y far."

"Perhaps John will come and take us off," Jess suggested.

"Let us hope so, dear," and Mrs. Hampton placed her right arm lovingly
around her daughter. "John will come, if possible, we can be assured
of that. No doubt he has seen the fire before this, and is hurrying to
our aid now. But, look, isn't the smoke getting thick!"

"And what is that roaring sound?" Jess asked. "It is growing louder."

"It must be the fire; it's getting nearer all the time."

"Oh, what shall we do ?" the girl cried, clinging now to Mrs. Hampton.

"We must keep close to the lake, dear, and, if necessary, take to the
water. We can wade out as far as we can, and may be able to escape
much of the heat of the flames."

Little was said for a while as the two stood there listening to the
roaring of the fire, every instant expecting it to leap across the
island. Neither did they have to wait long, for soon the air became
filled with blazing cinders. They fell with a hissing sound upon the
water and along the shore. In a short time the upper end of the
island, was on fire, and they could hear the crackle and roar as it
rushed through the underbrush, blasting the pine and fir trees in its
path.

"It is almost upon us!" Mrs. Hampton cried, clutching Jess fiercely by
the arm. "Let us go to the lower end of the island. Perhaps we can
get out upon the rocks there. Anywhere is better than here."

Hurrying along the shore as fast as possible, they soon reached the
place, and with difficulty made their way over the rough boulders which
lifted their heads above the surface of the water. But they could go
only a few yards, for when the outer rock was reached, they were forced
to stop, as the water was deep beyond. And here they huddled, clinging
to each other, every minute expecting the fiery monster to burst forth
upon them from the nearby forest.

As they crouched here and waited, they often turned their eyes across
the lake to where the boat was lying on the mainland. So thick was the
smoke that the opposite shore was greatly dimmed. They wondered what
could be keeping John. He was their only hope now, but he must come
soon or it would be too late, they felt sure.

It was not long, however, before this avenue of escape was almost cut
off. With white faces, and fast-beating hearts they saw the fire
sweeping along the shore of the mainland straight for the small boat.
Intuitively they both uttered a cry of despair, and stare