“Keep out! Keep out! Hang it all, give us room!”
The mass upon the threshold separated violently to right and left, and out from the dim, cool interior (smelling strongly of damp rubber) was rolled the cart, guided by every person who could lay finger upon it.
Ere it had fairly emerged additional hands fought for the privilege of grasping the ropes attached to it. Shoved and buffeted and trod upon, Ned squirmed into the thick of the struggle, and was rewarded by feeling his fingers close upon a rope. But what was his position he did not know.
Now the cart burst away from the mob, and into the street. With a whoop and a hurrah, clangor of gong and tooting of trumpet, up the thoroughfare it trundled, drawn by two long lines of people—youth and age yoked in a common cause. Those unlucky and envious people who, owing to lack of space, were denied a place in the team, valiantly formed a running escort.
As it happened, Ned had been particularly favored when he had grabbed the rope, for his place was just behind the leader. This leader was “Sandy” Baxter, Beaufort’s foot-racer. He headed the two lines, and set the pace; next came Ned, on the right, and Tom Walker, the attorney, on the left. Who followed, Ned did not have time to see. He had all he could do to hold his own, and not prove a drag. However, hold it he did, for he was the best runner among all the boys of his neighborhood, and he had a reputation to sustain.
Furthermore, plain in view, straight down the street, was that ominous volume of smoke, ever swelling, like the terrible breath of a volcano. Wasn’t that enough to spur any boy’s legs? Certainly!
“Sandy” seemed not to care whether or not his team-mates could keep up with him. He started in at a tremendous gait, and he did not abate it in the slightest. He had no mercy. The lumber yards were burning!
Along the ropes short-winded persons began to fall out; some, grown clumsy through their exertions, stumbled on the heels of their file-leaders, thus promoting disorder and profanity.
“Spurt her up! All together!” urged the marshal, amid the lines.