FUR FACTS 285 



offer. So on the morning of the 23rd, Bud and I pushed off down 

 Salt River, determined to live with the fur-bearers for another season. 



Selecting for our temporary headquarters the remotest spot from 

 civilization that we could find, we pitched our tent as the shades of 

 evening drew on, and slept unmolested all night. 



The next morning, however, we were startled to find the woods 

 full of smoke, which continued to grow denser every minute. Sus- 

 pecting that it might be a forest fire, we hastily finished our break- 

 fast and started on our way down the river which was very narrow 

 at that point. The density of the smoke increased as we progressed 

 and breathing became extremely difficult. At length we came around 

 a sharp bend in the stream which brought us in full view of the on- 

 coming conflagration. Borne on a brisk breeze, the flames were 

 spreading rapidly bringing death and destruction to everything in 

 their path. We quickly made a landing, and tying a rope to our 

 canoe, hoisted it up over the bank. As it would be out of the question 

 to carry aU our equipment, we decided to leave it in the canoe and 

 drag the canoe along behind us. This we proceeded to do, making 

 our way as rapidly as our luggage would permit, toward the open 

 country. The fire was following us with terrific speed; bits of burn- 

 ing wood and leaves had already started a fire in the underbrush on 

 our side of the river and the flames licking up the small bushes and 

 trees. 



We saw that we could no longer afford to encumber ourselves 

 with the canoe, so we took what few articles we could conveniently 

 carry and started running. Even then, we were forced to maintain 

 a very moderate pace, as the forest was extremely dense and there 

 was a likelihood of colliding with the trees. The open section of the 

 country did not appear as soon as we expected — in fact, it did not 

 appear at all, and we began to feel that we were hopelessly lost. 



Despite the fact that we were going as fast as we possibly could, 

 the roaring flames crept nearer and burning sticks fell aroimd us, 

 igniting the leaves around our feet. 



A pack of frightened wolves came rushing by without giving us 

 so much as a passing glance. 



The smoke was becoming suffocatingly dense and the roar of the 

 flames beat upon our ears with increasing fury. My breath was 

 coming shorter and sharp pains pricked my left side. I noticed too, 

 that Bud, while straining every nerve and muscle to increase his 

 speed, was slowly dropping behind. His nose was bleeding, also, 

 and the crimson stream coursing down his chm and spattering his 



