That"s the reason they can stay in there so long. We should have thought of that before."
"They"ll soon be out," spoke Hawkins a trifle grimly. "The fire is reaching the lower story. We may expect a rush any minute now."
The men were standing in a group at the edge of the trees. With the house directly in front of them, and the country about perfectly flat, there was no chance of anyone escaping unseen. The flames mounted higher. There was a certain amount of awe in the faces of all as they thought of the tortures a person would endure if he were trapped in that furnace. And for all they knew, men might be burning to death in front of them! It was a harrowing situation. Even though they had shot Billee Dobb, it was an inhuman thing to wish, or even think, of them being caught in a burning building.
If they would only come out, even though they came shooting! Bud saw a huge tongue of flame shoot out of the roof.
"I can"t stand this any longer!" he shouted. "Those men must be burning to death! I can"t stay here and watch that. I"m going to----"
"But what can you do?" Nort asked. "They want to stay there until they"re good and ready to leave. I don"t see how we can help them.
Certainly I don"t want to see anyone burned to death, but I don"t think we can do anything, except go in and get them, which we can"t do; and if they won"t come out, they won"t."
"Perhaps they"re trapped!"
"You"d know it if they were. They"d yell or something. No matter how much they want to escape, they won"t risk getting burned. No man would."
"Then why don"t they come out?" Bud persisted.
"Ask me something easier! Maybe the Mex can tell us something about it. Hey, Mex! Why they no come out?"
But this time the cook shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands wide in a gesture expressing ignorance. They could get no information there.
"I"m going to ride over and see!" Bud exclaimed, a ring of determination in his voice.
"Well, if you want to--then I"ll go with you. Kind of wonder where they are myself." This from Nort.
They had to force their horses to head toward the fire. The sparks were flying high, and the heat could be plainly felt even at the distance the boys stood. But finally Bud and Nort got the ponies started.
The animals approached the fire with mincing steps. The boys had to force them continually onward, for no beast will go toward fire willingly. A few more steps and Nort said:
"Say, Bud, there"s not much point in this. The broncs will never go near enough for us to see anything. What say we get off and walk? I don"t think there"s much chance of Delton shooting at us. If we really want to find out anything we better get off these horses."
"Guess that"s right," agreed Bud as his mount reared high. "Fast, though--snap to it, Nort!"
The boys turned their ponies away from the fire and rode swiftly back.
They dismounted and without hesitation, ran again to the burning house.
They made for the side, from where the Mexican cook had staggered out.
"There ought to be an entrance to the cellar about here," Bud panted as he ran on. "The Mex said they were down there!"
As they neared the building they saw that this was so. A small door indicated the way to the cellar. The heat was tremendous, and Nort wondered if their errand hadn"t been in vain. It didn"t seem possible that there living creatures were voluntarily remaining within.
Just as Nort was about to tell Bud his thought, a figure emerged and staggered toward them. It was the man who had protested at Delton"s treatment of Bud when the boy had been taken, bound, to this very house. The man was in sad case. His breath was coming in sobs, and he maintained an upright position only by a supreme effort. One side of his face was badly burned.
"Help--" he gasped. "Help--men in there----"
"What is it? Speak quick!" Bud commanded. "Can"t they get out? Are they in danger?"
"Trapped! Delton--in there--can"t move--hit on the head----"
The next moment the man collapsed at their feet, unconscious.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE RATTLING BUCKBOARD
"Quick, Nort! Pull him back out of the heat and call the others!
We"ve got to save those men!"
"What"s the matter?" d.i.c.k cried as he came up. "Aren"t they out of that furnace yet?"
"No--they"re trapped inside! We"ve got to get them out! Billee Dobb--is--is he dead?"
"No--he"s better! He insisted on my coming over when he saw the smoke.
Thought I might be needed. No time for talk now--we"ve got to get busy!"
"It"s sure death to enter that!" Hawkins cried as another huge tongue of flame shot heavenward, sending the boys reeling back. "You"ll only throw your lives away!"
"I can"t help it--we must do something! We can"t see them burned to death!"
At that moment Bud felt a tug at his sleeve. He jerked around. At his elbow was the Mexican cook. He motioned to himself, then toward the cellar. Then he leaped forward.
"Follow him!" Bud cried. "He knows how to get in safely!"
With a rush the others were on the heels of the Mexican.
"Someone has got to stay here--help them out if we do get them!"
exclaimed Hawkins. "Nort--you and d.i.c.k wait!"
Bud was directly behind the Mexican. He saw the man disappear down into the smoke, and taking a full breath, the boy followed. He found himself below ground, and for a moment hesitated to get his bearings.
The air was choking, but the heat was not intolerable. The fire had not quite reached the lower floor.
There was no time to be lost, for any minute the building might collapse and bury them. Bud plunged on. He could see faintly now, and he caught a glimpse of a figure in front of him, beckoning.
"Go--ahead!" the boy gasped. "Coming!"
A few steps further and he stumbled against a door. At his side was the Mexican, pointing. Bud pushed frantically, but the door refused to budge. Then he found the reason. It was bolted.
"You--you locked them in! You inhuman----"
He saw the Mexican shrug his shoulders. Even in the burning building the Latin"s philosophical mind did not desert him.
Bud struggled with the bolt. It stuck. He strove with all his strength--and the door flew open. The boy stumbled in. His foot struck a body stretched upon the floor.
He reached down and lifted the unconscious man to his shoulder. Behind him he heard a voice. It was that of Yellin" Kid.