It did not take the three long to reach the vicinity where the tar-barrels had been left. As they approached they saw a light flare up.
"They are setting 'em on fire!" cried Andy.
"Stop, Ritter! Stop, Coulter!" yelled Pepper. "Don't you light those barrels!"
"Ha! ha!" came from the bully of the Hall. "What's an old tar-barrel, anyway? Guess we can fire them if we want to!"
"Those are my barrels," answered Pepper.
He rushed forward, followed by Jack and Andy. But they were too late, for on the instant a big flame shot up and all three of the tar-barrels, standing in a close triangle, and filled with dried leaves, commenced to burn furiously. As the flames shot up among the trees, Ritter and Coulter backed away.
"Good-by to those barrels!" came sorrowfully from Andy. "We'll not be able to use them for the celebration to-night."
"I'll fix you for this, Ritter; and you, too, Coulter!" called out Pepper, bitterly. "Oh, what luck!" he groaned, as he saw the flames from the tar-barrels climb higher and higher. "What a grand bonfire they would have made on the lake-front!"
"Boys, this fire is dangerous!" ejaculated Jack.
"What do you mean?" came from the others.