along through the blackened timber.

"And I just bet that old fire has been squashed out before this,"
spluttered Bluff. "Don't you say so, Frank?"

"If it hasn't, it soon will be. Did you ever see it come down harder?"

"Must be trying to make up for the drouth of the last two months. Mr.
Mabie said that when it did come we'd likely get a drencher. We're
getting it, all right," declared Jerry.

For another half hour they kept on, though the walking was very hard.

"A fine-looking crowd we are," declared Frank, as he surveyed his
blackened leggings and sodden coat.

"But it seems to me things don't look quite so bad around here,"
observed Will.

"Well, they don't, for a fact. Frank, we've reached the fire limit, I do
believe!" cried Bluff.

Everybody was glad to know it, for many reasons. The walking would be
better, they could by degrees wash off the black stains that had been
covering their clothes, and last, but far from least, the camp would be
safe.

"I'll never forget this day's experience, that's sure," Jerry was
saying, half an hour later, as, they still plodded on, with some miles
still ahead of them that must be gone over before they reached camp.

"And every time I look at the picture of the fire it'll bob up before me
and make me shudder," remarked Will.

"Talk to me about that, will you! Do you mean to say you had the nerve
to stop and snap off some views of that hot old fire while the rest of
us were shinning it as fast as we could?" demanded Jerry.

"Why, of course I did! What do you take me for? Who else would have
preserved that exciting episode for future generations to enjoy, if I
hadn't? That's what I'm here for," replied Will in surprise.

"And I suppose that was what made you so late Frank had to go back and
hunt you up, eh?"

"I suppose it was, Bluff; but don't you scold now. I guess you'll enjoy
those views as much as any one. There's only one thing I regret,
fellows."

"And I can guess what that is. You wish you had taken the rest of us up
to our chins in the drink," remarked Frank, whereat Will nodded eagerly,
crying out:

"Oh! it would have been a great sight! Think how many times it might
chase the blues away when some of us felt downcast! I wish, now, I had
asked you to go back and give me the chance."

"Tell me about that, will you! Was there ever such an
indefatigable--hey, Bluff! Is that the word I want?--artist as our meek
little pard here? Sometimes he seems so tim