“All right,” replied Ford. “Wish there was somebody here to help us.”
“I’ll fire the gun,” I went on.
And bringing the weapon out I did so.
Then I ran around to the other side of the building, where a long ladder was lying, and raised this up to the shed top. By this time Ford had the water; and climbing up I poured it over the burning woodwork.
“Good!” shouted the mill-hand. “Throw down the pails, and I’ll fill them again!”
I did so. While he was gone I stripped off my coat and beat some of the fire out as best I could. When he returned I soaked the coat before throwing the water on the flames, and before long I had the fire on the shed completely extinguished.
But meanwhile the flames on the main roof had gained considerable headway. I raised the ladder, but found it would be too short to be of service.
“Can’t do anything with the ladder!” I cried. “We’ll have to get at the fire from the inside.”
“You’ll be smothered,” remonstrated Ford.