Dick wiped his soot-streaked face with his sleeve. “Just as soon as we can. Landers put a call out for more volunteers when she took off like that last night. He had a crew all lined up, but then a report came in that there was a spot fire up north about three miles, so he sent the whole bunch of them to swarm over that one before it really gets started. It’s been a rough night.” He looked around at the men beating out the brushfires around the clearing. “I tell you what, though. I have about a dozen smoke-eaters mopping up here and along the south line. Soon as things look safe, I’ll send them down to replace a dozen of the boys down there.”
“Those men need relief bad,” Quiz declared. “They’re so bushed that they won’t be able to work efficiently for much longer.”
“I know,” Dick agreed. “You boys look pretty bushed yourselves. Why don’t you take one of the jeeps and drive back to headquarters? After a good meal and a few hours’ sleep, you’ll feel a lot better.” Ominously, he added, “We may need you again.”
“Why is everyone so skeptical?” Sandy demanded. “Don’t you believe that line will hold now?”
The ranger’s face was grim. “There’s nothing on this earth as unpredictable as a forest fire. I won’t believe she’s really out until I personally squash the last ember under my boot.”
Quiz stared off into the ravaged grove at the other side of the clearing. “Those trees, will they die?” he asked the ranger.
“A tree is like a human being,” Dick explained. “It can survive some pretty bad burns, although it may be scarred badly. Underneath the bark there’s a thin layer of living matter called the cambium, which can be compared with the underskin on a human being—the dermis. If the fire burns through the outer bark all around the trunk and kills the cambium, the tree dies. Fortunately, the bark usually burns through only on the side of the tree facing the advancing flames. It depends on the age of the tree and the thickness of the bark. I think most of those old fellows along the fringe of the fire will pull through. Not much chance for any others.” He sighed. “Well, I guess Sandy and Jerry aren’t interested in hearing a botany lecture right now.”
Quiz smiled wanly. “Even I’m not interested in botany right now. Let’s go eat, fellows.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Last-Ditch Stand
When they reached the main road, Sandy pulled the jeep up in front of fire headquarters. Prince came bounding out to meet them, leaping up on Sandy and barking happily. Then Russ Steele appeared in the entrance. His face was lined with weariness and worry.