Part 3 (2/2)
”No escape there,” decided Bert
”Isn't there an end door?”
”One, up in the loft, but it's thirty feet froround and that's too et into the loft now It's a h the big doors and take our chances with the fire!” declared Vincent
”Wait asoerous to try to leap through the doors They would fall into astrahich would scar thenited wisps Yet there was no other way
Then a daring idea ca about abarn
”Grab up a horse blanket!” he called to Vincent There were several scattered about the barn, and they were of heavy wool
”I've got one,” shouted Vincent At the sae one
”Dip it in water,” was the next command
In one corner of the barn, near the horse stalls, there was a pump, at which were filled the pails to water the horses when they were in the barn There ater in one pail now
Bert dipped his blanket in, and drew it out dripping wet But the wool had absorbed most of the water, and there was only a little more left in the pail
”Here, wrap this about you, and ju the wet blanket to his chu the dry one from him
”What will you do?”
”Never mind about me! I'll pump some more water You jump, before it's too late!”
Outside could be heard confused shouting It was the crowd, calling to the boys to hasten, as the roof was about to fall in There were anxious eyes waiting for the reappearance of the two young heroes
”Ju Vincent to wrap the blanket about his body, and fairly shoving him toward the only available avenue of escape ”Jump! It will be too late in another minute!”
Above the crackle of the fla:
”Co!”
With a look at his chu only a sh which he could look Then he ran to the big doors
Bert stuffed his blanket into the pail, in the bottoan to work the pulance, saw his chu, with the curtain of fire, and then, an to work the pump-handle To his horror no water came The fire had eaten down into the cow stable, and melted the pipe that ran from the pump to the cistern No water was available to wet his blanket, on which he depended to save himself from the flames
”Bert! Bert! Come on! Jump!” he heard some one call