“Is Mr. Simmons anywhere near here?” asked Bill
“You bet your neck he is,” replied the man. “I am Mr. Simmons. What can I do for you before you start work on this fire?”
“Nothing,” replied Bill. “Mr. Cecil sent us up to help you.”
CHAPTER V—A FOREST FIRE
“You are just in time,” said Simmons. “I am sending out a crew to try and limit the southern movement of the fire. Have either of you ever fought a forest fire before?”
“Neither one of us,” replied Bill.
“You’ll soon learn,” said Simmons. “Most tenderfeet coming up here for a vacation find it rather hard work and soon tire out, but you will be a help as long as you last.”
Simmons turned and Bill noticed three other men standing by.
“Sam,” called Simmons, “you can take these two youngsters and do that job. I will send those other men over to help Ridley.”
“This is Sam Crouch,” said Simmons as Crouch came toward them. “He will be in charge of you. All that you have to do is to follow his instructions. You had better get going, Sam.”