"There isn't much more we can get out," called Bert in answer. "It's
getting pretty hot here. Guess we'll have to leave, now."
He and Vincent turned to descend the inner stairs, by which they had
entered. As they did so there was a crash, and the forward part of the
roof fell in. An instant later the stairway was buried put of sight
under a mass of blazing wood.
"We can't get out that way!" cried Vincent. "We're caught in a trap!"
"The big doors!" replied Bert. "We can jump out, just like the horses
did."
"That's so! Come on! I guess the mud won't hurt us!" They turned to
that side of the barn, but to their horror they saw a stream of fire
pouring down over the opening, as a cataract of water flows over the
edge of a fall. To escape they would have to jump through the flames.
CHAPTER III
TALKING IT OVER
What had happened was this. There was loose hay and straw in the upper
part of the barn. The flames, eating up and along the roof, had burned
into this, until the whole mass was ablaze.
Then, as the upper part of the side of the barn, above the big open
doors, was burned through, the burning hay and straw began falling
into the cowyard.
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