“Better put the blanket over your head,” he told the girl. “It seems to be getting hotter and more sparks are falling. They might catch in your hair.”
The thickly woven blankets, wet as they were with water from the broken engine radiator, would prove a good protection against sparks.
Accordingly, Mary threw hers over her head and Tom did likewise. Then he dashed in the direction the girl had indicated. But they did not get as far along this trail as they had on the other before they were stopped by a wall of fire.
“Oh, dear!” sighed Mary. “What are we going to do?” She felt helpless and almost hysterical, but for Tom’s sake, resolutely held herself in control.
“Got to try some other direction!” gasped Tom, opening the blanket around his face a little so he could breathe more freely. “We’ve got to get out!”
Apparently, the only other course was to retreat and try the right, thought Tom, since the left had proved impracticable. And it was this decision—the only one possible under the circumstances—which eventually saved them.
No sooner had Tom taken the lead and gone a few steps down what seemed a fairly well defined path than he gave a shout of exultation.
“What is it?” cried Mary. “Do you see a way out? I don’t. The smoke seems thicker than ever!”
“It is,” Tom said. “But we’ll soon be all right. I know where I am now. I know it by that big rock. A little way down this path is a cave. It’s near a brook, and though the brook may be dried up, the cave will make a place in which we can be safe from the fire. It’s always damp in that cave. Besides, there’s nothing in it to burn. Come on, Mary!”
“Are you sure you’re right, Tom? It looks worse than ever in that direction!”