"They'll be here as soon as they can," said the captain. "They have already seen the fire."
"I see it, too!" exclaimed Russ. "Look at the black smoke!"
"And I can see blazes, too!" exclaimed Laddie.
"So can I," added Rose.
"Who started the fire?" asked Violet.
"That we don't know," answered Uncle Fred. "Sometimes a cowboy may drop a match and forget about it. Again some one may start a campfire and forget to put it out when he leaves. All those things start prairie fires."
Uncle Fred and Captain Roy, and as many cowboys as could be found, started toward the cloud of black smoke with plows and horses. As Russ had said, the smoke-cloud could plainly be seen. It seemed to be rolling along the ground, as white, fleecy clouds roll along in the sky. And at the bottom of the black cloud could be seen fire.
The four little Bunkers were led by their father out to where they could have a good view of the fire. The smoke was blacker now, and the flames could be seen more plainly. At times, when the wind blew with unusual strength, the children could smell the smoke and burning grass.
"Does the wind push the fire on, same as it pushed Russ's sail-wagon?" asked Vi.
"Just the same," answered her father. "The fire comes toward us just as fast as the wind blows. If the wind would only blow the other way the fire would not harm us."