A number of women were running excitedly up and down doing nothing to aid in saving property, or subduing the flames. Several men were present, and seemed to be wholly engaged in carrying out some of the furniture belonging to the parlor. A small cabinet organ had been rolled over on the grass, and then they added heaps of books to the wreckage.
"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 nobody 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 pass them along."
"Hurrah for the Hickory Ridge Fire Brigade!" shouted Landy, fully filled with the novel idea.