The fire was closing in on the lake from every side now, while the heat steadily waxed greater and stronger. The boys were forced to duck under the water continually, to get relief. Burning leaves and sticks hissed down on the lake in a steady shower, while the crackle and roar of the fire were deafening. In only one direction was there a break in the ring of flame, and that was on the side where their bungalow was situated. From that direction came a faint breeze, which fanned the fire to even greater fury, but at the same time drove it back on itself, so that its progress there was greatly retarded.
“It’s getting too hot along the shore, fellows,” said Bob. “Out near the center of the lake we’d be further from the fire and have a better chance.”
“Yes, but we can’t swim forever,” objected Joe. “We’ll have to get hold of something to keep us afloat.”
“Oh, that part is easy enough,” replied Bob. “There are plenty of logs that we could shove out and hang onto. But if we’re going to save the radio equipment, we’ll need something more substantial. Maybe if we work fast we can sling some kind of raft together that will do the trick.”
“That’s the idea!” exclaimed Joe. “Up and at it, fellows. We might as well get cooked a little more while we’re about it.”
In spite of the scorching heat, the boys dashed up the bank and ran to the place where they had left their radio equipment. They were none too soon, for the fire was within a hundred yards of it. The metal parts were too hot to be touched, but as yet nothing had been damaged. To construct any kind of raft under such conditions was extremely difficult, but the boys went at the task with a dogged determination that refused to recognize the word “impossible.” Their wet clothes steamed in the heat, and at short intervals they were forced to dash into the water and wet them anew.
Nevertheless, by dint of tremendous exertions, they dragged several logs together. Then the problem arose of fastening them together, and this time it was Jimmy who had the inspiration.
“There’s a big roll of new antenna wire somewhere in that pile of equipment,” he said. “If we can get hold of that it will be just the thing to lash the logs together with.”
This idea seemed so good to the others that they acted on it instantly.
A short but furious search brought the coil of wire to light, and with it they lashed the logs securely together. This gave them a fairly substantial raft, capable of floating them and their equipment. The work was finished not a moment too soon. The breeze had freshened, sending waves of terrible heat over them, and at the last moment they were almost forced to leave their precious radio outfit and take to the water without it. It required a high type of courage to work in that inferno, but they stuck gamely to it, while the skin on their hands and faces blistered and peeled, and their clothing steamed and smoked and broke into patches of flame.