“It is my duty,” was the reply. “The population is thin at best in this wild district, but thinner than ever since the war broke out. But few men can turn out, and I thought”—she hesitated, and then added, frankly, “that my presence, perhaps, would stimulate them to exertion. For, you know,” she added, changing her tone suddenly to a light and jesting one, “that my poor wealth is in timber almost entirely, as that of the patriarchs was in herds and camels; and one doesn’t like to have whole acres burned up, even though caring for riches as little as your humble servant.”
“But you ought not to have thought of going alone. You should have waited for me,” said Major Gordon, impulsively. “It may be fraught with danger.”
“Thank you!” saucily replied Kate, bowing with mock gravity. “You must excuse the curtsey,” she added, “for you see I am on horseback. Oh! don’t explain. I say again, I’m a thousand times obliged to you, for thinking I’m not able to manage myself, or look after my own property; but am just like the hundred and one silly, weak creatures, whom you men would keep in glass cases, as a pretty toy for the mantel-piece.”
“Indeed, Miss Aylesford,” began the Major. “I beg you—”
“Nay, not another word, as you would be restored to favor,” she said, playfully lifting her right hand, from the wrist of which her whip dangled by a silken cord. “Or rather be put on trial for good behaviour. The truth, sir, always comes first. I see now what all your pretty compliments mean. Nay! not a word.” And she shook her head, a pout on her lip, but her eyes dancing with merriment; for the Major was looking quite disconcerted. “You and aunt both agree in having the most sovereign contempt for my capacity for taking care of myself; I will not add the most supreme confidence in your own powers of advice, if not guardianship.”
“I cry your mercy,” said Major Gordon, when, after this wild rattle, she suddenly gave her horse his head; and as he spoke, he cantered on beside her. “I haven’t a word to say for myself. But, as I have never seen a fire in the woods, you’ll be, I hope, my cavalier, so that I may gratify my curiosity.” His tone, as he uttered these words, was demureness itself.
The gay creature he was attending laughed outright. It was a light, silvery laugh, and with all its abandon, lady-like. It was a laugh running over with happiness and glee. She turned her head over her left shoulder, and looked the Major frankly in the face.
“Well done,” was her reply. “You have beat me at my own weapons. But enough of such nonsense.” And in a tone of real seriousness, she asked, “Have you, indeed, never seen a fire in the woods?” “Never. Are they not dangerous sometimes?”
“Often. If the wind shifts, the flames come roaring down on the workmen, frequently faster than a man can run. These pines, in a dry season, burn like tinder. It is a common thing for the conflagration to rage till a heavy rain extinguishes it. Sometimes miles of forest are devastated before the fire goes out.”
All this time, the Major and his fair companion had been pressing forward, at a hand gallop. Before long, the smell of the burning woods, as well as the increasing clouds of smoke, betokened their near approach to the scene of the conflagration; and in a few minutes, turning an angle of the road, they came in full sight of it, and checked their horses.