o Pete's mine and bring all hands. The
government will pay them, an' they'll come. There's the dawn; it'll be
light in half an hour. You'd better move, too."

Wilbur started off at a shambling run, half wondering, as he did so, how
it was he was able to keep up at all. But as he looked back he saw the
old hunter, ax on shoulder, going quietly up the hill into the very
teeth of the fire to head it off on the mountain top, if he could. He
reached Kit and climbed into the saddle. But he was not sleepy, though
almost too weary to sit upright. One moment the forest would be light as
a glare from the fire reached him, the next moment it would be all the
darker for the contrast. For a mile he rode over the blackened and
burned forest floor, some trees still ablaze and smoking. Every step he
took, for all he knew, might be leading him on into a fire-encircled
place from which he would have difficulty in escaping, but on he went.
There was no trail, he only had a vague sense of direction, and on both
sides of him was fire. Probably fire was also in front, and if so he was
riding into it, but he had his orders and on he must go. The mine, he
knew, was lower down on the gully, and so roughly he followed it. Twice
he had to force Kit to cross, but it was growing light now, so the
little mare took the water quietly and followed the further bank.
Suddenly he heard horses' hoofs, evidently a party, and he shouted. An
answering shout was the response, and the horses pulled up. He touched
Kit and in a minute or two broke through to them.

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Merritt," said the boy, "I was just wondering who
it might be."

"The fire's over there," said the Supervisor. "What are you doing here?"

"Rifle-Eye sent me to get the men at Pete's mine," he said.

"They're here," replied the Forest Chief. "How's the fire?"

"Bad," said the boy. "Rifle-Eye said he thought we would have to fall
back beyond the river."

"Don't want to," said Merritt, "there's a lot of good timber between
here and the river."

"Nothin' to it," said one of the miners. "Unless the wind shifts, it's
an easy gamble she goes over the river and don't notice it none."

The Supervisor put his horse to the gallop, followed by the party, all
save one miner, who, familiar with the country, led the way, finding
some trail utterly undistinguishable to the rest. Seeing the vantage
point, as Rifle-Eye had done, he made for the crest of the hill.

"Any chances?" asked the