But this he could not do, and, when he called Maka, the negro was not able to help him.

The fire had worked its way back of the green vines, and seemed to have found good fuel, for it was soon crackling away at a great rate, attracting the rest of the party.
"Can't we put it out ?" cried Miss Markham.

"It is a pity to ruin those beautiful vines." The captain smiled and shook his head.

"We cannot waste our valuable water on that conflagration," said he.

"There is probably a great mass of dead vines behind the green outside.