“I wouldn’t go back there for a thousand dollars!” said Crauthers. Hogan longed to go back, but he lacked the nerve. They all turned on Bunol, whom they reviled for his act. “Yah!” snarled the Spaniard. “You squeal! You just as bad! You send me to do it.” “Get away from us!” said Hogan. “We want nothing more to do with you!” “Perhaps you blow on me?” They made no answer, seeking to hurry from him, but he followed them up. “You blow, I swear I kill you!” he cried. “I swear to do it, and I keep my word! You see! you see!” They had been ascending a hill. Now they turned on him, and, as they did so, a cry of surprise came from the lips of Hogan. “Good Lord, boys!” he exclaimed; “just look there!” They saw him fling his arm out in a gesture toward the distant strip of woods. They looked, and what they saw was startling in the extreme. In the midst of the woods there was a reddish glare which rose and glowed and grew stronger every minute. “The woods are afire!” gasped Crauthers. “Sure thing!” came from the lips of Stark. “Why, how——” “It started from our fire in the Den! When the brands were scattered—that’s what did it!” “Boys,” said Stark chokingly, “Arlington is there in the burning woods! If we had brought him out! Perhaps we can do it now! Come, fellows—come, let’s go back!” They caught hold of him. “Too late!” said Crauthers. “See how the fire is spreading! The wind is driving it. The whole strip of woods will be a mass of roaring flame in a few minutes!” Miguel Bunol stood by, no words falling from his lips. In his heart there was a feeling of relief caused by sight of the rising fire. “If the Spaniard had stayed away——” began Crauthers. Bunol whirled on him. “You first to propose I soak him!” he sneered. “Now you lose nerve! Now you are coward! But fire will wipe all out. It burn so nobody ever prove he was struck. He was caught in fire and couldn’t get out. That is it.” Bunol was too much for them. Bad though they had been, the nerve of the Spanish lad after such a dark deed made him repulsive to them all. “We had better get back to the academy in a hurry,” said Stark. “We don’t want to be out when the excitement over this fire starts. Let’s hustle, fellows.” So they ran over the hill and on toward the academy. Behind them the fire rose and waved gleaming pennants to the clouds, which reflected the red glow. The wind moaned through the night and sent the flames leaping from tree to tree. “We are all murderers!” whispered Crauthers, thinking of the boy left lifeless in the burning woods. CHAPTER XXI—ON THE ACADEMY STEPS They approached the academy cautiously, yet in a hurried manner. Lights were in the barracks windows, suggesting warmth and comfort within. Outside the driving wind was cold and biting. Away to the southwest the burning woods flung a red glow against the clouds, and this light reached even to the academy. They feared the light would betray them as they approached, and they slipped up swiftly.