e fire found the Overland Riders
still fighting, to all appearances, just as stubbornly as when they
began. Their faces were almost unrecognizable, blackened as they were
with smoke and streaked with perspiration. In places, their clothing
showed black where it had been seared or scorched. Emma Dean had, for
the time being, forgotten to listen to the voices of nature, even though
they were sizzling and roaring at her from the far-flung tops of the
giant pines.

At the end of the fourth hour, a great tree came crashing down with a
ripping, rending roar. Another followed it soon after, and at intervals
still other trees lost their foothold and surrendered to their
implacable enemy, _fire_!

It was an awesome sight and the air was full of thrilling sounds. There
was not one of that party of fire fighters that did not feel the awe.
Henry disappeared, and his mistress had no thought for him. She had
been through other forest fires, and, though she worked desperately, she
did so without emotion so far as external appearances indicated.
Hindenburg, on the contrary, was very much in evidence, running up and
down the line, barking at each individual fire fighter and sneezing as
he breathed in the pungent smoke.

The graying dawn found the Overlanders still beating at the flames that
still kept them on the retreat, driving them deeper and deeper into the
forest.

About this time Tom Gray made his second survey. What he found raised
his hopes and his spirits.

"We've flanked it!" he cried. "That old cutting to the left has saved us
on that side."

"Thank Heaven!" answered Grace in a choking voice. "Te--ell the others!"

"We aren't through yet," reminded Tom, hurrying back to give the others
the encouraging news and to urge them to continue their efforts.

Shouts, choking, gasping shouts, greeted the announcement. Then how they
did work, the girls with handkerchiefs stuffed in their mouths, and
Hippy Wingate with a piece of his khaki shirt gripped between his teeth
and partly covering his nostrils as an aid in keeping the smoke out of
his lungs. The throats of all were parched and aching for water, but
there was none to be had near at hand, and no time to go to the river
for it.

At nine o'clock in the morning the forest fire was conquered, after
having burned over several acres of timber. Here and there little blazes
were fanned into life by the morning breeze, but alert eyes discovered,
and ready hands quickly whipped