Part 18 (1/2)

”What are we going to do?” cried Vincent to the young captain ”We can't get out engine down there!”

Bert was puzzled It was a new problem for the aet close enough to the blaze to use the engine and at the sa to work out

Just then the burning barge swung down the lake, for the cables had been eaten through by the flaht of that gave Bert an inspiration

”Come on!” he cried ”I see a way!”

”How?” asked Cole

”We'll run the engine out on that empty flat-boat We can pole it out into the lake, and play on the barge from the side where there are no fla at once There were plenty of boards at hand to ine, and in a little while it was on the flatboat Then, with long poles which reached to the bottom of the lake, the boat was shoved out froe is adrift!” cried Too after it!” responded Bert ”We can make a line fast and tow it away, or it will set the other barges below here on fire, and we'll have more than we can handle If we can keep the blaze to the one barge we'll be all right”

It was hard work, but the boys accomplished it They put their flatboat close to the side of the blazing craft, where there were no flames, and made fast Then they poled both boats well out into the lake

”The dock is burning!” cried Cole

”Let the bucket brigade attend to that,” answered Herbert ”We've got our hands full here!”

Indeed they had, but the contest wasbuckets with ropes attached, dipped froine, tank, and then the three streae

CHAPTER XV

A GENEROUS OFFER

Never since they had organized their little department had the boys worked under such difficulties There was no getting away from this blaze They were fast to it, and to cut loose es nearby, which would ration

It was hard work to keep the burning boat and that on which the engine was out in the lake, as a strong as forcing them both toward shore It was also difficult to operate the puine did not set level, and the boys on top of the tank had to cling there as best they could and send the big handles up and down It was hard work to stand the fierce heat and choking sain, as the wind shi+fted

But the boys were no ”h it ritted their teeth, and held their breaths when it was necessary Soes fro water

”I--I think we've got her!” cried Cole, when this desperate work had been going on for ten minutes

”Don't be too sure!” cautioned Captain Bert ”There's lots of fire yet!”

There was, but the three strea to tell Gradually the flaan to die away Once or twice it see down on the others, but grit told, and the boys held the craft

”She's out now!” cried Vincent, as only a pall of se, and the boys at the brakes, hearing this with feelings of relief, ceased pu No sooner had they stopped than the flames burst out in a new place, and flared up fiercely

”Jue and take the hose with you,” cried Bert, for the fire had been extinguished on that end of the barge nearest the flat-boat ”The water will dofire three lines of hose with the boat and scrambled over the piles of charred lumber to the farther end, where the flaht The last flame was quenched and the boys could take a much-needed rest