Page:Bedford-Jones--Boy Scouts of the Air at Cape Peril.djvu/170

 flames. Fanned by the full sweep of the wind, the blaze soon had the partition wall in its embrace.

"Burn, for heaven's sake, burn quick!" Turner exhorted the fire.

Before many moments had passed, his eager wish was gratified. The flames rose high above the smoke, licking up the dry, mouldering wood. It was merely the question of a short time before the whole building would be in flames—one huge, roaring bonfire.

"Now," shouted Turner, his duty here discharged. "That'll help a little while and may save a ship. Here, let's beat it."

He had already moved off, and, with his back to the blaze, was scanning the ocean eagerly. Seeing nothing, he started off at a trot, axe in one hand and flash-light in the other. The boys and Luke tried to keep pace, the mulatto in a state of superstitious tremor at the whole proceedings.

"This come o' them boys diggin' up them bones befo' their time," was his conclusion.

At a high point of the way, Turner halted for a moment and gazed seaward.