Part 2 (2/2)

The animals certainly were Back and forth they rushed as the shi+fting flames and smoke drove the hotter and hotter Most of the front had burned away, and through it, wreathed in flames and smoke as it was, those inside could look out and see the wondering crowd gathered before the structure

”Goin' to drive the horses through?” asked Vincent

”No They'd never cross those burning e wood had fallen across the threshold of what had been the big doors of the barn There was a wide zone of fire, and froh, once or twice, they seeoin' to do it?” asked the constable

”Look out!” suddenly called Vincent ”They're cohtened by a puff of sed, like a sht at the two boys and thea dash for the place they had just come up They reached it just in ti by instinct the narrow, steep stairs, dohich, had they stumbled, they would have met their deaths

”Now's our chance!” cried Bert ”While they're in the far end of the barn!”

”What are you going to do?” asked Vincent

”Open those other big doors!”

The barn had two sets of large doors Only one pair was used, however, those up to which the elevated driveway led The others were to give air to the place, when hay was being stored away, and they opened right into the cow-yard, ten feet beloith a sheer drop over the threshold

”Do you think those horses will jump out there?” asked the constable

”I think they will, rather than burn to death”

”But the jus”

”Not a bit of it The cow-yard is soft and mucky They will sink down in it, and the men can lead them out Come on, Vincent, help me open the doors” Bert's plan was now evident, and it seehtened horses leap to safety?

Running up from the stairway, in which they had crouched when the horses thundered past, the two boys hurried across the barn to the big doors Constable Stickler called out:

”I'll go and send soht,” replied Bert

He and Vincent were almost at the doors when, once reat peril, but Bert saw their chance of safety

”Ju machine!” he yelled, and he and his chum crawled upon the apparatus just in time So close were the horses that one of theue of the ot up in an instant, however, and joined its co with terrified eyes at the fla closer and closer The barn floor was s it, foot by foot

”Come on, now!” cried Bert, and a moment later he had thrown aside the heavy bar that held the doors in place, and had swung them open The draft, created by the fire, served to hold them so

”Now help me drive the horses out,” he called to Vincent ”Get behind them, but look out they don't turn on you”

Cautiously the two boys made their way to where the terrified anih to send the horses off on the run again Fortunately the leader sh the opened doors The horse paused adown into the partly illuminated cow-yard Would he july ”Jump! You won't hurt yourself It's soft mud Go ahead, old fellow”