One thick cedar was blazing away like a torch--the flames far above their heads.
"Let us cut that tree down," ordered Captain Putnam.
Two axes had been brought along, and Dale used one while Peleg Snuggers wielded the other.

Soon the cedar commenced to totter.
"Look out!" cried Captain Putnam, and then crash! the tree came down, directly on top of the tar-barrels.

Up went a thick cloud of smoke and sparks.

But the cadets were ready with dirt and stones, and the danger of a new blaze was quickly averted.
While the tree was being cut down, the cadets and teachers had been busy with pickaxes and shovels, and also with their rakes and wet swabs, and had put out much of the fire elsewhere.

One more tree had to be leveled, and this work was done by Joe and Bart.