The blaze was larger than he thought. For half a mile's length,
at least, the smoke was rising, and what was beyond he could not rightly
see, because the branches of a large tree obscured his sight.
Immediately below him, the little gully, whose curving course had turned
him from the straight path, seemed to be the edge of the flames, which
had not been able to back up over the water. On this side, clear down to
the water's edge the forest floor was burning, but how wide a stretch
had been burned over he could not see. Once on the other side of the
gully he would be able to judge better what to do.
Below his horse neighed shrilly.
Looking straight down, Wilbur noted a long rolling curl of smoke steal
swiftly along the ground a few hundred yards away, and he saw there was
no time to lose. Springing from the branch to the trunk of the tree, he
started to climb down. But he was over-hurried, and his feet slipped. It
was only a foot at most, and Wilbur was not easily frightened, but he
turned cold and sick for an instant as he looked below and saw the
height from which he so nearly had fallen. Minutes, nay seconds, were
precious, but he crawled back upon the branch and sat still a moment to
steady his nerves. So startling a shock for so small a slip! He felt
thoroughly ashamed of himself, but it had been quite a jolt.
Again the horse neighed, and the fear in the cry was quite unmistakable.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233