Part 14 (2/2)

”Why don't they try and save the house, Elmer?” asked Ty, as they saw what was going on.

”I don't know, unless it's because they have no leader, and n.o.body is able to tell what to do,” replied the other.

Elmer was taking the scene in with eyes that nothing escaped. Even while he was running forward toward the fire he saw that there was a fair-sized stream close to the barns. His attention was directed to it chiefly because of a flock of big white Pekin ducks that were flapping their wings, and adding their loud quacks to the general excitement.

”If we only could find plenty of buckets, something might be done!” he called back over his shoulder, never stopping an instant in making for the building that was threatened with destruction.

”I see three right now by that pump!” cried Ty.

”Plenty more in the barn, Elmer!” added Ted, who saw what the other had in his mind, and thought it worth trying.

”There's a lot of tin milk buckets hanging on that fence!” called Landy.

”Go for 'em, fellows!” ordered the patrol leader. ”Gather all you can find, and begin to fill 'em at the brook. I'll see if these ladies won't stand in line, and pa.s.s them along.”

”Hurrah for the Hickory Ridge Fire Brigade!” shouted Landy, fully filled with the novel idea.

Each of them made a bee-line for the buckets in sight, and, gathering up all they could lay hands on, immediately started for the water, where a great dipping began, to the intense amazement and consternation of the ducks, which could not understand why these strangers should try to empty their favorite little stream without asking their permission.

Meanwhile Elmer must have managed to explain after a fas.h.i.+on what he purposed doing. He had already coaxed two of the women to stand ready to take the buckets as they came along, and these were shouting to the others.

”More buckets! Try in the barns for some!” called Elmer, as, seizing one of the first that arrived, he rushed up to where a tongue of fire had suddenly darted out of a window, like a snake that was striking, and sent the contents of his receptacle through into the room.

Now something a little more like sense seemed to seize upon those present. All they needed was a leader, some one capable of giving orders; and it would be surprising how much could be accomplished.

The men stopped trying to save the furniture. If the building could be kept from burning to the ground the things it contained might have a chance of being spared. They rushed away to the barn, as though knowing where horse buckets were to be found; and Elmer knew that he had found several willing allies in his battle with the flames.

He saw that these men were the farmer himself, and his son, almost a man in size. The two farm hands were not to be seen; and this fact gave Elmer a strong idea that in truth they might have been responsible for the fire itself. Sometimes when a robbery has been committed the thieves will try to cover all traces of their work by burning the building.

By the time those other women had arrived he believed he would have enough on the ground to form a living chain between the brook and the house, so that the full buckets could be pa.s.sed swiftly along from hand to hand, and the empties returned after the same fas.h.i.+on for a fresh start.

Inside of five minutes after the Boy Scouts arrived on the spot it was a lively scene that was taking place. The smoke continued to pour out of the windows; but whenever a bit of flame showed itself, Elmer or Ty was ready to dash a bucket of water on the same.

”Keep up the good work, fellows!” shouted Landy, who was filling the buckets at the time. ”She ain't gaining much, now; and every one that comes just adds to the fire brigade, so's to send the buckets along faster. I'm coming over to help fight soon as that farmer's boy gets here!”

”Say, if only we had all our troop here, Elmer, wouldn't we make short work of it, though?” asked Ty, who was beginning to turn many shades darker because of the smoke that swept past him every little while.

”We'll do it as we are!” answered the patrol leader, firmly; for he believed that they must soon begin to get the mastery over the hungry flames.

Then Landy came staggering along, bearing with him a huge bucket, which he expected to dash personally on some place where it would do the most good. The farmer's boy had arrived to take his place at the brook, which set him free for sterner duties.

”Go for it, fellers!” he gasped; and then as a wicked looking finger of fire darted out toward him he emptied the contents of his pail in that direction. ”Plenty more where that came from. The crick'll hold out all right, if only we can get it up here fast enough. That's the way, Ty, soak it to the measly old thing. We're going to win out yet, see!”

It was the right sort, of spirit to show at any rate; and afterwards his chums had only words of praise for Landy's conduct.

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