from scattered, far-flung homes to the south and
joined the five. Two hills stood between them and Sixth Lake, where
the Chain began and stretched away to the west. If they could hold
the fire to the north of these two hills then it would sweep along the
north side of the lakes and the other half of the country would be
safe.

The first hill was easy. They took their stand along its crest. The
five weary, scarred, singed men, their voices gone, their swollen
tongues protruding through their splitting lips, took new strength
from the help that had come to them. They fought the enemy back down
the north side of the hill, foot by foot, steadily, digging with
charred sticks and throwing earth and small stones down upon it.

They were beating it at last! Only another hill like this and their
work would be done. They would strike the lake and water. Water! God
in Heaven! Water! A whole big lake of it! To throw themselves into it!
To sink into its cool, sweet depth! And to drink, and drink and
_drink_!

Between the two hills ran a deep ravine heavy with undergrowth. Here
was the worst place. Here they stood and ran shoulder to shoulder,
fighting waist deep in the brush and long grass, the hated breath of
the fire in their nostrils. And they held their line. They pushed the
fire on past the ravine and up the north slope of the last hill. They
had won! It could not beat them now!

As he came around the brow of the hill and saw the shining body of the
placid lake below him one of the new men, who still had voice, raised
a shout. It ran back along the line, even the five who had no voice
croaking out what would have been a cry of triumph.

But the wind heard them and laughed. Through the ravine which they had
safely crossed with such mighty labour the playful wind sent a merry,
flirting little gust, a draught. On the draught the lingering flames
went dancing swiftly through the brush of the ravine and spread out
around the southern side of the hill. Before the men could turn, the
thing was done. The hill made itself into a chimney and the flames
went roaring to the top of it.

The men fled over the ridge of the hill and down to the south, to get
themselves out of that encircling death.

When they were beyond the circle of fire on that side, they saw the
full extent of what had befallen them in what had been their moment of
victory.

Not only would the fire come south of the lake and the Chain--but they
themselves could