up the positions assigned to them, and began
beating and whipping the "golden serpents," as Nora characterized them.
In a few moments each member of the party was coughing and choking,
their arms were aching and tears were running from their eyes. In spite
of their efforts, however, the advancing fire drove them steadily back.

The big trees soon began to char, and, within an hour, were glowing
pillars of fire, as one after another broke into flames that mounted
higher and higher. Had there been leisure to view it as a spectacle, the
sight would have been a magnificent one, but the Overlanders had other
things to occupy their attention. While in no way to blame for the fire,
they felt that this was their responsibility, theirs the duty to stop
it, and so they worked and fought, gasping for breath, now and then
retreating for fresh air.

"Lie down every little while!" shouted Tom. "The air is better near the
ground. Pass the word along."

His orders were shouted from one to the other and so reached the extreme
end of the fighting front.

What at first had seemed an easy task had grown to an almost
insurmountable one. Now they would check the fire at one point, only to
discover that it had leaped over the line at another. By the time they
had conquered the second one, the first blaze generally would be found
to have taken a new start.

A canopy of fire and smoke covered the scene high overhead. Tom hoped
that a forest lookout might discover the blaze and send assistance to
them, though he knew that much territory might be burned over before
help could reach them.

Leaving his own position for a survey of conditions, Tom ran along the
line of fire-fighters, giving an encouraging word here and there while
his experienced eyes sized up the situation.

"How is it?" gasped Grace when he reached her end of the line.

"Serious! We must fight as long as we have an ounce of strength or a
breath left in our bodies," he added, starting back towards his
position.

"Keep it up! It's getting the best of you!" he shouted to each
Overlander in turn as he passed.

"Can't we send to Forty-three for assistance?" called Hippy.

"No. You or I would have to go. Neither of us can be spared."

"We'll have to be spared if this keeps up much longer. Do you think the
horses are safe?"

"Yes. They are on the river side of the fire. The breeze is carrying the
fire the other way," answered Tom.

Three hours after the discovery of th