"Saw the timbers out from under the horses," advised Jane. "It may
hurt them to drop into the river, but it's better for them to drown
than to be burned alive! Move quickly, now!"
"Janus," muttered the driver, "we're a pair of mutton-heads!"
"We are," agreed the guide, as he ran to get the other saw.
The rasping of the saws began instantly, the Meadow-Brook Girls moving
closer to observe the work, casting frequent apprehensive glances over
their shoulders at the thick cloud of smoke which issued from the
farther end of the bridge. The fire did not appear to be making much
headway, still it did not seem to be abating. Already the framework of
that end of the bridge was outlined like the figure in a set piece of
fireworks. They could hear the crackling of the flames, and the wooden
tunnel was becoming filled with smoke. Tommy was coughing, to remind
her companions that they were in need of other quarters.
"I don't think I would cut the ends off," suggested Harriet. "Saw them
nearly through, then cut the opposite ends. Otherwise you may leave
the animals dangling in the air with no means of helping them out.
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