r noted any of his companions. The road to home was
barred. And, again, ancestral instinct and his own alert wit came to
his aid. Turning about, and with no hint of fear in his gait or in the
steady dark eyes, he trotted toward the lake.

Already the bear had reached its soothing refuge; and was standing hip
deep in the black waters; now and then ducking his head and tossing
showers of cold spray over his scorched shoulder-fur.

Lad trotted to the brink. There, stooping--not fifty feet away from
Bruin--he lapped thirstily until he had at last drunk his fill. Then,
looking back once in the direction of the fire-line, he lay down, very
daintily indeed, in shallow water; and prepared to enjoy his liberty.
Scourged by none of the hideous fear which had goaded his fellow
fugitives, he watched with grave interest the arrival of one after
another of the refugees; as they came scurrying wildly down to the
water.

Lad was comfortable. Here, the smoke-reek stung less acutely. Here,
too, were grateful darkness, after the torrid glare of the fire, and
cold water and security. Here were also many diverting creatures to
watch. It would have been pleasant to go home at once. But, since that
was out of the question, there were far worse things than to lie
interestedly at ease until the Master should come for him.

The fire raged and flickered along the base of the bare rocky knoll;
and, finding no path of advance, turned back on itself, fire-fashion;
seeking new outlet. The thin line of bushes and other undergrowth at
the hillock's foot were quickly consumed; leaving only a broad bed of
ember and spark. And the conflagration swept on to the left, over the
only course open to it. To the right, the multiple ridges of rock and
the dearth of vegetation were sufficient "No Thoroughfare" enforcement.

This same odd rock-formation had kept the wagon track clear, up to the
twist where it bore to leftward at the base of the knoll. And the
Mistress and the Master were able to guide their rattlingly protesting
car in safety up the trail from the main road far below. The set of the
wind prevented them from being blinded or confused by smoke. Apart from
a smarting of the eyes and a recurrent series of heat waves, they made
the climb with no great discomfort;--until the final turn brought them
to an abrupt halt at the spot where the wide swath of red coals and
flaming ashes marked the burning of the hillock foot bushes.

The Master jumped to e