Part 37 (1/2)
”I'm sick of it from my hair to my toes,” growled Greson.
”So am I; but I am thankful we are alive,” returned Leo grimly.
The noon hour pa.s.sed slowly.
It was furiously hot.
”Wouldn't you think the fire would burn itself out, Leo?” remarked the a.s.sistant.
”There are a good many thousands of cords of wood to consume, and that takes time, Larry.”
About the middle of the afternoon it began to grow dark.
”More smoke coming this way,” announced Greson.
”No, it's clouds!”
”Clouds! yes, and-hark!”
They listened intently. A low rumble was heard.
”A thunderstorm! If it only rains hard enough!”
The sky kept growing blacker and blacker. Then came a flash of lightning through the smoke, and the patter of rain.
As the rain came down the smoke grew thicker, and soon it drifted into the cave, and they were all but driven out.
”We can't stand this! Let us get out!” said Greson.
”No, no; wait awhile, Larry! See, the wind is changing!”
The young gymnast was right. The wind swerved around and at once the smoke left them.
Another hour pa.s.sed, and still the rain came down steadily. It had full effect on the burning forest, for the fire died out in spot after spot.
”We'll be able to get out by morning,” said Leo.
That night they thought it safe to sleep, and lay down utterly exhausted.
In the morning it was still raining. All around the lake the burned trunks of tall trees were left standing. Every bush was reduced to ashes.
They had not even a compa.s.s by which to make their course out of the forest. But this did not stop them from departing.
”Here is a stream that flows from the lake,” said Leo. ”It must lead to some river or larger lake. We will follow it for a few miles and see where it brings us.”
”That's right; keep near the water. We may need it if the rain stops and the fire starts up again,” replied Greson.
They picked their way slowly along the bank of the brook, sometimes walking directly in the water where the dirt and stones became too hot for their feet.