The day wore on. The sun was already sinking in the sky.
“I wonder when they will come back?” she said once or twice. “Can you see any one, Charley?”
I looked, but could not distinguish any objects amid the expanse of grass.
A dull booming sound of a ship’s gun came from the direction of the harbour, then another and another.
“That is, I suspect, to recall the boats,” said Kitty to me. “I could find my way there with you, Charley; but I don’t like to leave this spot, lest those who have gone after the cattle on returning might wonder what has become of us.”
We waited some time longer—the sun set—the shades of evening drew on. Kitty became very anxious. It was too late now to attempt alone to get back to the boats; and it was evident that we should have to spend the night on the knoll. As there was plenty of tall grass around, I proposed that we should build a hut for ourselves, but, as we had no means of cutting it, we could not carry out my project. Miss Kitty was, as before, casting an anxious gaze around, expecting each moment that some one would appear, when suddenly she exclaimed—
“See, see, Charley! What is that?”
I looked in the direction she pointed, when I saw a dark line of smoke rising out of the plain, curling in wreaths as it ascended towards the sky. It might have been mistaken for mist, had there not appeared below it a thin red line with sharp little forks darting upwards.
“The grass is on fire! Oh, what will become of them?” she exclaimed, seizing my hand, and gazing, with dread and horror in her countenance, at the advancing line of flame and smoke. I did not suppose that we ourselves were in danger; but on looking round I observed the numerous tufts of grass which grew on every side among the rocks.
One part of the mound was composed entirely of bare rock. I pointed it out to my companion. Though we should be almost suffocated with smoke, we might there escape the flames. We hastened to it, and kneeling down, she prayed for protection for me, and for herself, and for Edward—I heard her mention the mate’s name—and for the rest.