CHAPTER XII.
AN ALARM AND A WELCOME.
When Tom and Joe made the disheartening discovery that in spite of all their efforts the fire was burning inside the hammock, they felt like giving up in despair, and seeking another refuge.
"But then Sam would never find us," said Tom, "even if he gets back.

He will find this place burned up and think the Indians have killed us all.
We _must_ put this fire out, Joe, if it takes a week." And straightway the boys began again, saturating large armfuls of moss with water and laying them on top of the drift whenever the blaze showed itself.

Heart-pine burns rapidly with a great blaze and much smoke, but it makes no coals, and a gallon of water will sometimes stop the burning of a great log of it, instantly.

Every armful of wet moss therefore had an immediate and perceptible effect which greatly encouraged the boys.

They worked hour after hour, not succeeding in putting the fire out, indeed, but managing to check it very decidedly, and better than all, to keep it away from the trees and from the alley-way leading to their hiding-place.