Part 29 (2/2)

Thewith fear, he started to descend the ladder

”Don't--don't drop the child!” he called to Bert

”I'll not! Hurry! It's getting too hot here!”

The flah the roof of the extension When the irl close to him, started to follow

”Give hiround, and two of them came up the rounds to aid the watchround in safety, and Bert, with the child, was half way down the ladder when, from a , past which he would have to climb, there burst out a terrible sheet of flame

CHAPTER XXIV

AN ENCOUNTER WITH MUCHMORE

For an instant the croas horror-struck It seeirl, h that sheet of flaenerated by the varnishes and otherthe flareat fan The ladder was beginning to blaze

Bert paused and looked down to the ground The distance was not too great for hiht mean that both would be seriously injured

”Throw her to me!” yelled Mr Needham, and, at that, several men stretched out their arms, ready to catch the burden But Bert shook his head He did not want to run any risk of anyone not catching the little one, for he would have to toss her, with considerable force, away fro, to have her escape the flames

Yet there seemed to be no other way Oh, hoished the new departet one, if he came out of this situation alive

But Vincent had seen his chu plan caine, as well as that from the other, and the three water jets fro on the flames

”This way!” yelled Vincent ”Use what chemicals you have left, and all the water you can pump on the fire in the extension That'll keep the flaet past” The others caught the idea at once, and the boys rushed with their lines of hose around to where Bert still stood on the ladder, that was now ablaze in several places

With a hiss like that of an angry snake, the flames seemed to shrink back at the touch of the ele from the s, appeared to die down, almost at once

”Co his chance, he climbed farther down the ladder Just as he reached the place opposite the , the flames once more shot out But he ducked down, and a well-directed strea spray over the brave lad and the little girl The fire on the ladder was quenched, and, as that from the as driven back, Bert made the rest of the descent in safety

Cole's pump had proved its worth

A score of hands reached out to take the burden froently put theirl in her uncle's ar chief's act! But Bert had other things to do than listen to praises of hiines, boys?” he asked

”Pretty well run out,” answered Vincent

”Well, get ready to ine, and fill the tank, and then do the saht this fire to a finish!+”

This was done, and soon, with replenished tanks, the two pieces of apparatus were again in use The old hand-engine, too, did its share, and so energetically did the young fireave up