ving for a minute than Thad thought he felt
something wet fall on his nose. He could hardly believe it, but when a
second and a third followed, he became positive.

"It's raining, Jim!" he shouted, partly because of his new excitement,
and also on account of the racket the fire caused.

"Thet snow storm's gut 'raound et larst," called back Jim; and Thad knew
from that the heat of the atmosphere had melted the flakes ere they
fell, causing them to turn back into water.

It was all the same though, since both were bitter enemies to fire; and
presently the merry war of the elements, that has gone on since the
world began, would be in full play.

He wished that it would come down as never before; indeed, it would need
to be a record fall, to extinguish those monster flames that were rising
like a red wall over the treetops now. But since the woods beyond would
be undergoing a gradual soaking, possibly the fire might find it more
and more difficult to get a foothold, and finally die out from lack of
fuel.

Thad was astonished at the meekness of the giant. Why, he seemed to have
lost his grip on things, and let them carry him along just as though he
were a big baby. That would seem to indicate he must have been severely
hurt while escaping from the burning forest. For aught they knew he may
have been struck on the head by a falling limb from a tree, which would
account for his dazed condition.

At any rate, it was fortunate for the entire party that this proved to
be so; because any delay at this stage of the game must have proven
fatal.

All of them were panting, but it was more from the intense heat than
weariness. Thad hoped the pond would show up soon. He was half choked
with the smoke, and coughed with nearly every breath. A drink of cool
refreshing water, he believed, would make him feel a thousand per cent
better.

There could no longer be any doubt about the anticipated change in the
wind having taken place; for the fire was certainly coming after them,
full tilt. Jim, too, was beginning to cast glances over his shoulder;
and when a runner does this Thad knew it was a good sign that he is
anxious about something. It may be the presence of a rival sprinter back
of him; in this case that racer was the fire.

"Will we make it, Jim?" Thad found himself just forced to ask, in order
to relieve the terrible sensation of suspense that gripped him.

"Dead sartin!" came the reassuring reply; "thar she be, right naow