“Come on, men, run to the South for your lives!”
This command recalled the fire to the avengers for the first time since they were made aware that the Midnight Raider had tricked them.
Gazing toward it, they realized they were in greater danger than they had ever been from Scalping Louie.
By leaps and bounds, it seemed to be sweeping down upon them, its billows of smoke already causing them to cough and choke.
“Turn your heads to the open plains and run low!” shouted Hawks. “Two hundred yards will bring us beyond the edge of the wall of flame. The wind is already driving it more to the North!”
Desperately the cowboys put forth every bit of their strength in frantic effort to reach the zone of safety. And each thought only of himself.
As a result, it was not until they had gained a spot behind the death-dealing wall of flame that they gave thought to one another.
But, when they did, they found that one of their number was missing!
“Where’s Sam?” demanded Dude, looking from one to another of his fellows, in alarm.
For a moment, the thought that one of their band had fallen prey to the inexorable fire, filled them with horror.