ard siding.
Stumbling over the rails, partially blinded with the now stinging smoke,
both suddenly ran into something, and fell in a heap. Scrambling to their
feet, they found an old push-car, with low sides.

Alex uttered a cry. "Jack, why can't we make a dash down the spur with
this old car--pushing it? And say, couldn't we lift it onto the main-line
rails, and run all the way home?"

Jack hesitated. "Look there," he said, pointing to the wall of smoke into
which the track disappeared a hundred yards away. "And wouldn't there be
burned-down trees across the rails?"

"No; not yet. The fire hasn't been burning long enough. And as to the
smoke, it'll soon be just as bad on the river," Alex declared.

"All right. Let us try it. But first, let us jump in the river and get
good and wet," suggested Jack.

"Good idea! Come on!

"Or; wait!" exclaimed Alex. "Another idea. There is an old rubbish pile
just over here, and a lot of tin cans. Let us get some, and fill them
with water--to keep our handkerchiefs wet, to breathe through."

They turned aside, quickly found and secured several empty cans each, and
ran on. Reaching the water, they dropped the cans on the bank, and
plunged in bodily.

As Alex had said, the water was intensely cold, and despite the relief to
their eyes from the smoke, they clambered out again immediately, hastily
filled the tins, and only pausing to tie their dripping handkerchiefs
over their mouths, dashed back for the siding.

"You help me start her, Jack," directed Alex as they placed the cans of
water in the forward end of the car, "and when we reach the edge of the
woods, jump in. I'll run it the first spell, then you can relieve me.
That way we can keep it going at a good clip.

"All ready? Let her go!" With bowed heads they threw themselves against
the little car, the rusty wheels began to screech; rapidly they gained
headway, and soon were on the run.

They neared the smoke-hidden border of the clearing.

[Illustration: WITH A RUSH THEY DASHED INTO THE WALL OF SMOKE.]

"Jump in, Jack!" cried Alex. Jack sprang over the tail-board and threw
himself flat on his face, and with a rush they dashed into the wall of
smoke.

Rumbling and screeching, the car sped onward. Alex began to feel the
heat. Suddenly it swept over them like the breath of a furnace, and there
came a mighty roar.

They were in the midst of the flames.

"Are you all right, Alex?" cried Jack.

"Yes." A moment later,