The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-10-07

Freddie S
between the two; he went quite long
way. In his breast was the first touch
Of panic.
Wherever he went the fire found
him out and drove him on. A strong
wind had risen, and as the flames win
moved their way down the mountain
side and across they found more and
larger stuff to feed on.
Professor Stflliter got hurts every
now and then: His hands and knees
were lacerated, his face had had some
hard knocks. His blind eyes smarted
with smoke and the air which he
breathed half cf1oked him.
To q man with average sight 1t
would have been am easy matter to
have eluded that fire. Tt had descend
ed the mountains In harlow path.
It was Professor StilIHerrs misfortune
that he had been unable to sidestep it.
By taking up his original stand at the
back of the hut, instead OF at the front,
he need not have moved until help
came
Even now old man SmefFsgood was
standing at comfortable distance
from the red-hot ruins Of tire hut and
wondering what fool had sea it on fire
and why.
Through the forest itself the fire
was only burning a broad path. con-
fined to this by open baTgens and
swamps or by timber too green and
well watered to burn. From the mouth
OF the cave 1t looked like receding
column of smoke. and there was no
real menace in it for anyone but Pro-
and on. And now, continually, like a
child that babbles, he was asking God
to save him, Christ to pity him.
AS he lost blood, his progress be-
came slower and slower, and death
stared him in the back. He was to
have one short reprieve. He came to-
gravelly bank so steep that in try
ing to get down 1t he began to slide,
could not save himself and was dumped
presently into the ice cold deep water.
For a moment the shock refreshed
and invigorated him and gave him
hope. He could swim, and water can
not burn Whether he was in a pond
or lake of some size he did not know.
II lake and not very large. he could
swim across and Mt least find safety
from the fire. At first it was easy to
swim in the right direction, guided by
the heat that came from behind, but
after awhile it was not so easy.
He was good swimmer, and while
floating and treading water he man
aged to get rid of his shoes and most
of his clothes. He would need them
when he got ashore. Yes. but he
would have to do without them.
He began to tire again, and there
was no sign of the opposite shore.
He was in one of the narrowest
lakes in that part Of the Adirondacks,
but it was several miles long and he
was trying to swim it from end to end.
The jig was up.
When he realized this he FASTENED
the inevitable. by screaming and
screaming and then by bursting into
tears and sobbing
After a while his final struggles
stopped. He f1oated in the water with
his face under; a kind of foam came
to the surface from the corners of his
mouth Twice he drew UP his knees
and kicked feebly, as II he were still
alive and trying to swim.
After long time Freddie the Fer
rett, leading Celestia as II she had
been blind, blundered to the foot of
the cliff in which was the main en-
trance to the cave. Into this he pene-
| trated a little way and there began to
shout for Tommy with all his might.
The only response was the echoing Of
his voice.
| So Freddie went back to Celestial.
land there she stood with beWildered,
puzzled look on her face, and both her
hands being held by Tommy Barclay
himself, who was breathing as ii he
had been running up hill.
Don't look puzzled now, Celestia, =
Tommy was saying. you know me,
It's all right. I'm the driver. You
know, and you have to obey the driver
So wake up. Be yourself.
Then Celestia spoke.
THE driver she said, IL dead
| Professor Stilliter told me.
Told you was dead
Celestia nodded and turned away az
II the matter was Of no further inter
est.