Advancing cautiously, the ranch owners and their men were beginning to wonder if they could have mistaken the direction of the signals when they heard the call again.

“That’s back of us,” declared Pete.

Instantly the others turned in their saddles, and as they did so the flames bounded into the air.

“They fooled us good and plenty!” growled Nails, while all the boys glared at the foreman of the Three Stars Ranch.

“They did,” asserted Mr. Wilder grimly, “but it’s no use talking about it now.  We’ve got all we can do to get away from the fire.”

In terror the boy chums watched the flames spread as if by magic till in a few minutes a towering wall of fire was racing toward them.

“Shall we start a back fire?” asked Bill.

“No use,” returned several of the cowboys, “the wind’s in the wrong direction.”

“Then we’ve got to ride for it,” asserted Snider.

Well did the cowboys realize the danger, and with might and main they urged their ponies, each one bent only on saving himself.

For a time the two brothers and Horace kept pace with them, but they were not skilled in the fine art of getting the most out of their ponies when the animals began to tire, and it was not long before they found themselves dropping behind.

“Wait for us!” shouted Horace as he noticed the distance that separated them constantly increasing.

For a moment it seemed to the terrified lads that their cry had not been heard, yet just when they began to despair three horses dropped behind, and as the boys came up with them they recognized the two ranch owners and Pete.

“Take Horace, Pete; Snider, Tom; I’ll take Larry,” commanded Mr. Wilder, and each of the men leaped their horses to seize the bridle of the boy indicated.

Not more than two miles behind them was the terrible wall of fire.  In front of it coyotes and all other animals of the plains were In full flight, their cries of fear or pain as they fell victims to the all-devouring flames now and then rising above the sullen roar.

“Oh, it’s gaining! it’s gaining!” wailed Horace.

“Don’t look behind.  Keep your eyes in front and ride!” commanded his father.

Sparks borne by the wind began to fall all about, now and then starting blazes which the cowboys put out by beating with their blankets where they could, yet none checked his speed.  To the hot air was added smoke, and men and horses were breathing with difficulty, gasping and coughing.

“If you’ve got handkerchiefs, jam them in your mouths!” cried Snider.

Nearer, ever nearer drew the wall of flame.  It seemed to the chums that they must be breathing fire, so did the air burn their mouths.

Time and again they swayed in their saddles and would have fallen had it not been for the men beside them, who had let go the bridles to steady the boys, at the same time rowelling their own mounts.