She argued with herself for two or three minutes, finally deciding that it wasn’t much trouble to go take a look, even if it were foolish. Just outside the door she met Sherm and he walked up to the crest with her.
Half way up the slope Chicken Little suddenly stopped, sniffing suspiciously. “Sherm, I believe I smell smoke again.”
Sherm stopped also to draw in a long breath. He did not wait to announce his observations, but broke into a run for the top of the hill. Chicken Little followed him a length in the rear. Sherm took one look and gave vent to a surprised whistle. Chicken Little stared, fascinated, at a tiny line of fire burning merrily on a hillside not a mile distant.
307“Jumping Jehosophat!” exclaimed Sherm, “how did it ever creep up on us this way?”
Jane was thinking rapidly. She scarcely noticed what he said.
“Sherm, Frank left the water barrels and the mops and everything on the wagon, didn’t he?”
“Yes–what—”
“Are the barrels filled?”
“Yep, do you think—”
“Sherm, run hitch the bay team to the wagon quick. I’ll get Marian and warn Annie not to tell Mother–she’s asleep still. Hurry, Sherm, every minute’s precious!”