There would be plenty of work for all the firemen until dawn, pouring a continuous stream of water on the ruins of houses, and the lumberyard as well, that had been destroyed. Even when additional companies reached town, coming from more distant places, they were set to work rendering assistance to the stricken community; for those gallant fellows would have been sorely chagrined if compelled to return home without a chance to even wet their hose for neighborly accommodation.
The boys knew that presently they ought to pull out and head for the farm; but as long as Mr. Jeffords did not insist on going, it was not their business to say the word. They felt that they would willingly remain there for an hour and more, with so much going on to see and to hear.
It was Rob who began to exhibit signs of impatience, for, to tell the truth, the scout leader noticed that the crowd around them had been growing of late; and he also discovered that a number of the more prominent men of the town seemed to be talking very earnestly with Mr. Jeffords.
Now, Rob began to take the alarm. He fancied that these people were talking about himself and comrades, because often he could see them look their way, and once a stout gentleman whom Ralph had told him was the mayor of Wyoming actually pointed in their direction.
“Don’t you think we’d better be starting home, Ralph?” Rob went on to say.
The other chuckled as though he could give a guess as to what was bothering his friend. At the same time he shook his head in the negative.
“We’ve just got to wait till dad gives the word, you know,” he explained. “Now he seems to be pretty busily engaged. Just hold your horses, Rob. The fire has been gotten fully under control, and there’s nothing more to be feared from that source. Unless I miss my guess, the business men of this town have a duty, and a pleasant duty to perform. I don’t mean to spoil it all by running away, not on your life.”
Rob looked uneasy, but he was powerless to do anything.
“Oh! well, I suppose we’ll have to stand for it, then,” he muttered, as if making up his mind to take some punishment.
Ralph actually stared hard at him. Really, he had never before run across a boy just like Rob Blake. Most of the fellows he knew would have been only too delighted to find themselves in the limelight, and called a hero. Nevertheless, Ralph was determined that Rob should not escape by running away.