Page 54 - A Little Bush Maid

"T waked up early next morning hearing someone yelling outside. Tt was
only just light. T slipped out of my window and ran into the yard, and the

first thing T saw was smoke. Tt was coming from the west, a great cloud of
it, with plenty of wind to help it along. Tt was one of those hot autumn

mornings--you know the kind. Make you feel anyhow."

"Who was yelling?" asked Harry.

"One of Morrison’s men--he owns the land adjoining ours. This fellow was

coo-eeing for all he was worth.

"’You’d better rouse your men out quick ’n lively,’ he sang out. ’There’s a

big grass fire between us and you. All our chaps are workin’ at it; but T don’t
fancy they can keep it back in this wind.’

"T just turned and ran.

"The big bell we use for summoning the men to their meals hangs under the
kitchen verandah and T made a bee-line for it. There seemed plenty of rocks

and bits of glass about, and my bare feet got ’em all--at least T thought
so--but there wasn’t time to think much. Morrison’s chap had galloped off
as soon as he gave his news. T caught hold of the bell-pull and worked it all

T knew!

"You should have seen them tumble out! Tn about half a minute the place
was like a jumpers’ nest that you’ve stirred up with a stick. Dad came out of
the back door in his pyjamas, Norah came scudding along the verandah,

putting on her kimono as she ran, Brownie and the other servants appeared
at their windows, and the men came tumbling out of the barracks and the

hut like so many rabbits.

"Dad was annoyed.

"’What are you doing, you young donkey?’ he sang out.

"’Look over there!’ T says, tugging the bell.