toward Thad; and
the boy instantly sprang forward to take hold of Cale's other arm. The
giant, strangely enough, did not seem to offer any objection. Perhaps he
realized that he was in a bad way, and that if left to his own devices
must surely perish there. And life may even have been sweet enough to
accept it at the hands of the man whom he believed had so terribly
wronged him in stealing away his girl.

The instant they stepped out of the cabin Thad was appalled at the
change that had taken place. Surely they could not have been inside for
more than three minutes at the most; and yet so rapidly had the smoke
and fire headed in toward the cabin of Old Cale that it was a fearful
spectacle which burst upon their vision now.

The crackling of the flames, the crash of falling trees, the howl of the
wind,--all these made a combination that was deafening. Added to it was
the fierce glow of the fire itself, rising and falling as new patches of
woods fell into its never satisfied maw.

Thad began to wonder how it would all end, and whether that wish of his
to look on a real forest fire was not going to end in a tragedy. But he
shut his teeth hard together, and determined to play his part, as a true
scout should.

Jim was still there, and Jim would know what to do. The fire warden of
the past had learned many ways of outwitting the red-tongued enemy; and
there was hope of escape so long as he could remain on deck.

And so Thad drew in a long breath, half choked as he was, and waited to
see what course the woods' pilot would take.

CHAPTER XXVII.

JIM DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE.

"Can we make the pond, Jim?" asked Thad.

He knew from what little the guide had said before, that it was a
considerable distance to the body of water to which Jim had intended
heading; and with the almost exhausted giant on their hands, it did not
not seem likely they could get there before being overtaken by the
flames.

"Not ther big pond," Jim called back; "it's tew late naow fur thet; but
they's a littler un 'baout half way. Thet'll hev tew dew fur us, I
guess."

Cale seemed able to walk, after being thus supported, and they started
off. One thing Thad noticed; and this gave him more or less
satisfaction. They were heading now directly away from the fire, and not
keeping alongside, as before.

This gave them a new chance to escape, unless that change of wind came,
which was liable to occur at any moment.

Hardly had they been mo