"There is some one coming," she said. "He seems to be riding to the back of the house. I'll go round and see who he is."
"Why, of course it's Willy," Mrs. Dickson answered. "Who else could it be?"
Ailleen walked round the verandah to the other side, and as the man approached, she was surprised to recognize Slaughter.
"Miss," he exclaimed, as he rode up, "the bush is afire all round. I've come through to see if you were safe. You must come at once, for the fire's coming down fast, and if you're not burned you'll be choked."
"But we're safe here," she replied.
"Safe here? You're right in the line of it. The wind's blowing it down quicker than a horse can gallop, and when the grass catches it'll have the house and everything in its track in no time. Come at once. If you've——"
"Mrs. Dickson is here. She's blind. Come and tell her. She would not believe me," Ailleen exclaimed, as she turned to hurry back to where the blind woman was sitting.
Slaughter jumped off his horse and came close under the verandah.
"Miss," he exclaimed; and Ailleen turned back. "Begging your pardon, miss," he went on, watching her face with anxious eyes, "but I've come for you, not for them. It's you I want to see safe. I started before the fire came up. I heard something, and I came out to see if you knew it, for I promised I'd see you safe when—I said I'd do my best. There's a bad lot about. It wasn't for me to do anything till now, but with the fire coming down you've a reason to get away, and you can have my horse."
She looked at him, with a smile on her face—a smile which came at his anxiety, in spite of the memories his presence stirred.