The purport of his story was as follows: Harry had been to Boolabong House, but had found there no one but the old man.

Returning home thence toward his own fence, he had smelled the smoke of fire, and had found within a furlong of his path a long ridge of burning grass.

According to Mickey's account, it could not have been lighted above a few minutes before Heathcote's presence on the spot.

As it was, it had got too much ahead for him to put it out single-handed; a few yards he might have managed, but--so Mickey said, probably exaggerating the matter--there was half a quarter of a mile of flame.

He had therefore ridden on before the fire, had called his own two men to him, and had at once lighted the grass himself some two hundred yards in front, making a second fire, but so keeping it down that it should be always under control.