“Come here, all of you!” he cried. “I have hit upon a plan.”
This was enough.
With alacrity all came forward. And now Frank unfolded his plan.
“Do you see those big pines?” he said. “Well, in them lies our chance. If we can hew down enough of them to make a raft to float the Scorcher I believe there is a chance for us!”
For a moment there was silence.
Then all gave a loud cheer.
“We’ll do it!” cried Randall. “Give us some axes. Come, boys! It is for our lives we are working!”
Barney and Pomp ran to get axes. Wendel and Randall and even Frank himself selected a tree.
The axes rang merrily in the soft wood, and steadily all worked, each man at a tree.
In a comparatively short space of time five of the trees were down. Then each set to work upon another.