eld, which broke
beneath his weight.

Recovering himself as quickly as possible, he examined the car, and
found the wheel so firmly wedged among a mass of rotten sticks, earth,
and rocks that it could not be removed without assistance. And,
anyway, he did not have time, for every minute was precious with the
fire sweeping steadily onward. The only thing now left was to walk the
rest of the way. By the road this would mean over two miles, but
across country, through the woods, and along the edge of the blueberry
plains it was about one mile shorter. He knew this route well, as he
had travelled it often before he bought the car. He did not relish the
idea of the walk on such a hot day, especially as he would be forced to
hurry as fast as possible if he would win out against the fire.

Leaving the road, he plunged into a growth of young fir trees, made his
way through these, and at length reached a valley where the trees were
larger, and the underbrush was not so thick. This would lead him to
the level beyond where he could obtain a view of the fire, and learn
the real nature of the danger. The heat here was intense, for not a
breath of wind fanned his hot forehead. But steadily and rapidly he
sped forward, and to his great relief reached, at length, the edge of
the woods. Here he stopped and viewed the situation. Below him on his
right was a stretch of country, covered with blueberry bushes, small
fir, pine and spruce trees. It was a desolate region, and the hot sun
had parched the shallow soil which covered the rocks beneath. In
places these rocks protruded above the ground, and presented either
flat surfaces or large cairn-like heaps.

The instant John emerged from the forest he looked anxiously away to
the right, and the sight he beheld filled him with fear and awe. The
forest was a seething mass of flames, and great volumes of smoke were
rolling up into the air. The roar of the fire, and the crashing of
trees could be heard for some distance, growing louder each minute.
The monster was speedily approaching, laying waste all before it. In
another half hour or so it would be through the heavy timber and out
upon the plains where everything would be quickly blasted beneath its
fiery breath. Even now the wind, caused by the fire, was sending forth
flaming branches, and wherever these fell they began to burn most
fiercely.

John realized that the sooner he was out of this place the better, for
at any m