“Hurry up, and let’s see it work!” called Jerry, and the boys increased their run.
“How’d the mill catch fire?” panted Ned.
“I—didn’t—hear,” answered Jerry, breathing hard.
In a little while they were at the scene of the blaze. One of the smaller buildings of the mill was burning furiously. Smoke, flames and sparks were spouting from the roof, which was almost consumed.
Up dashed the engines. Connections were quickly made to hydrants, and soon two good sized streams were playing on the flames. The puffing of the steamers, the snapping and crackle of the flames, the shouts of those looking on, the yells of the firemen and the crash as pieces of the burning building fell in, made a din that was chaotic.
“Stand back boys!” exclaimed one of the firemen. “We want to run a hose in that gate.”
The boys made room and were now joined by Bob.
“Can we go in?” asked Jerry. “We’ll keep well back.”
The gate in front of which they stood gave access to the mill yard, at a point quite a distance from the fire.