But although the assistance was welcome, now, at last, the tide had been stemmed. A wide line of lumber piles had been leveled, cutting off the flames in their mad career. A little wind set in from the west, driving the fire back toward the river. With hope renewed the firemen stubbornly stood their ground, arrayed between the angry blaze and the homes cowering just beyond.
And now the gallons of water being poured into the fire commenced to have an effect. Coals sizzled and blackened. Embers smouldered and died. Aided by the good wind, step by step the firemen advanced.
The day was won.
The fire lessened in volume; and seeing that the danger was past, the people who had watched began to slip away.
“Come on,” said Ned, at last. “We might as well go. It’s about over.”
They dropped off the car, and Bob, who had deemed the fire a very dull affair (for a dog) welcomed them loudly.
“My, I’m hungry!” declared Hal. “I wonder what time it is.”
Whereupon they found that it was half-past one; much after dinner time.