X: Catching the Firebugs
RIGHT THEN AND THERE we held a council of war, and decided that I was to tell as little as possible of our troubles and our plans. I then went to the telephone and called the Supervisor: “How about it — I suppose the rain has already killed the fires?”
“All but the dead, pitchy trees and logs; they are still burning,” he answered.
“But they will soon burn out. We are out of provisions. May I have a couple of days off, to go for some?”
“Yes! Sure! The forest is already so well soaked that those firebugs can’t do any more damage for a time, two days, anyhow.”
“All right! We’ll leave here early in the morning. I don’t have to ring you up again, do I?”
“No. This is Tuesday. I give you off from now until Friday evening. You be back to your station at that time and
