“I wonder what we’ve run into now,” said Jerry.
“Looks like a fire,” said Bob.
“It is a fire!” exclaimed Ned. “See, that barn upon the hill is all ablaze!”
Looking to where he pointed Bob and Jerry saw the stable structure, near a handsome country residence was spouting flames. About it a crowd was gathered, and the boys could see men leading out horses and running out wagons, carriages and farm machinery.
“I wonder where the fire department is,” said Jerry. “I heard they had a cracker-jack one here.”
“There they come!” cried Ned pointing to where a crowd of men and boys could be seen hurrying down a hill over which led the road into the village. In the midst of the throng was some sort of machine which was being pulled by long ropes.
“It’s an old hand engine!” cried Bob. “I thought they had a steamer here.”
“Come on; let’s go up and see it work!” cried Jerry.
The motor boat was run close to the bank, and, having been tied to an overhanging tree the boys raced up the slope toward the burning barn.
By this time the hand engine had arrived. It was one of the old-fashioned kind. Two long handles worked a pump mounted on a tank. Into this tank water had to be poured by pails, and from the bottom ran two lines of hose connected to the pumps. The hose was carried on a separate reel. In a few minutes the volunteer firemen, having gotten in each other’s way as many times as was possible, had the hose attached. One little man with a bald head and a fuzz of white whiskers on his chin was giving all sorts of orders.