Josiah’s only experience in such matters had been when Deacon Fuller’s barn burned, and he and his father watched it, unable to do anything toward fighting the flames because of lack of water.
Therefore he was thoroughly alarmed, believing Tom’s home would be destroyed, and these fears caused him to be awkward in making his toilet.
At first he could not find his clothes; and when this had been finally accomplished, it seemed impossible to get them on. After what appeared to be a very long while he succeeded in dressing himself, and, seizing the heavy valise, followed Bob and Tom, who had already begun to descend the stairs.
The heavy panting of the engines, the firemen’s hoarse commands, and the running to and fro of people who were pouring from the tenements of the court, made a most terrific din.
Here and there great fiery eyes stared out of the darkness, causing those who passed in front of them to look like shadowy giants, while the network of hose extending in every direction, and from which tiny streams of water were spurting, formed for the country boy a picture which was not less alarming than bewildering.
“The fire’s on the other side of the street,” Tom said a moment later, “an’ I guess there ain’t any chance the court will be burned, but it makes a good show if you never saw such a thing in the city before.”
Josiah looked in vain for the flames.
The glowing furnaces of the engines seemed to him more dangerous than any hidden conflagration could possibly be; and in fear and trembling he stood behind his companions, pressing close against the wall of a building, until Tom chanced to see the heavy burden he was carrying.
“What did you bring that valise for?” he asked, laughing heartily.
“I’d rather have it in my hands if the house is goin’ to be burned,” Josiah replied timidly; and then, after no little urging, Tom succeeded in inducing him to give up the valuable baggage that he might carry it back, while Bob, with a bravery which the boy from the country thought foolhardiness, made his way among the panting engines in order to show his guest the method of fighting fire in the city.