“Finally these brave men, baffling a peril which menaced all alike, realized that they had subdued the enemy. The flames found nothing in its way upon which to feed and advance, hence they began to weaken and die down, lower and lower, until their roar and hellish heat abated.
“The Ranger now commanded: ‘Go to it, boys, and beat out the ground-fire with your mats.’
“For an hour more, therefore, every one whipped and smothered the sparks or kindlings on the ground, till only a blackened, smoking stretch of woodland remained.
“The night came before the Rangers pronounced the danger to be averted for that time, and thanked all those who had rendered such valuable assistance in quenching the fire,” concluded Mr. Gilroy.
“How about our guide and the men found hanging about the Park?” asked Mr. Vernon of Mr. Gilroy and Tally.
“Why, search as they would, not a sign could the fire-fighters see or hear of Tally, his pony, or of the outlaws and the stolen property. When all hope of finding any clews had been abandoned, the men dispersed to go their respective ways. Then I, with the two Rangers, started to the protected spot where we had tethered the horses. Climbing into the saddles, we rode up the trail, discussing meanwhile the possibilities of Tally’s escape.
“‘You know, if your guide had been acquainted in these mountains he could safely have taken another trail at that bridge and have made his way to our lookout by a different trail. We Rangers have to blaze many trails on our sections in order to facilitate our own riding when we have to hurry to a blaze. If a trail is impassable it engenders great areas of forests by giving the fire a chance to spread,’ said Johnson.
“‘Tally is a well-trained guide, and I’d wager anything that he’ll find a trail even where there isn’t one blazed. If it comes to the worst he’ll blaze a trail of his own,’ I said.
“‘He must be a pretty wise chap,’ said Oliver.
“‘He’s that wise that I’ll wager you still further if that fire hasn’t done for those outlaws and the horses, I bet he’ll bring them to time single-handed!’ I added.