“And we’re liable to be more so before we get through,” said Bob, getting stiffly to his feet. “Better keep going, fellows,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done yet.”
They started on again, knowing by the sound of the fire behind them that it was still gaining alarming headway.
“Lucky that wind quit just as it did,” panted Jimmy, his breath coming in short, labored gasps. “If the gale had lasted much longer it would have been all up with us, I guess.”
“If only we can check the fire before it has us surrounded we may have a chance,” said Bob. “But if that fire line meets——”
He left the sentence unfinished, and as they came in sight of the lodge he made a dash for it, flinging open the door. The boys worked feverishly, striving to do an hour’s work in a few minutes.
The set must be dismantled and carried to a place of at least comparative safety. The lodge was no place for it at all. It was directly in the path of the flames and there was every probability that the little house would have to go with all its contents.
It was characteristic of the boys that it never entered their heads to try to save anything but their beloved outfit. Millions of dollars’ worth of timber was endangered, to say nothing of men’s lives, and their one thought was to rescue the radio set and get back to the fight.
It was a nightmare that they would never afterward forget, pulling at bolts and wires with burned and trembling fingers. Everything seemed unfamiliar, unreal, to them, the very apparatus itself seemed to fight their frantic efforts to save it. They had moments of thinking they must give up in despair.
But they worked doggedly on and finally accomplished what they had set out to do. The radio was dismantled and ready for moving.
“But where shall we take it too?” asked Jimmy, helplessly. “There’s no place——”