071-Track of the Zombie by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-07T15:12:08+00:00

Chapter 10

Raging Flames

"It must be another fire!" Joe exploded. "We'd better get there and alert the fire department!"

Without another word to the hermit, the Hardys plunged down the mountainside, tripping and stumbling over creepers, digging in their heels at each jump to keep from falling.

Finally, they came to the trail leading to their car. They jumped in and roared back to the Allen house. When they came closer, they ran into a roadblock set up by the Vermont State Police.

"There's a forest fire up ahead," an officer called out. "The area is cordoned off. It's touch and go whether we can save the Allen house."

"We're friends of Rolf Allen," Frank stated. "May we go through?"

"Not unless you volunteer to assist in putting out the fire," the patrolman warned.

"We'll be glad to volunteer," Joe said quickly. "Okay." The patrolman moved the roadblock. "Go ahead. They can use all the help they can get. Tell Captain Scott I sent you. He'll show you what to do."

The boys drove through and parked within sight of the Allen home. The fire was on the other side, so they ran around the building. The dense smoke made them cough, and they saw angry tongues of flame shoot up among the trees. Leaves were fluttering to the ground from fire-scarred branches. As the boys watched, a tall tree, its trunk nearly burned through, fell over onto its smaller neighbors.

"What an inferno!" Joe exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like this!"

Five engines from Burlington were lined up in the yard, and pickup trucks stood nearby holding machines for spraying antiflame chemicals. Some firemen were hosing down the fire, while others were using bulldozers to clear away the underbrush.

Still others were attacking burning trees with chain saws to make them topple into the conflagration instead of the unburned areas. A helicopter clattering overhead released streams of chemical spray at the most dangerous points.

Members of the state police mingled with firemen in a scene of incessant activity. Finally, the boys found the man in charge.

"Are you Captain Scott?" Frank asked.

"I sure am, but I can't stop to talk. I've got my hands full."

"We're volunteers," Frank said.

"Oh, that's different. Report to the fire chief over there, Chief Bemont. He'll give you your assignments."

The fire chief handed the Hardy's a couple of hard hats and shovels. "Join the gang on the firebreak in front of the house," he instructed them.

The firebreak was a wide swath a number of men were cutting through the underbrush in the path of the fire. "The flames will have nothing to feed on when they reach the firebreak," Bemont explained, "if we get it dug in time. So, get going!"

The Hardys moved into place at the end of the line. To their surprise, the digger next to them was Lonnie Mindo!

"I was at the boardinghouse when the police phoned about the fire," the boy explained. "Rolf was at a rehearsal, so I called the studio and left a message for him. Then I came barreling out here to do whatever I could.

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