“Hugh!” cried Alec, grabbing his rival’s arm. “See that old farmhouse over there?”
“Yes, I see it. What of——?”
“It’s right in the path of the fire that’s sweeping down this hill!”
Hugh sprang forward.
“Boys, it’s up to us!” he shouted. “Thank fortune, we’ve got our signal flags and heliograph with us! When the other half of our party starts for the town on the run, we’ve got to signal to them, telling them just where the fire is; then they can tell the firemen in Oakvale what to do.”
“Save that farmhouse!” yelled Alec. “Come on, boys! Out here on this high rock with me! Now, get out your flags!”
The crack of Joe’s rifle burst upon the warm morning air.
“That’ll attract their attention to us!” Hugh called out. “Ready now! Come on, begin the messages. Work those flags as we’ve never worked them before!”
CHAPTER VII.
THE END OF THE HIKE.
While Alec and Blake remained at their post of duty on the rock, exchanging messages with Lieutenant Denmead’s half of the corps—who, as soon as they understood the need, hurried across the meadow, entered the town, and went directly to the only engine house of which Oakvale could boast,—Hugh and Spike hastened back some distance up the hill, to see whence the fire was coming and how far it had already spread. Joe, on his part, decided to set out for the farmhouse to give warning, if it should be necessary. He lingered only to make sure that Alec’s and Blake’s sendings were received and understood by the others in the town.