The fall stunned him, for the boy struck on his head. Bob, however, had heard the cry. Regardless of the fact that neither his head nor his body was protected, Jarvis dashed boldly into the burning drift. He knew the skin was peeling from his arms, but he did not experience any sensation of pain.
All at once he, too, stumbled and fell in a heap with a deluge of burning embers and live sparks showering about him. But Bob was not stunned. He was very much alive at this particular moment, for he realized for the first time that unless he moved rapidly he would be burned alive.
Just then he felt the object over which he had fallen move.
"Steve! Steve! Is that you?" cried Jarvis.
"Ye-yes."
Bob fastened on him with a powerful grip, and began dragging Rush from the fire, first having stripped off one of the burning shirts.
Steve regained control of himself almost instantly.
"Let go! Run for it! Something is going to happen!" he shouted.
But Jarvis did not let go. He ran faster than ever, holding firmly to his companion. Perhaps he was beginning to understand what Steve expected to happen. At least he was making all the speed possible under the circumstances.
Both boys drew in a long breath as they flattened themselves on the ground, well free of the fire zone.