Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/164

146 it into the bush as he ran. He fancied he could hear the crackle of flames above the hoarse roar of the fire. The smoke thickened until the air of the valley became almost unbreathable, like the air of the ridge he had left. He passed the place where the "prospector" had cached his pick and gold-pan. The cabin was not far, now. He dashed the smoke-stinging tears from his streaming eyes. His breath came in great sobs, and he coughed the smoke from his lungs. Suddenly a great wave of heat all but overpowered him. The mountain that formed the south wall of the valley was a solid mass of fire. The crackling of flames was real, now. It was everywhere. Great flaring sheets detached themselves, and hurtled through the air high above him. Pockets of gas exploded into red flame and tore great rifts in the writhing smoke cloud. The heat was intense. Gasping for air, Connie ran on, the sweat streaming from every pore. His blouse smoked, and he slapped at his shoulder. The flames had leaped the valley and already the north wall was ablaze. Even the scrub of the bottom was burning in places. The boy dashed into the clearing and crossed at a bound to the door of the cabin.