“Snow. Look at the snow!” shouted Stacy, pointing to a shower of white flakes that was sifting down over them.
“Oh, it can’t be possible!” wondered Nora Wingate.
“Yes, snow, and the temperature a hundred in the shade,” declared Stacy. “This is a fine climate. I feel cooler just at sight of those beautiful white flakes.”
“What is it, Ham?” called Hippy.
“Ashes!” answered the guide. “Ride hard!”
The Overlanders understood now. It was ashes from the forest fire that was following on their trail, and no further urging was necessary to keep them going as fast as they could force their horses. In a short time they were free from the feathery shower and the air seemed fresher, though they occasionally caught a faint odor of smoke. The Overlanders felt a certain relief, believing that they had thrown off their pursuer, but Hamilton White felt no such assurance. That taint of smoke told him more than the shower of ashes had told him. It meant that the fire was creeping rather than blazing high, and he knew that a creeping forest fire was a much to be dreaded enemy. One never knew when or where to look for it, and it had an uncanny habit of swooping down on one when least looked for, and devouring. Ham increased his pace.
No stop had been made in that long ride, except once to let the sweating ponies drink from a cold mountain stream, and about mid-afternoon the guide called back that they were nearing Silver Creek village. The party caught their first glance at the creek, whose shining surface indicated that it had been well named. It was silvery, but ere they had followed it long, little waves of mud-colored water were leaping up.
There had been a severe storm in the mountains within a day, and the flood was pouring down on its way to the lowlands. It was soon roaring so loudly that they had to shout to make themselves heard.
Then the village suddenly burst upon them, a settlement of several hundred people, with stores and a post office that got its mail twice a week by a post rider.
The party of riders as they entered the village attracted the entire attention of the inhabitants, who gathered about, and regarded the newcomers closely.