ing and see the fire. But Mun Bun and Margy must
stay at home."

"I like to stay at home," said Margy. "I'm awful busy to-day."

"I like to stay at home, too," said Mun Bun, who generally did what his
little sister did.

So with the two smallest Bunkers at home with their mother, the other
four went with Daddy Bunker to see the fire and watch the cowboys at
work.

When Uncle Fred had called the cowboys, they stopped whatever they were
doing and began to get ready to fight the fire. Some of them had had
their dinners, and others had not. But even those that had not eaten got
ready to work. Captain Roy hurried out, also ready to help.

"Get all the horses and plows you can find," said Uncle Fred. "If we
haven't enough we'll borrow some from the neighbors."

Though no other ranchmen lived within several miles of Uncle Fred, still
there were a few who had plows and horses that could be used. Uncle Fred
had a telephone in his house, and Captain Roy was soon calling up the
nearest ranchers, asking them to hurry with their plows and horses to
make a big, wide strip of bare ground, so the fire would have nothing to
burn.

"They'll be here as soon as they can," said the captain. "They have
already seen the fire."

"I see it, too!" exclaimed Russ. "Look at the black smoke!"

"And I can see blazes, too!" exclaimed Laddie.

"So can I," added Rose.

"Who started the fire?" asked Violet.

"That we don't know," answered Uncle Fred. "Sometimes a cowboy may drop
a match and forget about it. Again some one may start a campfire and
forget to put it out when he leaves. All those things start prairie
fires."

Uncle Fred and Captain Roy, and as many cowboys as could be found,
started toward the cloud of black smoke with plows and horses. As Russ
had said, the smoke-cloud could plainly be seen. It seemed to be rolling
along the ground, as white, fleecy clouds roll along in the sky. And at
the bottom of the black cloud could be seen fire.

The four little Bunkers were led by their father out to where they could
have a good view of the fire. The smoke was blacker now, and the flames
could be seen more plainly. At times, when the wind blew with unusual
strength, the children could smell the smoke and burning grass.

"Does the wind push the fire on, same as it pushed Russ's sail-wagon?"
asked Vi.

"Just the same," answered her father. "The fire comes toward us just as
fast as the wind blows. If the wind would only blow the ot