“Gee, it’s a wonder the stuff isn’t too wet to burn,” remarked Gif. “We’ve had rain enough.”
“Let’s get water and be quick about it,” came from Jack. “Even if the chimney is a substantial one the sparks may set the roof on fire.”
The hunters’ lodge was comfortably furnished, and the boys had already noted a couple of tin pails in the kitchen pantry.
“I know where the spring is!” cried Fred. “Hurry up!”
“How are we going to get up on the roof?”
“There’s a permanent ladder in the back of the lodge,” was the reply. “And there are foot cleats leading up to the chimney.”
Grabbing up not only the pails but also several pots and a teakettle, the boys rushed after Fred down to where a spring bubbled up between the rocks. Here there was a small pool of cool, clear water which they proceeded to scoop up as rapidly as possible. Then they rushed to the rear of the lodge and Jack was the first to mount the ladder which was nailed beside a rear window. He carried a pail of water in one hand and behind him came Randy with the second pail and Spouter with the teakettle. The boys had worked as quickly as possible, but many precious seconds had been lost and the fire in the chimney was now roaring merrily, the flames shooting several feet above the top and carrying the sparks in all directions.
“My gracious, that roof will catch, as sure as shooting!” gasped Fred. “Just look at those sparks, will you?”
Balancing himself as best he could with the pail of water, Jack mounted the sloping roof of the lodge until he came within a few feet of the chimney. The sparks fell all around him, some even landing on his cap and clothing. Then he let fly with the contents of the pail and more than three-quarters of the water went down into the chimney.
“Hurrah, that’s the way to do it!” came encouragingly from Gif. “Throw the pail down, Jack!”