The Coolidge examiner., 1934-04-06
CHAPTER vIrI-cou,inusd

F=HtAHassaHfH HHH'- 20 ~ H'.ta a'ffHtts 80 -
beginning taFaues quiet recital
% prake's achievement was In his
mind. now. and be- was humble be-
fore his past an5 the prospect of
h.s future and humble. as well.
before the man no had used bis
name with such effect
As be- stood there. tho whlrlwind
came Il swept across the unburned
slash between tia point 81 origin
and the line - backnre. swinging
in q majestic terrible arc. AZ the
tip ~ IS dangling funnel. 9, vas
shower " sparks. and these. as
YouuE jim watched. were sowcd
behind ise Gre dzhters 10 the bend
Grass hqrs; into flame. the wicked
tongues found bold 10 the eonaa.
grafton IN front % them. we're
hcaEcd Ia hy ar orange barrier from
the rcar.
Young jim cried out. hui bis voice
dId noi carry. lie saw the ring of
fame rise and broaden. touching
with explosive tentncics all material
close by.
A hair moon % unburnei slash
vas sii that the men yonier bad
Tor safety AL along the roadway
before them ere vas running: be
hind. that ragged semlciFrie of new
flames vas closing gaps 10 wall
gaem in. AZ the center % this zone
jim made oui q small pond. hun
dred feet across. perhaps Il offered
a haven % sort. He raced down
the slope. tripping once and falling.
siashlug his cheek on n sharp stub
lie was %. curslng as be wailowed
in deceptive pile % brush. hidden
by young growth. and threw himself
into shc creek. fghiinr his way
through the alders on the Tar side
lie came oct into the ehopping
and swung 90 the right. shouting
once more in az attempt 10 make
those men aware 81 their danger.
The gap In the line - Gre FOR
which he was headed closed 90
sold fame as a yaErani blast os air
cent the blaEes cracking through
the grass
lie raced back 10 the left. seek
ing a way through. bur before he
reached the next opening that also
closed lie couEhed from smoke
now. ard bis eyes were tortured
The Gre mapped and plnfYed ai him
Rs II In conscious mockery. lie
brushed tears from his eyes and
stroye 10 locate the little pond. try
Ink 10 determine whether. could be
attract attention. those men would
be able 10 gain that one sanctuary
In what. within minutes. would be
an Inferno But smoke ohscured a
view of the water. tie found a place
between two WindroWs of litter that
was not yet ahiaxe. lie edged to-
ward the narrow opening and re-
coiied as the shirt curied on his
shoulders from the heat that beat
upon him from either side. He could
not 40 into that: u was beyond hu-
man endurance And yet as fresh
pun Of wind struck him. be knew
that he must. Human lives depend
Cd on the ability OF his body and
will 10 Withstand the ordeal Of fre.
tie had only \ dozen steps 20 take
before he would be through the
worst. and he held his lungs fiai 30
he would not breathe the fame. The
skin bulged 20 bils,ers on bis neck.
the hair on one temple slnsed and
he felt the fre licking nj his legs
as he summoned all his strength.
and with one nnal effort ran
he was through. choking. weak
ened by the heat. but through. He
was within the ring ot Gre. charging
across the acres that would be rag
Ing al any instant
The men were losing their nght
At three points the baekire had
crossed the road and was running.
rolling with the wind. They were
siill In front OF IL. giving ground
grudgingly, hShiing as they retreat
ed. ready 10 come 10 full stand az
the creek. and II was not until this
young stranger. blackened and Bills
tered. burst upon the nearest trio
who fought side By side that they
turned to see through the flowing
hare that other wall OF fame lick.
Ing toward them from the rear.
Into the pondl- Jim croaked-
You're cut of. The pond I"
one man dropped his shovel and
fed madly The others clung 10
their equipment as they made a
break for water.
Jim ran on 10 the next group,
foundering and still trying to shout
from his smoke -hoarsened throat.
McNally finally heard him. He
turned. saw what was coming and
ran.
A narrow ribbon OF water was
just at their left II was a slender
arm OF the pond. lying in a swale.
Along It's edge fame spears danced
but il offered a way through. They
sank TO their thighs in the mire,
gained the deeper water OF the pond
and threw themselves down. only