A FIRE-AND-WATER MEDLEY 159 



on a line were sizzling, and two rubber coats that 

 were burning gave out a suffocating odor. The cabin 

 was as inflammable as tinder, its roof being of birch 

 bark and full of resinous oils. The wooden chimney 

 was now on fire from top to bottom, and the sides of 

 the cabin a hissing sheet of flame ; so there was no 

 time to do much thinking. 



I rushed out into the rain in bare feet, grabbed 

 two buckets of water that fortunately stood near the 

 camp and handed them to my companion, who was 

 still lustily yelling " Fire ! " I then ran to an outside 

 camp-fire, where I found a kettle full of water. The 

 guides in the meantime had been aroused and were 

 now throwing the water upon the sides and roof. 

 Their efforts were successful, and the fire subsided 

 almost as quickly as it had started. 



Since this incident I am not surprised to learn that 

 there are numerous fires, with many casualties, every 

 fall and winter in these dangerously combustible build- 

 ings that are in use all through the lumber district of 

 the province of New Brunswick. Not many years 

 ago three young men were roasted to death in just 

 such a fire trap as ours, and not one of the three had 

 been able to reach the door before death overtook 

 him. One of the victims had apparently gotten up 

 from his bed of boughs, made a step toward the 

 door, and then stumbled and perished in the flames. 

 The other two in their agony had tried to get up, 



