Harriet ran to the wagon, followed closely by Miss Elting and Margery.  Tommy alone held back.  Hazel and Jane also hurried forward to assist.

“All those who wish their suppers will have to work,” cried Harriet Burrell.

“We need a fire company more than thupper jutht now,” retorted Tommy Thompson.  “If we had a fire engine we could make thith fire look thick.”

Harriet was in the carry-all passing out bundles and packs.  She dropped a sack of cooking utensils to the floor of the bridge with a great clatter.

“Carry them to land,” she directed Tommy and Hazel.

“There goes the other horse,” cried Miss Elting, as a crash and a great splash for the moment cut short their conversation.  Janus uttered a yell of triumph.

“We got ’em both free!” he shouted.

“That’s what,” agreed Jim.  “We’ll pull the carry-all ashore next.”

“I am afraid we won’t have time.  The fire is almost too near for comfort now,” said Harriet.  Then she darted back to the carry-all to secure a blanket that she recalled had been laid over the back of the front seat of the vehicle, and which had been forgotten when removing the other things.  Reaching the wagon, she decided to take the cushions also.  Then Harriet made a final search of the wagon to be sure that nothing of value had been left.  The carry-all had been well stripped.

The girl sprang out, casting a quick glance overhead, when she discovered, to her dismay, that the flames were already at work, they having rapidly eaten their way along the ridge of the bridge.

“Gracious!  I must get out of here and without a moment’s loss of time,” she cried.

“Hurry!” bellowed the voice of the guide.  “We haven’t time to save the carry-all.  Get out from under.  The bridge is going to fall.”

As Harriet made a dash toward safety the burned end of the bridge fell.  There was a rending noise as the weakened girders gave way under the weight of the bridge.  A shower of sparks and flame shot into the air.

Miss Elting, Jane and the two men stood on shore, shouting with all their might to Harriet Burrell.  But Harriet did not hear their warning shouts, nor had she need of warning.  She knew only too well what was occurring.  Suddenly the long bridge caved in and went down well past the middle with a tremendous crashing and snapping and roaring, sparks and flames shooting still higher than before, the burning timbers hissing and sending up a great cloud of steam as they fell into the river.

Miss Elting, grown dizzy at thought of Harriet, had stumbled and fallen.  Jane McCarthy quickly raised and dragged the guardian away.

“Harriet!” shouted Miss Elting.

The frightened girls took up the cry, but there was no answer.  Harriet had gone down with the burning bridge.

CHAPTER VI