“What are you going to do?”
Those were some of the questions which the boys asked Captain Wiggs. He answered them all, comprehensively.
“It’s an elevator in which the owners of the Modoc are interested,” he said. “I was to call there to-morrow for a load of grain. I was heading for the wharf, intending to tie up until morning, when I saw flames shooting out of the top of the shaft. I’ve got a powerful pump aboard, and I knew they didn’t have any fire boat in town, so I speeded the Modoc as close as I could. I don’t believe I can do much, but I’m going to try. I’m afraid the fire has too much start.”
“Can we go ashore and watch it?” asked Ned.
“I guess so. Don’t go too near, and be careful you don’t fall off the pier. It’s deep water all around.”
Captain Wiggs hurried down to the engine room, for the men with the hose in the boat were now as close as they dared to go to the fire, and could use water.
“Come on, fellows!” cried Ned. “We don’t often get a chance to see a big fire like this.”
They leaped to the wharf, since no gang plank had been run out, and were soon hurrying along the pier to shore. The elevator was several slips or piers distant, and the boys would have to go ashore to reach it. As they ran on they could hear the big pump of the Modoc beginning to force water from the lake through the hose, the nozzle of which the men in the row boat directed at the fire.
In the street along the water front the four chums found a great crowd. Every one was hurrying to the blaze. Men were shouting, boys were yelling, and even women and girls had hurriedly dressed to come out to the conflagration.
“The whole block back of the elevator’ll go, if they don’t stop it pretty soon!” yelled a man as he passed on the run.