Part 2 (1/2)

CHAPTER II

IN PERIL

Accompanied by several men and boys, Bert ran toward the barn The whole front, and part of the roof, were now blazing The structure was beyond saving, as far as anything the bucket brigade could do, but the members of that primitive fire department did not stop

The buckets were passed from hand to hand, but such was the haste that a full bucket seldom reached the end of the line Usually about half the fluid was spilled And what little did get there was ainst the side of the barn that was not yet burning, though fro before it burst into fla of the horses, tied in their stalls Their cries eird and terrifying, for a horse seldoives expression to its fear in that et 'em out!” called Constable Stickler, who had heard what had been said He left his supervision of the bucket brigade and ran alongside of the boy ”The fire's all around 'e to try,” declared Bert

”My fine horses!” exclaimed Mr Stimson ”This means a terrible loss to me!”

”Is the barn insured?” asked the constable

”Yes, but my stock ain't Oh, this is a terrible calamity! An awful misfortune!”

Bert approached as closely as he dared to the blazing front of the barn Clearly no one could enter that way But he knew the structure well, for he had once helped Mr Stiet in his hay, when a shoas threatened

”Come around to the side door!” he called to those who followed him, and, such was the effect of his leadershi+p, that no one now thought of questioning it In times of excitement one cool head can do much, and Bert was cool

Beside the main entrance to the barn, which was up an elevated driveway, there was a door opening into a sort of basement, and from that, by means of stairs, the main floor of the barn, where the horses were, could be reached This door was locked, but Bert s stone, since Mr Stimson was too much excited to remember where the key had been placed

”Come on!” cried the boy

”You can't take the horses down these stairs,” said the constable, as he and several other men followed Bert

”No Don't try it,” added the far to,” said Bert ”Couldn't if I wanted to The stairs are too narrow and steep Hey, Cole,” he called to his chum, ith Vincent had left the now utterly useless bucket brigade lines, ”you slip around and let out the cows Mr Stiit the cows out!”

The coere kept in the base on the other side, level with the ground The flames had not eaten down, as yet, and the coere found patiently chewing their cud It did not take long for Mr Stiet them out

With the horses it was a hly nervous ani now broken their halters, and they could be heard tra, and the animals were confined by the flait theinning to have his own doubts But he had a plan which he wished to try

”Come on, Vincent,” he called to his chum ”You kno to handle horses, don't you?”

”Sure”

By this time the two boys and the constable had reached the head of the stairs, and were inside the barn, on the main floor Fortunately the flames were not yet near the stairway

”Look out for the horses!” yelled Mr Stickler ”They're crazy with fear!”