midnight
Night came , and the sky was a livid pink . The lake had checked the fire 's advance to the eastward and the wind had driven the flames north toward the mountains . Further and further away traveled the flames painting the sky a sinister color and producing a spectacle that the scouts never forgot . At midnight , though the woods still smoldered , the boys contemplated leaving the shallows in which they had been standing and going ashore , for they argued that if the heat from the embers was not too intense they could work along the margin of the lake until they reached the opposite shore . But while they were contemplating this , off across the lake they saw lights advancing toward them . They heard shouts , too , and they shouted in answer , and it was not long before they had guided a flotilla of small boats toward them . This proved to be a rescuing party organized and headed by the anxious Mr. Ford and old Dr. Lyman , who were almost distracted until they made doubly certain that every lad was safe and whole of limb and body .