The Fire-engine reached the scene, and while they were getting ready to pump water from the creek into and through the hose-pipes, the other firemen were screwing nozzles to the hose, and connecting up the lengths so that it would reach the burning dwelling.
Other firemen were placing ladders against the side of the frail structure to pretend they were climbing up to save lives, but Uncle Ben protested quickly.
“Don’t dare too much, boys! The shack will collapse with a suddenness that will give you no time to get away! Don’t scale the ladders!”
While he spoke, other boys were using axes and rams on the wooden frame to show how a closed and locked house can be made to give way before a fireman. But the advice reached the excited boys too late! The blows from ram and axe had shaken the loose frame, and the flames on the inside had eaten a way through the corner-posts that held up the shack.
Just as the weight of Bill was brought full against the side of the building, the whole thing fell in like a house of cards. The ladder and fireman fell with it. Instantly a dense smoke arose from the fresh fuel, and sparks flew out in every direction.
“Life Savers! Life Savers!” yelled the few boys who had seen the accident, and they rushed in to grab Dutchy from the leaping tongues of flame that now licked up the wood.
The firemen at the creek heard shouting and calling but they thought it was all part of the game so they began pumping water into the hose, and momentarily expected to see a fine stream played upon the fire.
But the nozzle had been dropped when Bill fell headlong into the fire and the two firemen ran to help drag him out; now the nozzle lay pointing directly at the Blue Birds and Bobolinks who were intensely concerned over pulling Bill safely out of the fire.
Suddenly a great stream of water shot out of the nozzle and quickly drenched the girls standing in its pathway. Don, taking in the situation at a glance, ran over to hold the hose properly and turn it upon the blaze.
He secured the nozzle all right, but in turning toward the fire he had to sweep it about in a circle, and in so doing, the rush of water from the hose managed to drench everyone in the radius of its swirl.