Then the individual arose to his knees and waved his arms weakly. His clothing was in rags. Indeed, he had only half a shirt and the remains of his overalls left upon his body, besides his shoes. His hair had been singed from his head. A great angry burn disfigured one side of his face, while the beard was crisped to cinders on the other side. He was without eyebrows and eyelashes, and his eyes stared from deep hollows in his face—or so it seemed.
“For heaven’s sake, help me!” he gasped. “Take me aboard! Take me away from here!”
He struggled to his feet and fell again. He had come as far as he could. Had the road not been right where it was, the man must have fallen in the woods and been swept again by the flames.
Hester sprang up, caught him around the waist and half dragged him to the car. She was thoroughly scared now; but she was courageous enough to aid this man who was more unfortunate than herself.
“Get in! Get in!” she cried, flinging open the door of the tonneau. “We must hurry.”
“You bet we gotter hurry!” gasped the man, as he crawled into the car and she banged to the door so that he would not fall out.
Into her own seat Hester sprang. The car was jarring with the throb of the engine. If it should balk now, what would become of them?
The frightened girl turned the switch carefully. The car rolled on. It moved faster and faster along the narrow road. The smoke was now so thick that she was running the car blindly. At any moment the wheels might hit a stump at the side of the road, for she could not be sure that she was keeping in the main-traveled path.
While they were in the cut she heard nothing from the man behind. But when the car shot up the hill out of the cut to the ridge-ground, and left the smoke behind, the man struggled up into the seat and leaned over to speak to her.
“You air a brave gal!” he gasped. “Woof! my lungs is burnt to a crisp—I swallered so much smoke. Ye jest erbout saved my life, Miss.”