In advance could be seen quite a crowd of people in a group about some object. Just then came a long-drawn-out whistle of a steam engine.
“The fire apparatus is stuck!” cried Ned. “The horses can’t pull it!”
“I always thought that machine was too heavy for two horses,” said Mr. Slade.
The auto soon came up to the scene of the trouble. The fire-engine had sunk deep down in a rut of the road and, pull as they did, the horses could not budge it.
“Lay hold of the wheels, boys!” called the driver of the apparatus. “Everybody give a hand!”
Willingly enough the crowd tried to aid. But the roads were soft and the engine was heavy. It seemed bound to stick fast.
“Hold on!” cried Jerry. “Let us through, will you? I have an idea!”
The crowd parted, the attention of the men and boys being attracted from the stranded engine.
“What are you going to do?” asked Mr. Baker.
“Give ’em a lift,” replied Jerry. “I say, have you a rope?” the boy called to the driver of the steamer.