The retreat came none too soon, for the wind was blowing more wildly than ever, and the sparks and embers were flying in all directions over their heads, scaring the horses and mules, and starting a fresh fire wherever they landed.
"That's the end of this tract," said Andrews sorrowfully. "It won't grow up again in fifty years."
"It will be a big loss to Mr. Paxton," answered Owen. "Maybe it will ruin him."
"That wind means a storm," said Gilroy. "But it aint coming just yet."
Away they went, and hardly had they left the clearing when they saw the barn and one of the shanties catch fire, and presently the cabin followed.
The men started for Pine Tree Lake, but long before that body of water was reached the flames headed them off and they were forced to turn in another direction. They could now hear the distant rumble of thunder, and all prayed earnestly that the storm might come speedily, and prove of sufficient strength to drown out the fire.
"We are getting hemmed in," said Gilroy, at last, as he called a halt. "Do you see that flicker of fire on Two-Top Mountain? That's coming this way too. It's a different fire altogether from the one back of us."
Between the smoke and the clouds in the sky the sun was now no longer visible, and only the conflagration at a distance lit up the weird scene. Again came a rumble of thunder, and then a distant flash of lightning told them that the storm was coming up more quickly than they had anticipated.
"If it had only come early this morning," said Andrews, as the first drops began to fall. "Then thousands of dollars' worth of lumber would have been spared."
"Let us be thankful that it has come, even at this hour," answered Dale.