No water was available. He had no tools or anything with which to fight the fire.
“I’ve got to do something!” he thought desperately. “But what?”
Brad moved back into the cleared area by the Castle. The grass was green here and free of brush and leaves. If the fire could be checked at the edge of the woods, the building would be spared.
On the other hand, should the tall trees catch, nothing could stop the fire until it had done untold damage.
Sparks borne by the wind now were flying toward the stone dwelling. One fell into a tiny pocket of leaves and began to blaze.
Brad pounded out the flames and scattered the leaves with his rake. But other sparks were beginning to drop.
“The Castle will go unless I can get help fast!” he told himself. “May be someone at the adjoining estate has some equipment.”
Brad started at a run across the cleared space and then on into a field of stubble.
Unexpectedly he tripped over a pile of boards and fell flat on the ground. His extended hand groping over the top of the boards, encountered only yawning space.
Scrambling to his feet, Brad saw that the fall had saved him from a much worse disaster. The loose boards only half-covered a deep pit.