“Wait your granny!” shouted Bobolink over his shoulder as he fled wildly down the street. “Run for all your worth, old ice-wagon. Whoop! here we come, Stanhope’s fire-fighters!”
There was excitement on every side of them now. Doors opened to emit men hastily donning rubber coats and firemen’s hats. Women and children had commenced to scream at each other across dividing fences. Dogs began to join in the general confusion by barking madly. And above all the increasing clamor, the brazen notes of the fire bell continued to clang furiously.
The nine scouts, being already on the street at the time the alarm was turned in, had a big advantage over others, since they were dressed in the beginning. As they ran on they were joined by a number of men and women who had chanced to be up at this late hour, possibly decorating Christmas trees for the benefit of the children on the coming morning.
CHAPTER X
THE ACCUSATION
“Can you guess where it is, Jack?” gasped Frank Savage as he strove to keep alongside the other while running to the fire.
Just then they reached a corner, and as they dashed around it they came in plain sight of the conflagration.
“It’s Briggs’ store, fellows!” shouted Frank over his shoulder.