Two Young Lumbermen by Edward Stratemeyer

Both the young lumbermen realized their peril fully and spurted down the hillside and through the forest at the best speed they could command.

On every side of them were tall pines, spruces, and other trees, with here and there a patch of brushwood. The fire caught each tree as if by magic, and the flames would run up from roots to top with the rapidity of lightning, and then the tree would resemble some giant torch. Sometimes a tree in the rear would burst open with the report of a pistol, sending forth a new shower of sparks, which the wind caught and wafted still further to the front of the conflagration.

The fire had reached more than one wild animal, and the young lumbermen caught sight of wolves, foxes, and deer running madly to escape the flames. The birds also flew around, uttering wild notes of distress as they saw their nests destroyed.

Long before the shore of Pine Tree Lake was reached, the fire appeared to be at their very heels. The sparks flew all around them, landing on their hands and necks, and occasionally drifting directly into their faces. To protect the children they carried the little ones close to their breasts, yet they did not escape altogether, and added their shrieks of fear and anguish to the general excitement.

"Oh, please take me away! " wailed Bertie. "I'll promise never to run away again, never!"

"Oh, my hand is burnt! " screamed Gertrude. "Take me to mamma! Take me to mamma! " And she continued to scream until she was exhausted, when she lay limp in Dale's arms.

At last they could see the lake far ahead through the trees. Here was a bluff, standing out fifteen feet above the water, and partly overgrown with trees and bushes.

A puff of wind caused the sparks to whirl all around them, and each staggered for a moment as he came out on the bluff. To both Dale and Owen it seemed at that instant as if the whole world was on fire.

"Jump! Don't wait! Jump! " yelled Owen hoarsely, and then, with the fire fairly roaring at his heels, each leaped into the lake with his burden.

It was a sudden plunge, especially for the children, and each spluttered and kicked wildly when going under the surface. But the plunge extinguished the sparks that clung to all, and for the time being they were safe, so far as being burnt was concerned.

Just beyond the bluff the lake was fully fifty feet deep, so Dale and Owen knew that, if they wished to save the children and themselves from drowning, they would either have to swim to the opposite shore or to the island upon which grew the giant pine. The fire was already running all along the edge of the bluff, and threatened to cross the cove, on the opposite shore of which was located the Wilbur lodge.

Each of the young lumbermen could have swum to the island with ease had he been alone. But with an excited and kicking child in his arms it was not so easy.

"Take me out of the water! " spluttered Gertrude. "Take me out!"

"We'll be drowned! " came from Bertie. "Oh, please put me on the shore, please!"

"We'll take care of you, only keep quiet," said Dale. "We can't carry you if you kick like that."

"And you mustn't hold too tight," put in Owen, for Bertie had him by the throat in the tightest clutch his little hands could command.

But the children were too young to understand the situation, and they continued to cry and kick and hold on as tightly as ever. All Dale and Owen could do was to tread water, and more than once it looked as if they would go down after all. Swimming from the vicinity of the bluff was out of the question, and now the sparks and flying embers began to come down around them, hissing and steaming as they fell.

"We've got to do something," came desperately from Owen. "Let us try our best to reach the island."

"Yes, put me on the island," said Bertie eagerly.

"Then keep real quiet and I will, Bertie."