“I believe they’re coming, Rob!” Andy announced, greatly to the satisfaction of everybody.
It turned out that way, and almost immediately the others also discovered the figure of their companion hurrying towards them. At Ralph’s side strode the tall form of a man wearing a glazed fire hat, and a coat that was supposed to be immune to sparks and flames.
“I guess that’s Chief Megrue,” remarked Mr. Jeffords, eagerly, “though his face is so black with the smoke and dirt his own wife wouldn’t recognize him. Yes, I know his walk. Now we may see something done that will bring results. I was just about to suggest that you go ahead on your own hook, Rob, and I would stand for the consequences. Desperate cases require desperate remedies, you know. But there’s no need of our doing that now, fortunately.”
Ralph piloted his companion to the spot where the others awaited them. Undoubtedly he must have already found occasion to explain Rob’s scheme to the head man of the local fire department. Mr. Megrue had been instantly seized with a conviction that it was indeed the only thing left to them, since all the puny efforts they had made to try and drown the fire out had been without avail.
Every fireman must know that such things are resorted to in all big city fires when the violence of the wind makes it impossible to head the flames off in any other way. Sometimes it turns out successfully; and then, again, there may be no tangible result, owing to circumstances over which even the use of explosives will have no control.
Rob saw with more or less pleasure that the Chief was a man of action, and not one of those old fogies sometimes connected with local companies, all “fuss and feathers,” but lacking in the dash and valor that should distinguish every firefighter.
Perhaps had he known where he could put his hand on a store of explosives, the Chief might before this have considered the possibility of blocking the flames by destroying that old connecting link of a building.
“He says it’s the finest thing going!” called out Ralph, as he drew near where his father and the boys were waiting for him. “As I know how to handle the stuff, as well as the battery, he asks us to do the job. Rob, I want your help only. Come with me. The Chief will smash in the door for us, and we can plant the charge in a hurry. Then it only means running the wires out to some place here, and afterwards you can touch her off. That ought to be your privilege, Rob, because you thought up the scheme. Right along this way, Rob, please!”
Perhaps Sim and Andy, not to mention Tubby, might have liked very much to be given a part to play in the game; but their common sense told them there was no necessity for more entering the building than just those two, unless Chief Megrue chose to accompany the boys. At least, they could have the satisfaction of being present when the big affair came off, and watching that ramshackle building collapse into kindling wood after the charge was fired.
The Chief fortunately had a fire ax with him. It may have been used to batter in the doors of many a building that had commenced to smoke, and give other positive signs of being about to burst into flames. Besides, it is always a useful tool in the hands of your country-town fireman, with which he loves to smash windows, and to make a grand show of accomplishing things.