“The morning was half gone, when all at once Steve happened to turn around, and look down the hill.
“‘Gosh, Jack!’ he exclaimed, ‘the barn’s afire.’
“I gave one startled look, and then ran for the hose.
“‘Get Nelly out!’ I cried to Steve; but after a second look, I called, ‘No, don’t you do it! Let her go! it’s too late!’
“‘I won’t let her go!’ he shouted; ‘do you think I’ll stand by and see Nelly burned to death!’
“‘You’d be a fool to go in now! Look at that stable! Here! Stand back! Have you lost your wits?’
“‘Let me go!’ he cried; ‘Jack, get out of the way!’
“But I threw him down and held him. I was bigger than he; older, and cooler-headed too.
“‘There, I give in,’ he said in a moment; ‘it’s wicked to lose time this way. Let me up, Jack, and we’ll get the hose. I promise you I won’t go in.’
“We ran for the hose, and turned on all the water we could command, and by this time mother and the servant girl had come from the house, and were helping us.