Page:Jim of the Hills.djvu/95

 Next thing I mind, I've left the track, an' turned Into the blackened scrub—my eyes feel bad— Above my head the messmate trees still burned. An' Lord, them awful fancies that I had! I seen her lyin' there—her face—her hair. … Why, even now, them thoughts give me a scare.

I stumble on. Against a red-hot butt I burn my hand, but never even swear; But keep on sayin', "Make the splitter's hut, The splitter's hut! Get to the clearin' there. She's at the splitter's hut; an' if she ain't …" My heart turns over, an' I feel dead faint.

An', as I plug along, I hear some fool Repeatin' words till they sound like a spell. "I'm goin' mad," I thinks. "Keep cool! Keep cool!" But still that voice goes on: "My Nell! My Nell!" I whips round quick to see who he can be. This yappin' fool — then realize it's me.

They say I must have gone thro' blazin' ferns. Perhaps I did; but I don't recollect. My mind was blank, but, judgin' by my burns. There's somethin' got to me that took effect. But once, I know, I saw a flamin' tree Fall just behind; but that don't trouble me.