"I will, mother," assented Ruth, recovering her wonted energy, as she ran down the stairs.
A strong wind greeted her upon opening the outer door, blowing into her face a sickening smell of burned wood. The whole sky seemed overcast, and a thick, heavy haze was settling down upon fields and buildings as far as the eye could reach.
"Harry! Harry!" she called, excitedly, "where's father?"
"Gone to the woods, I told you. Oh, there he comes!" and Hal peered into the gloom as he looked in the direction of the woods.
Ruth saw a dark moving object coming toward them. She waited for no second look, but sped away like the wind into the nearest field.
"Oh, father, what's happened?" she cried, breathlessly, running up to him and catching his arm as she turned to keep pace with his long strides toward the house.
"We're going to burn out," he answered, with set teeth, "and there's no time to lose. Go get your mother ready to move, while I harness the horses. We must reach the lake within an hour, or—"
"How can we?" uttered Ruth, aghast. "Ten miles!"
"It must be done. Quick, daughter!"
The girl needed no further bidding, but ran homeward, calling to Hal as she passed, and charging him to keep near the house with Scott.