IT WAS HOT WORK ON THE LONG LADDER AND SOON JACK WAS ALL BUT EXHAUSTED.—Page 173.
"More water!" cried Jack. "The fire is eating to the center of the roof! More water!"
"We are bringing it as fast as we can!" panted the boy below him.
"Make the servants form a line to the cistern."
"I will," answered the boy, and soon the water was coming up as rapidly as Jack and the other lad on the roof could handle it.
At last the fire seemed to lose its force, and was extinguished at one corner of the roof. Then all hands turned their attention to the spot over the veranda. Here the flames had eaten under the gutter.
"We must have an ax!" exclaimed Jack, and one was quickly procured from the woodpile.
"Hi! what are you going to do with that?" yelled St. John, as he caught sight of the article.
"Going to chop a hole in the roof," answered our hero.
"How foolish! You'll make the fire worse."