a scrap of paper, and each time it devoured something it
waxed stronger and more threatening. Even while Dave sat there staring
at it, it reached a dried branch. With a crackle this burst into flame,
setting fire in turn to a sheet of newspaper nearby. Instantly this was
a burning torch. Dave tried to knock it out with his cane. But before
he could reach it a gust of wind seized and whirled it across the
opening, flinging it spitefully against a fir tree.

With a hiss and a crackling roar this blazed up. In a moment it was a
column of fire stretching skyward. The sight was terrible to behold.
Then like a whirlwind the arms of fire reached out and enveloped another
tree, and sparks flying with the wind lodged in a spruce nearby and
converted it into a roaring furnace. And thus in the space of a minute
a forest fire was started!

The scorching heat of the burning spruce brought Dave to his senses. He
saw before him a hideous fate. Heedless of the pain in his foot he
jumped up. His handkerchief be plunged into a pail of drinking water
just inside the tent door, then with this wrapped about his face and
mouth and with his stout cane in hand, he scrambled across the clearing
and into the long wood road that led eastward through the forest toward
the lake, half a mile distant.

Oh, if he could run! If he could only have the use of his injured foot
for fifteen minutes, he thought, as he limped on. Behind him he could
hear the roar of the fire as it reached out and gathered energy by
licking up tree after tree. The air was filled with smoke, pungent and
nauseating. All about in the forest on either side of the road livid
tongues upleaping, consuming everything and growing stronger every
moment.

On hobbled the man from Boston, trying desperately to make time; trying
mightily to cheat the fire demons that shrieked and roared behind him.
And he was not the only one that was fleeing from the seething furnace
that once had been a cool autumn woods. Three deer whisked by him like
flashes of the fire itself. Rabbits, skunks and foxes darted here and
there among the trees, all headed for the safety of the lake. And a big
black bear lumbered by, grunting with every gallop. How Dave envied
them. They would be safe. Would he?

Forward he hurried, braving excruciating pain in his injured limb to save
his life. Acrid smoke blasts swept down upon him and almost stifled him.
On every side he could feel the heat o