And so, in the face of supposed defeat, they planned for the future, and, planning, fell asleep.
It was an hour later when David awoke half suffocated with smoke. His ears at the same time caught the crackling of burning wood. He sprang from his bed, and seizing Andy, shouted:
“Andy! The tilt’s afire! Andy, get up!”
In an instant Andy, too, was out of bed.
“Grab your clothes and sleepin’ bag,” cried David excitedly.
“I’m chokin’!” coughed Andy.
“Hurry!” shouted David. “Hurry, or we’ll be caught here!”
There was scarce a moment to spare. The tilt had taken fire from the overheated stove, and one side was already in flames. Fortunately the doorway was clear, and the lads, gaining it, had barely time to pitch their clothing and sleeping bags out into the snow, and themselves escape into the cold night.