Over the roar of the fire, Mike heard Ben shout, "Hurry! The fire is almost on us!" Mike's arms were sore and tired, but he swung his axe even faster. He didn't even stop to wipe the tears from his stinging eyes. The greedy fire kept coming. The more the fire destroyed, the more it wanted. Mike worked shoulder to shoulder with the other smokejumpers to build a firebreak. His only thought was to stop the flaming monster that was raging through the forest.

At last, the smoke jumpers finished the firebreak. If the fire were powerful enough, it would jump over the firebreak that they had worked so hard to make. Then they would have to start all over again. Mike stood motionless, his face black with ash, his shirt wet with sweat. He was too exhausted to move because he had given all of himself to fighting the fire. He turned his head and noticed Ben watching him.

Suddenly all that Ben had taught Mike about proving his bravery was clear. A man was not brave if he did something just to prove his courage. He was brave only when he forgot about himself. Today Mike had showed that he cared very much about the others with whom he was working.