire. he had watched many a one with delight from the safe distance of his grandfather's farm, but to see one racing towards him, urged on by a wind behind, was a wholly different matter, and it was the far-off roar of flames that he had heard, and even jack's brave little heart quailed before the danger which threatened them, but it was of eva's safety that he thought rather than his own, and the sense of responsibility weighed heavily upon him.
they raced along hand in hand. p. 131
they raced along hand in hand. p. 131
two courses seemed open to him; either to turn back or to push on at all possible speed towards woodlands, and once more he turned to see which direction the fire was taking, and was alarmed to find that retreat was impossible, for the wind was carrying the flames along the forest of ringed trees and dried undergrowth through which they had just come at such terrific speed that long before they could get back by the way they had come they would be caught in the flames. not only so, but the whole fire was widening its course, creeping across the clearing to the half-felled wood on the other side, licking up everything that came in its way, so that they stood in a half circle of fire, and might find themselves surrounded unless fleetness of foot and coolness of brain could save them.
all this flashed through jack's brain with the rapidity of lightning.
"eva," he said, speaking as quietly as he could, "we must hurry up a bit; that fire is coming our way. give us your hand! we must get along as fast as ever we can."
but eva stood stock still, looking round with eyes dilated with terror.
"take me back, jack! oh! how i wish we had never come."
"we can't get back," jack answered with a little thrill in his voice. "you mustn't cry, eva! there's no time to cry. be a brick, do as i tell you, and don't be afraid! we'll get through all right."
something of jack's high courage gave eva fresh heart, and they raced along hand in hand, but jack though he spoke cheerily, was fully aware of their danger; the roaring of the fire drew ever nearer and nearer; clouds of smoke and sparks flew close on their heels, and the glowing heat of the wind was making itself felt very unpleasantly.
presently eva released the hand that dragged her along with a gasp.
"i can't, i can't," she cried, with sobbing breath. "i can't run another yard."
"you'll get your second wind in a minute," said jack, almost in despair. "look here!"—sinking on to his knees. "climb up, climb up i say. i'll carry you on my back," and almost before she knew what he did he had hoisted her on to his shoulders, but with all the will in the world it was only for a very short distance that he could carry her. the perspiration was dripping from his head and face, and eva saw it and knew he was nearly played out.
"let me down," she said, struggling to free herself. "my breath is coming back. i'll run again now."
"all right," jack said, slipping her gently to the ground. "keep your pecker up! we shall beat the old fire yet! d'you see that it's coming up slowly this way and turning away from where woodlands is yonder? another few minutes, if we can keep up the pace, we'll be out of its reach," so half walking, half running, they hurried on again, casting fearful glances backwards and around to see if the flames were gaining ground. presently jack threw up his arms with a wild hurrah.
"we're through, eva, we're through all right! i hear the cries of the beaters fighting back the flames," and true enough, at some distance from them were the farmer and his sons and a neighbour or two who had hurried to the rescue, beating back the flames which, snake-like, were creeping insidiously along towards the farmer's crops.
all danger of being surrounded now by the fire was over, and the wayworn travellers proceeded more leisurely to the homestead, which was close at hand, but as jack's fingers wrestled with the latch of the gate, he found them trembling so much as to be almost beyond control. they were scarcely inside it, before mrs. butler and jessie, who stood watching the progress of the fire in the verandah, recognised them and hurried down to meet them.
"jack! eva!" cried jessie, and the surprise in her tone was even greater than eva had pictured it, but the poor child was far too worn out with fatigue and excitement to understand anything but that she was with friends and in a place of safety. she threw out her arms to jessie with a little cry, and the next moment was sobbing her very heart out on her shoulder.
"but where do you come from?" asked mrs. butler, looking down on jack's quivering face.
"from wylmington falls. we came up there—a lot of us—for a picnic, and it suddenly came into our heads, eva's and mine, that we'd walk on and pay you a surprise visit, but we've been racing the fire, and she's about done for."
"poor lamb! give her to me," said mrs. butler, stretching out her arms for eva. "the child is half dead with terror and fatigue. we'll put her to bed at once, and she'll sleep it off."
but a fresh terror presented itself to jack's mind. what would those they had left behind them think of their non-appearance? aunt betty was not one to make a fuss, but if he and eva did not come that night, jack, boy as he was, guessed something of the pain she would endure, and there was eva's mother as well. something must be done to let them know that they were safe, but what did not yet appear.
* * * * *
the party at the falls were detained much longer than they expected on their climb. first one or two of them were anxious to obtain the very best possible views of the upper cascades, and their companions were quite willing to rest whilst the photographers were at work, and then, in descending from the topmost fall, clarissa slipped, wrenching her ankle rather severely, and first handkerchiefs were sacrificed to make a bandage, and then it was a matter of real difficulty to get her down the remainder of the way, so that it was nearly two hours before the company were reassembled for tea. mrs. kenyon, who was in considerable pain, was made as comfortable as possible in an improvised easy chair of cushions and brake fern, and the party scattered in different directions, collecting wood for the fire whilst tom carried off the billy to the river to fill, in readiness for tea.
"cooey for the children, will you?" said betty, lifting a hot face from the fire she was coaxing into ablaze. "the idle rogues should have had this all ready for us. jack is a famous boy for a fire."
so tom returned to the river, looking up and down its banks for the children, who he felt sure were not far off, and sent a long cooey ringing down the water, but no answer came to his call.
"i can't see them anywhere," he said, returning to betty.
"how tiresome of them to have wandered so far. i wonder what direction they have taken. mother, did you see jack and eva go off together? do you know what has become of them?"
"i fancy i caught sight of them hurrying off towards the bridge," said another lady. "jack had a basket slung on his back, so depend upon it they were in search of berries of sorts. there are a good many ripening just now in the bush."
"here, mother, put in the tea; the billy is boiling," said betty. "i'll just run up towards the bridge and have a look for them."
"i'd come with you if i weren't as lame as a duck," said clarissa, "but ever since the bullock incident, i've always felt eva as safe with jack as with a man."
"i'll come," said tom. "you shall look in one direction, and i in another. it's impossible that they can be very far away," and he took his place at betty's side.
"how oppressive the day has become! or is it that i'm hurried, and a little flurried as well?" betty said with an uneasy laugh. "i'm not a nervous woman, but i confess i'm rather frightened at the children not being here, and i'm blaming myself also for having left them so long."
"depend upon it we shall see them coming over the bridge lugging an enormous basket of blackberries. eva was full of importance over some secret scheme that she and jack were going to carry out, and it may have taken longer than they calculated, as our expedition did this afternoon."
the commonplace suggestion soothed betty without quite satisfying her. tom threw up his head suddenly, scenting the hot air.
"the heat is explained also, i think, by the fact that there must be a bush fire not very far away. i smell the delicious pungency of its burning, and the coppery look of the clouds veiling the sun suggests smoke."
"a bush fire near here," said betty, turning a white face on him. "you don't think that by any chance the children have wandered into the bush and——" her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth, refusing to voice her fears.
"oh, dear no," said tom ready to bite out his own tongue at having hinted at the fire. "i feel that they have wandered far down the river, possibly to some haunt jack thought a likely one for blackberries."
that suggestion did not comfort betty greatly. what was more likely than that eva, venturing too near the river, might have slipped in, and that jack and she had drowned together in his effort to save her. and were they caught in the fire in the bush their fate would be no less horrible! the fear, kept to herself, was too terrible to bear.
"i'm frightened," she said, trying to smile off her terror. "i feel as if something frightful had happened to the children."
"it's scarcely like you to give way to nerves," tom said with a smile. "you go along the road for a little way, and i will follow on by the river bank. cooey when you want me to come back;" but he could not smother his own anxiety as he scrambled along.
presently he heard a long cooey, and cooeyed an answer with a sense of triumph.
"and here we've been full of fears, like a couple of grandmothers, and she's found them coming back like a pair of puppies, a little ashamed of themselves for having run away," he said, with a joyous little laugh, but it was betty alone he saw crossing the bridge when he arrived there.
"i thought surely you were bringing them with you."
"i've found—this," betty said, holding out a large white ribbon bow. "it's eva's bow."
"and where?"
"at the turning which leads to the bush."
their eyes met for a moment. "that, at any rate, gives us some clue as to where to look for them. we ought to be thankful for the bow and its message."
"what message?" asked betty.
"that they are safe somewhere, i feel certain of it. i was more frightened by the river than the bush. strayed children can be found."
the sound of wheels from behind them made them look round, and they saw that already some of their party were on their homeward way.
"what are you about, you two?" said the man, drawing rein with a good-natured laugh. "tea will be over and done with before you get back. i've got to be back with my missus to look after the farm. i'd advise you to hurry up if you don't want to miss your rations," and before they could answer, or explain the cause of their delay, he had whipped up his horses and had passed on his way, the grating sound of the brakes dying out in the distance.
"we must get back and tell them," said betty, "and then we must set about a systematic search. i'm thankful those people did not stop to learn what was the matter."
neither spoke as they hurried back to their companions. clarissa kenyon's terror when she heard the children were lost was absolutely ungovernable in its expression.
"lost!" she cried. "and you two stand here and do nothing?"
she tried to get on to her feet, but the pain in her ankle made her sink back into her seat with a little cry.
"we will do all we can," said tom quietly, "and we have some little clue in eva's ribbon."
clarissa snatched it from him, and covered it with kisses.
"joseph's coat, joseph's coat," she said wildly. "some evil has befallen the child as it had befallen him. ah! what will become of me if i am to lose her?"
betty knelt beside her with her arms round her.
"we must neither say it nor think it," she said. "your brother and i and one or two others are off in search of them. mother, will you and clarissa go home? it's quite impossible that you can stay here."
"i shall stay whatever happens," said clarissa. "is it likely i shall go whilst eva's fate hangs in the balance?"
"but it doesn't hang," said a husky voice from behind. "it's because i knew you'd be in such a funk about her that i've come," and there advanced into the circle a boy with grimed face and torn clothes that only those who knew him best could recognize as jack.
"jack! jack!" cried betty, throwing her arms about him, and her enormous feeling of relief found vent in hysterical laughter.
questions poured in on the boy from every side.
"where had he come from, where was eva?" etc., but tom, watching jack's face paling under its grime, knew him fairly played out.
"eva is with jessie," was all he could gasp out, and he would have fallen to the ground but that tom's arms caught him and laid him down gently on a bed of fern.
"give him air and space and a drink of water. his story can wait till later. it's enough to know they are safe."
tom's intervention saved jack from fainting, and in a few minutes he was able to relate what had occurred.
"and when eva was put to bed," he said, "i ran off to join the beaters, but i found the fire had swept on, taking a different course, so there was no need for further alarm. then i sneaked off on my own to see if there was a chance of getting back to you, and i got through somehow."
"came through the bush?" said tom. "it was a horrible risk."
"but someone had to come, and i found a place where the fire had not caught on much, and i made a dash for it and dodged it, racing from tree to tree. no, i've not a burn on me. the soles of my boots are scorched and my clothes half off my back, because i could not stop to pick my way, and the fire had only penetrated quite a narrow way into the bush. the puzzle was when i came to the far side of it to find the track. i should have been here quicker else."
"but you found it all right at last."
"yes, i found it safe enough. that's why i wanted to get off whilst it was daylight. even with a moon i should have lost my way."
"but what of those left behind?"
jack made a little grimace. "i never thought of them, only of you, but it's different, isn't it? eva's all right. she'll sleep as sound as a top till the morning, and for the rest, i don't belong to them as i do to aunt betty."
"no, no," said clarissa kenyon, seizing one of jack's hands, and laying her soft cheek against it. "they will only wonder vaguely what has become of you, but my heart was breaking, jack, breaking with the fear that i had lost my little eva. god bless you for bringing me the news of her safety."
jack drew away his hand uneasily as her tears fell on it, and tried to rub it clean.
"come along, jack, come down to the river and have a wash and a comb up before we start for home," said aunt betty, in her matter-of-fact way, but jack never guessed that her heart was thumping against her ribs with joy and pride in the boy who was ready to go through fire or water if he thought that duty demanded it of him, and her pride found its lawful expression later when she found herself alone with tom for a minute.
"yes," he answered with quiet satisfaction. "he promises to turn into a boy that his father will be proud of one day."
