The wind howled around the
house and whistled through dozens of cracks and chinks that had opened in
the walls. All that we could do, therefore, was to turn back to the island
and make the best of our straw hut again. On the way, however, we stopped
at Lumberville for some straw to be used for bedding. The afternoon was
spent sailing around on Lake Placid and the large smooth stretch above the
island.
A Costly Camp Fire.
[Illustration: Bill Gets Tangled up with His Skis.]
[Illustration: Warming the Lunch on a Cold Day.]
After supper Bill and Reddy went into the hut to arrange the straw
bedding, while the rest of us gathered wood for a huge bonfire in front of
the hut. The wind was blowing right down the river and we expected it to
carry the warmth of the fire into the hut. The fire was built some distance
in front of the doorway, so as to prevent the hut from catching fire. But
we had evidently miscalculated the strength of the wind, for no sooner
was the fire fairly started than a shower of flaming brands was blown
right into the hut. In a moment the straw blazed up, cutting off all escape
for Bill and Reddy. Fortunately the framing was not strong and the frost
had loosened up the foundations, so that a few frantic kicks opened an
exit in the rear of the hut just in time to save our comrades from
cremation.
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