Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/187

 it would eat upward and end in raging at their backs.

Fortunately for them the swamp land in front was crescent in shape, its horns reaching almost to the ledges. The back fire quickly reached the half-breed’s conflagration and died down and the ends of the fiery menace were quickly subdued.

“Boys,” Abner panted; “ye’ve had a mighty narrer escape. If it comes nat’ral to ye to say prayers at night, ye’d better throw in a few thanks fer to-day. I’m going to fer one. But by jing! I’d had that Nick if I’d had a bullet. The sight was just between his shoulders.”

“Would you have killed him?” cried Stanley in a horrified voice.

“Would I have killed him?” roared Abner. Then speaking very daintily, “O no. I’d write a letter to the city and ask them to send up a policeman to arrest him for burning me up.” Then exploding again, “Why, younker, do ye s’pose there’s a man in the woods but what would shoot him down like a mad wolf if he caught him trying to burn up timber, let alone trying to burn up men?”

“Well, he failed and I’m glad you didn’t kill him,” said Stanley.