The day the fire came sweepin' down the hill,
Lickin' the forest up like some mad beast,
We had our work cut out to save the mill;
An', when the wind swung round into the East,
An' blew the roarin' flames along the spur.
Straight for "The Height," I gets quick fear for Her.
Flat out I was with fightin' all day long—
(We saved the mill-shed, but the huts were done)—
When some bloke, weak with sprintin', comes along—
(Comic, it seemed to me, the way he run)—
Shoutin' that someone's missin' from "The Height,"
An' all the forest at the back's alight.
I don't know what he thought, an' never cared.
When I grabs at his coat, an' starts to yell.
I only know that I was dreadful scared. …
In half a minute more, I guessed 'twas Nell.
He tells me when an' where they thought she went.
An' of the useless searchers they had sent.
I never waits for more; but turned an' ran
Straight for the spur, along the scorchin' track.
Behind me, as I went, I hear some man—
I think it's Pike—bawlin', "You fool! Come back!"
What plan was in my mind I cannot tell;
I only know I want to find my Nell.
