But they were too late, for on the instant a big flame shot up and all three of the tar-barrels, standing in a close triangle, and filled with dried leaves, commenced to burn furiously.

As the flames shot up among the trees, Ritter and Coulter backed away.
"Good-by to those barrels!" came sorrowfully from Andy.

"We'll not be able to use them for the celebration to-night." "I'll fix you for this, Ritter; and you, too, Coulter!" called out Pepper, bitterly.

"Oh, what luck!" he groaned, as he saw the flames from the tar-barrels climb higher and higher.

"What a grand bonfire they would have made on the lake-front!" "Boys, this fire is dangerous!" ejaculated Jack.
"What do you mean ?" came from the others.
"It is going to set fire to the woods! See, the dried leaves are catching already! If it reaches yonder cedars there will be a terrible conflagration here!" "Phew! that's true!" came from Pepper.