Carolyn of the Corners Part 45

But the situation was too difficult to allow of much but practical thoughts.

"Where's the old woman?" asked Joseph Stagg quickly.

"Her husband came with a horse and buggy late last night and took her over to the new camp," was the reply. "Of course, there was not room for Carolyn May and me-and we did not wish to go, anyway.

"Judy is much better, poor soul, and I was glad to be relieved of her care. Mr. Mason warned me there was a big fire over the mountain, but I had no idea it would come this way."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "_You aren't mad at each other any more, are you?_"]

"No. And n.o.body else," grumbled Mr. Stagg. "But it has come-and it's moving mighty quick now. How came you down here, Mandy-you and Hannah's Car'lyn?"

"We were really badly frightened, Joe," she replied, smiling up at him.

"I'm afraid I became panic-stricken when I saw a tall tree on fire not far from the camp, and we ran down here where there was water, leaving everything at the cabin."

"But there isn't water enough," declared the man fretfully. "That's the trouble with this place. We can't stay here."

"You know best, Joe," said Amanda Parlow, with a loving woman's logic.

"What you've left at the cabin will have to stay there," he said. "We can't go back. I tell you, the fire was coming into the camp when I left."

"Oh, Joe, we must hurry, then!" she murmured simply.

"We aren't going to be burned up now, when Uncle Joe is here, Miss Mandy," Carolyn May declared with confidence. "See how nice he and Prince found us? Why, they are reg'lar heroes, aren't they?"

"They are, indeed, child," agreed the woman. She turned to Joseph Stagg, happiness shining in her eyes, and looking prettier than ever before in her life, he thought.

The hollow was rapidly becoming filled with smoke. The man did not understand this, but it foreboded trouble. He turned Cherry and the buckboard around, and then he helped Amanda into the seat.

"Up you go, too, Car'lyn May," he said, lifting the little girl into the rear of the buckboard. "Hang on, there! Don't dare fall off!"

"Oh, I'll be all right, Uncle Joe," she declared, laughing gaily. Then she said to Prince. "Don't run off, Princey. You mustn't get lost from us now, for the fire is coming."

Joseph Stagg felt very serious as he seated himself by Amanda's side and picked up the reins. The horse quickly retraced his steps up the hill to the tote road. As they came out into this broader path they saw the smoke pouring through it in a choking cloud. The road was like a tunnel through the thick forest, and the breeze, which was rising, drove the smoke on. Behind, there was a subdued murmur and crackling.

"Oh, Joe," gasped Amanda, "it's coming!"

"It surely is," agreed the hardware merchant. "We're in a hot corner, my girl. But trust to me--"

"Oh, I do, Joe!" she exclaimed, squeezing his arm. "I am sure you know what is best to do."

"I'll try to prove that so," he said with a subdued chuckle.

"Oh, Uncle Joe!" cried Carolyn May suddenly, "can't we get out of this awful smoke? It-it chokes me!"

"Wait," whispered Amanda to the man. "I'll lift her over the back of the seat. I think she had better be in my lap."

"P'r'aps that's so," he agreed, and he held in the nervous Cherry for a moment till the change was accomplished.

Poor little Carolyn May's eyes had begun to water, and she complained of a pain in her chest from swallowing the smoke.

"I-I thought this was going to be an-an _awfully_ exciting adventure; but I don't like it a bit now!" the little girl sobbed.

Miss Amanda held her close, and Uncle Joe drove on as rapidly as possible. The way was rough and they were jolted a good deal. Prince trotted on behind them, his tongue out, and occasionally coughing; but he was better off than his human friends, for he was nearer the ground, where the smoke was not so heavy.

There was just wind enough, and coming from the right direction, to drive the smoke through the tunnel of the wagon road. The fire itself was not yet near. Joseph Stagg, nevertheless, was seriously troubled by the situation.

Following the direction this road led, they would be going farther and farther from home. And, if the wind increased, it was very doubtful if they could keep ahead of the fire for long.

However, he did not display his knowledge of these troublesome facts to his companions. As for Amanda Parlow, she hugged the little girl tightly and kept up a show of cheerful spirits.

Prince whined and yapped pleadingly, and the man stopped for a moment to let the dog leap to the rear of the buckboard, where he crouched, panting.

It would not be wise for them to halt often, nor for long. The wind, although steady, was rising. The roaring of the fire grew louder and louder in their ears.

Suddenly Joseph Stagg dragged Cherry's head around. The horse snorted and hesitated, for the smoke was blinding him.

"I pretty near missed these forks!" exclaimed the hardware merchant.

"This left road takes us towards the lake."

"Oh, Joe, can we reach it?" whispered Amanda.

"We've _got_ to!" he returned grimly. "It's three miles, if it's an inch, but Cherry has got to make it."

They were relieved after a minute or two in this new road. The smoke had not so completely filled it. But it was a rougher way, and the buckboard bounced until Carolyn May cried out in fear and the mongrel whined and sprawled all over the rear platform.

"You want to hang on, dog, with teeth and toenails," said Joseph Stagg grimly. "We can't stop for you if you fall off."

Prince seemed to know that, for never did animal cling more faithfully to an uneasy situation. Once or twice he came near to being pitched clear of the wagon body.

They drove over a little hillock that raised them higher than the tote road had done. Amanda clutched Mr. Stagg's arm again and uttered a half-stifled "Oh!"

He shot a glance to the left. A ma.s.s of flame broke out in the wood not far off this trail-the top of a great tree was on fire.

"The wind is carrying brands this way," muttered the man. "A dozen new fires will be started. Well, gid-ap, Cherry!" and he seized the whip again.

The horse was well spent now, but he was plucky. He tried to increase his stride. A hot breath of wind came rushing through the forest, bending the branches and shaking the leafy foliage. The wind seemed fairly to scorch the fugitives.

Carolyn May had hidden her face on Miss Amanda's shoulder and was sobbing quietly. Both of her human companions were painfully aware that breathing the smoke-filled air was hurting them.

Mr. Stagg hurried the labouring horse on as rapidly as he dared. Cherry coughed every few steps; the man did not want to bring the horse to his knees. Their very lives depended on the animal.

The roaring of the fire increased. Through the more open woods which bordered this path they saw the smoke advancing in a thicker wall-and one as high as the tree tops. Through the curtain of this smoke cloud red tongues of flame leaped forward to lick up hungrily patches of underbrush or to fasten on certain trees.

"You've got to make it, old boy," muttered Joseph Stagg, and he lashed the horse again.

The spirited Cherry leaped forward, both the woman and the child screaming.

"Hang on," advised Mr. Stagg. "The road makes a turn just ahead, and that's mighty lucky for us."