“I think you’ve done enough,” said Hal, “you and Chico, both, but I believe you would be the best one to go as it will leave more workers here.”
So Joanne galloped off, but at the edge of the woods she met two men on horseback. “What’s up?” cried the foremost one. “It looks like there was fire over yonder in the woods, and it seemed too big for one of these here camp fires the boys and girls are starting up every now and then.”
“It will be a big fire if it isn’t stopped,” Joanne told him, “but it wasn’t started by the girls or boys, that I know. I happened to see it when it was only rather a small fire, and I got the boys to come over from the island; they are there now, but they want spades and ploughs and things as quick as they can get them. The fire can’t be put out with just water. They want to dig a ditch to keep it from spreading.”
“Good idea,” responded the man. “Come on, Dick, we’ll get the things back here as quick as we can. From the looks of it there’s no time to lose.”
“Shall I come?” asked Joanne.
“Reckon you don’t have to; your horse isn’t a plough horse,” said the man with a grin as he galloped off.
Joanne went back to the boys. “I met them right at the edge of the woods,” she said. “They’re coming with the things.”
The boys were beating out the fire as best they could, clearing away underbrush which could be easily ignited, and breaking off dead branches which would feed the flames. These died down a little as they reached the greener trees, but broke out afresh from time to time.
It was not long before the men with spades and ploughs arrived upon the scene; they were reinforced by others who had seen the smoke and who had provided themselves with axes in order to cut away trees which might carry the fire farther.
It was a smoky, smutty crew which finally rested from the labor of making all safe. Several of the Boy Scouts volunteered to stay on watch in order that no flying brand which might ignite dry wood should be overlooked, and the company dispersed. Joanne lingered just long enough to tell the boys that there would be open house at the lodge when they wanted something to eat, and went off to make her report to Miss Dodge.