The things the children had brought with them were gathered up, and the start for the Wilbur lodge was made without further delay. "Give me a piggy-back?" asked Bertie of Owen, and the young lumberman did so, while little Gertrude was accommodated in a similar fashion by Dale. This lasted until the party had a rough mountain path to climb down. "We didn't come this way," said Bertie. "If you went around this hill you had a long walk," said Owen. "This is the nearest way to your home." The smoke was now growing thicker and thicker, while the wind increased steadily. Then of a sudden a hundred sparks appeared to fly around and over them, setting fire to the forest in a dozen places. "This won't do!" ejaculated Dale. "It's getting altogether too close for comfort!" "You're right; we've got to hustle, or we'll be scorched sure," answered Owen. "Oh, the fire!" screamed Gertrude, as a spark fell on her hand. And dropping her doll, she began to suck the blistered spot. The two young lumbermen caught up the children once more and set off as fast as the nature of the trail permitted. The fire behind was now coming closer, and they could hear the roaring and crackling of the flames distinctly. Both Bertie and Gertrude were badly frightened and cried loudly, while they dropped everything they carried. Then Owen tripped and fell, and lost his gun, but did not give it a second thought. "We can't get to the lodge, that's sure," said Dale. "The fire is coming between us and that spot." "Make for Pine Tree Lake!" cried Owen. "It's our only hope. If we don't reach it we'll be burned up!" CHAPTER XVI PURSUED BY THE FOREST FIRE Both the young lumbermen realized their peril fully and spurted down the hillside and through the forest at the best speed they could command. On every side of them were tall pines, spruces, and other trees, with here and there a patch of brushwood. The fire caught each tree as if by magic, and the flames would run up from roots to top with the rapidity of lightning, and then the tree would resemble some giant torch. Sometimes a tree in the rear would burst open with the report of a pistol, sending forth a new shower of sparks, which the wind caught and wafted still further to the front of the conflagration. The fire had reached more than one wild animal, and the young lumbermen caught sight of wolves, foxes, and deer running madly to escape the flames. The birds also flew around, uttering wild notes of distress as they saw their nests destroyed. Long before the shore of Pine Tree Lake was reached, the fire appeared to be at their very heels. The sparks flew all around them, landing on their hands and necks, and occasionally drifting directly into their faces. To protect the children they carried the little ones close to their breasts, yet they did not escape altogether, and added their shrieks of fear and anguish to the general excitement.