CHAPTER XXVI.
TRUSTING TO THE WOODS' PILOT.
It was by this time getting about as exciting as anything Thad had everdreamed of. The noise made by the sweeping flames began to din in hisears as he had never expected to hear the roar of fire.
Still, he noticed that Jim had not changed his course much. Plainlythen, he was heading for the cabin of Cale Martin, and had not yet givenup hopes of being able to make it.
Only for the intense desire of the guide to please his Lina, doubtlesshe would ere now have changed his flight, and headed for that pond,where they could be certain of finding security. Thad only hoped Jimwould not be tempted to take too many chances, in his endeavor toaccomplish the reconciliation.
So the boy began to strain his eyes, looking ahead, hoping that anyminute they would sight the lonely home of the late poacher, who hadturned fox farmer.
The fire could now be seen more plainly than ever, and Thad noted howthe wind seemed to carry all manner of whirling sparks far ahead, to setthe dead pine needles ablaze in turn; so that there was an ever marchingprocession, as fresh patches of woods fell into the grip of the flames.
Something went squealing past them, almost upsetting Thad.
"Good gracious, wasn't that a pig?" he exclaimed, startled by the sight.
Jim nodded his head, as he replied:
"Cale's pig. Let's 'em hev ther run o' ther woods sumtimes. But he'llnever see that porker agin. It'll sure be roasted ter a turn, I guessnaow."
"What next, I wonder?" thought Thad, as he heard, rather than saw,several frightened partridges go sweeping past.
All these things served to add a certain element of spice to thesituation, although Thad really believed it hardly needed anything tomake it seem the most exciting in all his experience.
Well, at any rate, Jim had certainly thought it wise to increase hisspeed now, so that he was running fairly fast, considering thedifficulties that lay in the way of making good time.
When Thad came upon a broken-down rail fence, he knew they must be closein the neighborhood of the cabin; and at the same time he thought thatit was well this was the case, because contact with the fire could notlong have been delayed.
A minute later, and he sighted the side of the cabin. As Jim had said,it stood in comparatively open ground; but the brush had grown up again,owing to lack of care when the owner lost interest in the home that nolonger knew the presence of Little Lina.
A couple of low sheds could also be seen near by; but even to Thad'suneducated eye it was plainly apparent that if the fire worked this way,everything was bound to go. Cale Martin may have escaped by reason ofhis energy before, on other occasions, but this would wind his place up.
There was no sign of any human being around. Jim seemed to look to theright and to the left with more or less eagerness. Plainly he wasdisappointed because he did not see the giant poacher somewhere. Hehurried over to one of the low sheds, and as Thad followed close afterhim, he saw that there was an enclosure made of chicken wire, in whichseveral red foxes were running furiously back and forth, as thoughconscious of their peril, and wild to get out and escape.
"He cain't be here!" Jim called out, for the fire was really so noisynow that it required more or less of an effort to make one's self heard.
"Why not?" asked Thad.
"'Cause he'd never let them foxes stay in thar. Cale, he's human, ef heused ter be a hard case; an' knowin' ther fire'd like as not git 'em ifthey stayed cooped up, he'd sure broke the wire fence daown so's ter let'em run."
Saying which Jim deliberately did this himself, tearing up a stake, andin almost the twinkling of an eye making a big hole, through which thefour red foxes shot like lightning. The last seen of them, the shrewdlittle animals were flying away into the woods that as yet had not feltthe scorching breath of the fire.
"Will they escape, Jim?" asked Thad, unable to repress his desire forknowledge, even while facing such a scene of havoc as this.
"Sure they will," grunted the guide, who was already turning hastily inthe direction of the cabin.
The thought struck Thad just then that perhaps something had happened tothe big owner of the place. He might be found there, sick, and unable tomove hand or foot. In that case a new problem would have to be faced,and a solution worked out.
But no matter what happened, they could not remain here long. The firewas edging around, and working in toward Cale's cabin. In ten minutes,perhaps not so long a time as that, it would have swept over thisterritory, and gone roaring and leaping into the woods beyond.
Now they were at the door of the cabin. It was shut, and there was noevidence that Cale was within. Jim did not hesitate a second. He knewthis was a time for action rather than thinking; and so he immediatelystarted to push open the door.
Fortunately this did not seem to be fastened in any way, so the guidehad no trouble to speak of in doing what he desired.
Then Jim rushed inside, and Thad followed closely after him.
One glance around seemed to tell them that the cabin was empty. It was acheerless looking place, according to the mind of the boy, accustomed ashe was to the comforts of a good home in a civilized community. But nodoubt it had been "home" to Cale Martin, up to the time the light of itwas taken away by young Jim Hasty.
The guide pointed to a small photograph that was fastened to the wall.It was not a work of art by any means, and evidently represented thelabor of some aspiring village photographer; but as Thad bent hastilyover to examine it, in a couple of seconds, he saw that it was the faceof a very sweet looking girl.
And he did not need to be told that he was looking on the face of LittleLina, Jim's wife, and the only child of the lonely poacher, Old CaleMartin.
"He isn't here, Jim. What will we do now? Do you have any idea wherehe's gone?" the boy demanded, in his excitement clutching at the sleeveof the guide's coat.
"I kin give a guess, 'baout it," replied Jim. "Seems like he keeps alitter o' foxes sumwhar off in ther woods; an' chances air the ole man,he's risked his life tew git out thar, an' set 'em free so's they cud'scape. 'Twud be jest like him tew dew thet same thing."
"Hark! I thought I heard a shout!" exclaimed Thad.
Both of them listened anxiously; Jim even hurrying toward the open door;but before he could reach it, a huge form darkened the opening, and aman came staggering in.
Thad knew that he was looking upon Cale Martin, long feared by every manin the pine woods of Northern Maine. But to tell the truth he did notlook very formidable now; for his beard was singed, his face blackened,and his clothes smouldering in patches, as though he might have beencompelled to run the gauntlet of fire in returning from his self-imposederrand of mercy in connection with the impounded fox whelps.
He stared hard at them as though he could not just believe his senses.Thad saw he was very nearly overcome with the smoke that had entered hislungs, as well as the burns he must have received. And just then the boyrealized something of the real horror of a terrible forest fire. At adistance it might seem a glorious spectacle; but close at hand itsdreadful nature was revealed.
Jim knew that this was neither the time nor place to waste a second intrying to enter into explanations. Those could all keep until a moreconvenient season. Cale Martin was all but played out. He swayed as hestood there, and Thad could see that the wonderful strength that hadmany years before made him the marvel of the lumbering camps, as Jim hadtold him, was very nearly utterly exhausted.
And yet so great a hold had his dislike for Jim Hasty taken upon hisnature, that at sight of the man in his home he frowned blackly.
"We gotter mosey outen this right smart, Cale," said Jim, boldly. "Keepther talkin' till we is safe from ther fire. Plenty o' time then tewtell me what yew wants tew say. I kim hyar tew see yew 'cause Lina, shemade me. Naow, let's be headin' fur ther pond, 'less we wants tew beroasted an' stewed an' b'iled."
The giant did not seem inclined to make the first move to save himself;and it burst upon Thad's mind that
he was really in some sort of a daze.Perhaps the heat of the fire had affected his head, and he could notgather his wits. He may have headed straight back to the cabin, throughthe border of the fire, simply because of that intuition which willcarry a man, walking in his sleep, past dangers and difficulties.
Jim must have guessed something of the same thing. That would accountfor his daring to leap forward, and catch hold of Cale's sleeve, thoughhe had to beat out a small conflagration at the same time.
"Help me get him away!"
Jim did not say this, but his look did, as he turned toward Thad; andthe boy instantly sprang forward to take hold of Cale's other arm. Thegiant, strangely enough, did not seem to offer any objection. Perhaps herealized that he was in a bad way, and that if left to his own devicesmust surely perish there. And life may even have been sweet enough toaccept it at the hands of the man whom he believed had so terriblywronged him in stealing away his girl.
The instant they stepped out of the cabin Thad was appalled at thechange that had taken place. Surely they could not have been inside formore than three minutes at the most; and yet so rapidly had the smokeand fire headed in toward the cabin of Old Cale that it was a fearfulspectacle which burst upon their vision now.
The crackling of the flames, the crash of falling trees, the howl of thewind,--all these made a combination that was deafening. Added to it wasthe fierce glow of the fire itself, rising and falling as new patches ofwoods fell into its never satisfied maw.
Thad began to wonder how it would all end, and whether that wish of histo look on a real forest fire was not going to end in a tragedy. But heshut his teeth hard together, and determined to play his part, as a truescout should.
Jim was still there, and Jim would know what to do. The fire warden ofthe past had learned many ways of outwitting the red-tongued enemy; andthere was hope of escape so long as he could remain on deck.
And so Thad drew in a long breath, half choked as he was, and waited tosee what course the woods' pilot would take.