"Well we've been lucky so far not to have been discovered," exclaimed Earl. "I hope our luck keeps up."
"We've been discovered all right," said Leon. "Don't worry about that; they haven't reached here yet, that's all."
"And we certainly hope they won't," muttered Jacques fervently.
With anxious eyes the two brothers scanned the forest edges all around the clearing. The barn still blazed brightly, though now but one wall remained standing; one by one the others had collapsed.
Five minutes more and they would be safe. Jacques was putting the finishing touches on his work and was almost ready to start. He was an excellent and speedy workman but the time spent seemed dreadfully long to his two companions. They stood first on one foot and then on the other. Would he never finish?
"All ready," cried Jacques at last.
"Can we get in?" demanded Earl eagerly.
"Certainly. Jump aboard and I'll join you in a second, just as soon as I get this wire out of our way."
The two brothers needed no second invitation and made haste to do as Jacques had directed them. Earl was just about to climb into his seat with Leon close behind him when there was a rifle shot and a bullet, whistling through the air, passed close above their heads.