CHAPTER XV.
HEMMED IN.
"We must get to the boat," said Tom.
"Yes, but how?" questioned Jack.
"If only we'd gone to the boat at first instead of bolting in here,we'd have been safe the noo," spoke Sandy.
"That's obvious," agreed Tom, "but having foolishly allowed ourselvesto be bottled up, it's up to us now to devise some means of gettingout."
"Well, we're all open for suggestions," struck in Jack. "Bother thatsmoke, it was that which brought the bears to the hut to investigate."
"No question about that," agreed Tom, "but I've just got an idea,fellows."
"Good, let's have it," chorused his young companions.
"Well, it is granted that we can't stay in here forever."
"Nor even for many more hours," supplemented Jack.
"Very well. Then it is up to us to take a chance on escaping, nomatter how desperate the scheme may appear."
"It's a case of life or death, it seems to me," said Sandy soberly.
"What's your plan?" asked Jack impatiently.
"Just this. We must burn those bears out."
"Burn them out!"
Sandy and Jack stared at the lad, who, by common consent, was theirleader.
"That is what I said. Don't look at me as if I was crazy. This hut issurrounded almost up to its walls by semi-dry grass which ought toburn easily, isn't it?"
"Yes; but I don't see your drift," spoke Jack.
"We'll set the grass on fire. That will drive the bears off, andwhile they are on the run we can make our escape to the boat."
"But the grass will burn all round the hut. How can we get out throughthe flames ourselves?" objected Jack.
"Hold on a minute. Wait till I explain. We can set the grass alight bythrowing out some of the hot brands from our fire."
"Of course, that's easy," assented Jack, and then with the air ofsomebody pronouncing an unanswerable question he went on: "But how areyou going to get your burning embers outside? If you open the door,the bears will rush us at once."
For answer Tom indicated the hole in the top of the roof.
"I must get up there and roll the blazing embers down the roof intothe grass. Then when it is on fire, we'll have to scramble outsomehow, slip down to the boat before the fire surrounds the hut, andthen row out to sea."
"Sounds delightfully easy," said Jack rather sneeringly, for the plandid not appeal to him, "but in the first place, how are you going toget on the roof?"
"The simplest part of it. This hut isn't more than seven feet, or so,high. You 'give me a back' and then I can reach the hole easily andboost myself through."
"Well, I admit that is possible, but after the fire is started, andsupposing everything goes all right, how are Sandy and I going to getup?"
"Sandy is the lightest. He will have to give you 'a back' and I'llhaul you through somehow. Then Sandy must stand up, and together Iguess we can hoist him through without much difficulty."
Jack shrugged his shoulders. Sandy looked dubious.
"I know it's a desperate chance," admitted Tom, "but ours is adesperate situation. Now then, let's lose no time in putting it intoeffect. If it fails, we can't be much worse off."
"No, that is true enough, unless the hut burns down."
"Oh, the damp, thick sod that covers it wouldn't ignite as easily asall that," declared Tom, who was waxing enthusiastic over his plan.
Jack got down on all fours and Tom mounted on his back. He was able inthis way, being a tall boy, to grasp the edges of the hole. This donehe hoisted himself up with his muscular young arms, much as a lad"chins the bar." Once up on the roof, he reached down into the holefor the firebrand, which it had been arranged that Jack was to handup.
He had hardly grasped it when an angry growl from close at handapprised him that the bears had perceived him. There was no time to belost. Raising a wild, blood-curdling yell that awoke the echoes of thecliffs, Tom flung his firebrand down into the thick grass.
Almost instantly it ignited and a thick smoke curled up. The bearssniffed uneasily. Any boy who has seen marsh land burned off in thespring knows how swiftly flames spread among dried grass and weeds.The herbage amidst which Tom had flung the blazing bit of wood provedno exception. Fanned by a brisk breeze it ran literally like wildfireamong the dried grasses. Luckily the wind was from the side of the hutin which Tom was perched and blew toward the bears. As the flamesswept down on them, they uttered loud snorts of terror and turned tailingloriously.
The mother bear, with her frightened cub, was the first to depart, andshe stood not on the order of her going, but galloped off at topspeed. The huge male bear lingered but a few minutes longer, then he,too, fled before the fiery terror which Tom's clever strategem hadkindled.
"Hooray, boys, they're on the run!" shouted Tom, unable to restrainhis enthusiasm.
He swung down his arms and dragged up Jack without much difficulty.Then came Sandy's turn. They had just hauled the Scotch lad to theroof, however, when an alarming thing occurred. The covering of theAleut hut had not been built to withstand any such strain as theweight of the three lads now perched upon it.
Without warning, save for a sharp crack, it suddenly sagged.
"Look out! It's caving in!" roared Tom.
"Cracky, so it is!" echoed Jack as he felt the sod roof begin to sinkunder them.
"Roll!" shouted Tom. "Roll down it!"
He seized Sandy, who appeared to be paralyzed from alarm, and gave hima shove. Down the roof rolled the Scotch lad, landing in a heap on theground, shaken and bruised, but not otherwise injured. Close behindhim came Tom and Jack. Behind them the roof fell in with a roar,leaving a big gaping cavity.
But the boys had no time to notice this just then. Scrambling totheir feet they dashed off toward the beach where the dory lay. Theflames almost reached them as they left the hut. But looking back Tomsaw something worse than the flames pursuing them. They could easilydistance the blazing grass and that gave him no alarm. But what didcause his heart to stand still for an instant and then resume beatingfuriously was the sight of the bears.
They had rallied from their fright and perceived the escape of theboys. Now, skirting the flames by outflanking them, they werelumbering toward the fugitives at a speed that would not have beenthought possible in such bulky creatures.
The Bungalow Boys Along the Yukon Page 15