The High School Boys Training Hike | Page 5

There was still time for the two children to jump over the side on which

the flames had not yet appeared, but they were too badly frightened to
know what to do.
If they should jump where the flames were leaping up they were almost
certain to have their clothing catch fire, with fatal burns as a result.
Dick felt that he did not have time to shout to the frightened children.
Besides, his commands would likely serve only to confuse them the
more.
Terror-stricken the two little ones clasped each other and stood
screaming with fear on the top of the load.
Dick's quick eye had taken in the only chance in this terrifying
situation.
Straight for the apple tree he bounded, his first leap carrying him into a
crotch in the tree a few feet above the ground.
Out he sprang, now, on a limb of the tree that most nearly overhung the
load of hay.
That limb sagged under him---creaked---threatened to snap off under
his weight.
But young Prescott, wholly heedless of his own safety, and with only
one object in mind, scrambled out on the creaking limb as far as he
could; then, with a prayer on his lips, he made a wild, strenuous leap.
Sub-master Luce turned white as he saw what Dick had attempted to do.
Had he been made of more timorous stuff the high school teacher
would have closed his eyes for that awful instant.
As it was, John Luce saw young Prescott land at the rear end of the
load.
Dick felt himself slipping. For one frenzied second, he feared that he
had failed. Young Strongheart that he was, he braced all his muscles for
the supreme effort---and drew himself up to safer footing on the hay.

Then, like an eagle, he swooped down upon the children. The little girl
he snatched from her tiny brother's clasp.
"Here!" called Sub-master Luce from the further side.
Brief as the time was Dick Prescott calculated the distance like
lightning. There was no time to call back to Mr. Lucen---nor need to do
so.
Aiming with all the precision at his command, Dick threw the child
from him.
His aim splendidly true, he had the joy of seeing the child land in Mr.
Luce's arms.
Without a moment's loss of time Prescott now snatched up the
shrieking boy.
"Ready!" shouted Dick, and a second little body was thrown through
the air.
Again did John Luce do credit to his college baseball training, for,
hurriedly placing the girl baby on the ground he put up his hands to
receive the boy.
"Jump yourself, Prescott!" bawled the submaster hoarsely.
But Dick was already in the air. With the flames shooting up and
seeming fairly to lick his face, Dick had had no time to calculate his
jump.
On the ground, some feet beyond the wagon, Prescott landed,
sprawling on all fours.
He leaped up, however, his face twitching yet with a laugh on his lips.
Behind him the whole load of hay now flared up, crackling and hissing.
"Hurry back out of the heat!" yelled John Luce, leaping forward,

seizing young Prescott and dragging him several yards away.
Dick turned in time to see the whole glowing mass cave in.
Had he arrived on the scene a few seconds later than he did both
children would have perished miserably.
Now, from the house came a white-faced man, running as though some
demon animated him. Behind him came a woman even paler.
Toward father and mother ran the pair of little tots, wholly unmindful
of their rescuers.
As for the older, match-burning boy, that youngster half scared to death,
had dashed away into hiding to escape the wrath that he knew must
soon seek him.
"That was simply magnificent, Prescott!" said the sub-master
enthusiastically. "But I honestly believed that it would be your last
good deed."
While the sub-master spoke he was running both hands up and down
over the high school boy's clothing, putting out many glowing sparks
that had found lodgment in the cloth.
"It was easy," smiled Dick. "Thank goodness I saw the trouble in time!"
"There are others who are thankful that you saw it in time," uttered
John Luce, as he looked toward the parents, now coming up as fast as
they could, each with a child clasped in arms.
From the road went up a loud cheer. The trolley car had been halted
and backed down to the scene. Though there were few people on the
car, they made up amply in enthusiasm for their lack of numbers.
As for the farmer and his wife, though they tried to thank Dick and Mr.
Luce, they were too completely overcome with emotion to express
themselves intelligibly.

The wagon that had held the hay was now blazing