Four Boy Hunters Part 45

Then Snap called a halt.

"Here is our lost trail!"

"Snap is right," said Shep. "Come on, the boat cannot be far off."

Once more they went on, the smoke growing so thick they had to crouch down to get their breath. The tears were streaming from their eyes, and Whopper let out a yell as a burning brand floated down on his neck, raising a blister.

"Here is the boat, thank fortune!" said Snap, a minute later.

How they tumbled into the craft they scarcely knew. The painter was cut and they shoved off into the lake, just as a fierce gust of wind sent a cloud of smoke and a shower of sparks down upon them.

"Phew! but that was a narrow escape!" muttered Shep, when the sh.o.r.e had been left behind and they could catch their breath.

"We are not out of danger yet!" said Snap. "This fire may be worse than we think. If it takes in the whole lake district, we'll be hemmed in on all sides."

"Look!" exclaimed Giant. "Am I mistaken, or is a storm coming up?"

and he pointed to the sky.

"Those are certainly clouds, not smoke," said Whopper. "Oh, I hope it does rain and puts out the fire. I shouldn't like to see this fine forest destroyed."

"Nor I," added Snap.

"If it is burned down it will be Mr. Felps's loss," came from Giant.

"He said he had bought the district up, you'll remember."

As they pulled along, well away from the sh.o.r.e, they suddenly heard a mad cry for aid.

"What's that?" asked Snap.

"A man on sh.o.r.e!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Whopper. "See him---over on yonder rocks!"

"It is that Barrock!" said Shep.

"Help me!" came from the man, who was waving his arms wildly. "Take me off, or I'll be burnt up!"

"Let us row to him," said Snap.

The rowboat was turned in toward sh.o.r.e without delay. In the meantime, to escape the smoke and burning brands, Lusher Barrock rushed into the lake up to his knees.

"Save me!" he bawled again. "I can't swim!"

"We'll save you!" answered Snap. "But see here, Barrock," he added, suddenly.

"What?"

"You will have to give us those doc.u.ments you took from the sawmill."

"I---I---ain't got them."

"Well, then, we'll leave you where you are," said Snap, just to test the rascal.

"No! no! I---I'll give you the papers!"

"Very well, then."

The craft came alongside of the robber and he was helped on board.

He was badly scared and trembling from head to foot. A burning brand had come down on his left ear, singeing that member and also his fiery red hair.

"Now give me those papers," demanded Snap, and without waiting thrust his hand into the man's pocket and drew them forth. "Have you the money, too?"

"I---I-----"

"Hand it over or we'll search you."

"I've got three hundred dollars," said Lush Barrock, lamely. "I spent about fifty dollars."

The money was handed over to Snap, and he placed it and the papers in an inner pocket of his jacket. Then the robber was ordered to sit at the bow of the boat and not move, and a pistol he carried was taken from him.

It was not long after this that it began to rain. At first the downfall was not great, but presently there was a perfect deluge and then the boy hunters knew that the danger from the forest fire was over. Looking up the lake they saw Andrew Felps and his party in their launch, unharmed. The camp of the lumber dealer, however, had been burned out clean and clear, along with all of the provisions.

"That's what he gets for taking our cabin from us," was Giant's comment.

Not wishing to meet the lumber dealer again, now that they had made Lush Barrock a prisoner, Snap directed his chums to row out of the lake and on to the river. The boys pulled a good stroke and, despite the load on board the craft, made fair progress.

"This fire will worry the folks at home," said Shep. "I am glad we made up our minds to break camp."

"Yes," answered Whopper. "Everything happened for the best, after all."

The boat was still some miles from Fairview when they saw another craft approaching. It contained Mr. Dodge and Jed Sanborn.

"Safe, are you?" sang out Mr. Dodge, as he drew near. "We were afraid that forest fire would do you some harm."

"We had a pretty close shave of it, father," answered Snap.

"We've got a prisoner for you, Mr. Dodge," sang out Shep, somewhat proudly. "Here is the rascal who set fire to the sawmill."

"Is it possible!" cried Mr. Dodge.

"That fire was an---an accident," grumbled Lusher Barrock. "All a mistake."

"I've got the doc.u.ments he took, and three hundred dollars of the money," said Snap.

"Well! well! This is famous, boys!" said Mr. Dodge.

"My sakes alive, look at the bears!" called out Jed Sanborn, as Giant pulled aside the canvas that lay over the game. "Who shot 'em?"

"We shot one and caught the other in the trap," answered Giant.

"Don't you think we did pretty well for boys?"