The ranger listened for a moment with furrowed brow, then, by means of the sending apparatus with which the hut was also equipped, sent back word to the station that the orders had been heard and would be obeyed.
Then he looked at the young folks as though seeing them for the first time.
“Better get out of here, quick!” he commanded, in the curt tones of one who has not a moment to waste. “Fire sweeping in this direction. Worst one in years. Run for it.”
“But where, where?” cried Jessie, catching his sleeve, as he was hurrying out again. “Where shall we go?”
“Straight down to the lake, keep facing northwest,” commanded the ranger. “Better get out on the lake if you have boats. Fire apt to sweep the water front if we don’t get busy. Run!” With these words he turned and dashed from the hut.
Following him out into the open, the girls and boys saw him join a group of rangers, all fully equipped for fire fighting. He shouted a command to the men, and they turned and ran through the woods away from the lake.
“They are going to beat the fire back!” gasped Jessie, as they started on a run in the general direction of the water. “Poor Darry, we can’t even look for him now!”
“Look at that smoke!” cried Nell, pointing to a heavy black cloud that swirled above the trees and seemed to be bearing down upon them.
“The fire must be gaining on us!” sobbed Amy, as she pushed steadily on through the nightmare branches and entangling vines. “Suppose we can’t reach the lake!”
“We must reach it!” said Jessie, in a hard voice that she did not recognize as hers at all. “Let’s run, can’t we?”