Some instinct caused Lanky to turn his anxious gaze once more on the doomed barn. Knowing Frank Allen as well as he did, he understood what the other would be doing about that time.
"He's gone—right inside—and I've got to follow my leader!"
Lanky would have dashed blindly forward and despite the peril involved enter the door where that choking smoke was pouring forth, only that his father caught hold of him just in time.
Mr. Wallace, on learning that his wife and Minnie had been seen entering the barn some time before fire was discovered, had become greatly alarmed and had tried to go in after them, only to be driven back by the fierce flames. Now he would not listen for a moment the wild plea of Lanky to be allowed to follow Frank.
"I should have stopped Frank, too," said the gentleman, in a quivering voice, "had I guessed what he meant to do when I saw him running forward and taking off his coat. If he is lost it will be terrible! And your mother, too! The boys have already done everything possible for human strength and skill to accomplish. We can only pray they may all be spared."
"Zander Forbes is in there too, they say," blubbered the badly shaken Lanky.
"I shall never forget his heroism, and Frank's, too," said Mr. Wallace. "If I thought I could make it—" His voice broke. "I tried it before you came, but the flames drove me back."
"There's one of the boys coming out now!" quavered Lanky, pointing his finger as he spoke. "Why, he's leading Bessie, our pet milk cow! He has put a blanket over her eyes to blind her." The cowboy had used this covering as a blinder to the cow, knowing that otherwise it would be utterly impossible to urge her along past shooting lances of flame.
Lanky's voice died away in a low groan, for his suddenly aroused hopes had been just as speedily shattered. Only a cow saved, while precious human lives were hanging in the balance!
When Frank was gripped by the feeling that he must make a desperate attempt to find and save Mrs. Wallace and Minnie Cuthbert, he lost not a second in debating whether it was safe or not.