The St. Mary banner., 1908-05-02
81 The Forest : q !! St, Fire. W
BY JOHN r. CUcKEs.

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spring, tasted mighty good, and I was
thankful to Harry for having thought
of them. We saw a few pheasants
and a squirrel or two, but of course
we couldn't get any Of them with our
air rifles.
''After breakfast we put up our
tent and built rough stone fireplace
in the open air. BY dinner time we
were so hungry that we had to cook
our ham. We ate blueberries while
it was cooking, but the smell of the
ham was tantalizing, and we couldn t
wait for it to get done, but ate it half
raw. In the afternoon we caught two
large fish in the creek, and these,
with baked potatoes, served for our
supper. We were tickled with our
free life that day, but were glad to lie
down in our blankets long before the
moon came up.
"The next day crackers and fish
and ham and potatoes began to grow
tiresome, but try as we would to kill
some game we had no success. No, l
am mistaken. We did kill an old,
blind woodpecker, but he smelt SO
that we were afraid to touch him.
The next day our fare grew dis
tasteful. We missed the cakes and
honey, the apples and rice pudding,
which we had in such abundance at
hono Rocidoc t1,o ronpotorv nf tho
woods and the intense stiffness began
to get upon our young nerves IN spite
of our efforts to play Indians. Prob
ably both of US would have been glad
to start for home, but each one was
ashamed to suggest it.
THE water in the creek was very
low. 1t scarcely reached our shoul-
ders at the deepest point, SO that we
could go in bathing without any dan
ger. Here we spent good deal of
our time splashing in the water. The
creek was low because there had been
no rain for many weeks. The ground
was baked and parched, and every
thing was as dry as punk.
On the third morning the sun rose
hot and merciless as usual. We took
of our clothes and began to disport
ourselves in the creek early. I sup
pose we had been in the water only
five minutes when Harry remarked, I
think l smell smoke
So do L. | returned, but 1 guess
it's from our breakfast fire.
i guess not!' he shouted, excited
ly. Look at that!'
"He pointed southwark, and l fol-
lowed his finger with my eye. There,
where the tree tops met the sky, We
could see ugly clouds of blua-black
smoke belching into tfs sky. Then,
for the first, we noticed flock after
flock of wild birds passing above us
to the north, some of them screech-
h,F with fear and excitement, all of
them going the same way. Turning
our eyes to the ground we were sur
prised to see squirrels and rabbits
and even snakes fleeing in the same
direction. To the left of us we heard
a splash in the creek. A young bear
was swimming across.
The woods are afire, Jasper.
shouted Harry, and everything is
running away for safety"
HE did not need to tell me. /
saw it all. l can tell you we got
out of that creek and into our clothes
in a hurry. BY the time we were
dressed stray sparks were flying over
our heads, and the sun itself was OBJ
scured by a thick, yellow fog OF
smoke"
"'We'll have to run for our lives!
Il exclaimed excitedly. And here we
were fools enough to get dressed on
this side of the creek" I"
It's too late to run responded
Harry. There's only one thing to
do. Wen have to get into the creek
up to our necks and let the fire pass
over us. +"
But gracious l objected fear
fully. when the fire sweeps over US
our heads will be burned.
81 thought of that, returned
Harry, quickly. Still, the creek (
our only hope, Jasper. We must gel
the blankets and other things down
to the creek. Wen need them"
"He was the leader, and always
obeyed him. In two or three min.
utes we had everything down at the
bank. Harry. to my surprise, took
time to put what was left of our ham
into pot and sink it into the creek
All the while the smoke was blowing
against us in great volumes. spark.
ling pine needles were flying over oul