Amidst the screaming from the girls and the shouting advices from the boys, the firemen yelled and worked, while Don did his best to flood everyone near the almost burnt-down building with the stream pouring incessantly from the nozzle that was being so carelessly directed by him.
“For goodness sake who’s driving that flood after me wherever I run to get away from it?” now bawled Uncle Ben, as nearly angry as he had ever been.
“Here, you! Gimme dat hose—cain’t ye see ye ain’t sendin’ a drop on de fire but soakin’ yer fren’s!” shouted Jimmy, as he caught the nozzle from Don, and poured one last flood down Dutchy’s back.
When poor Dutchy Bill could gasp again, he managed to say: “Did any of you’se blockheads t’ink a feller coul’ burn wid all de creek emptyin’ itself on his back!”
But that was only his way of showing how thankful he was for the timely aid given him by his companions. For he would have been seriously injured had not the other boys been quick to drag him forth from the flames.
“That was some fire, boys!” declared the Chief, delightedly, as he ordered the Company back to their quarters.
“I thought it was a flood—not a fire!” commented Ned, as he tried to wring out his light summer coat.
“We all look as if we had just come out of the ocean,” added Dot, grinning at the clinging organdie dresses of her companions.
“Still, it was a good blaze and heaps of excitement, and that’s all a fellow wants at a real fire, you know,” explained Jinks, as he remembered the fire where Mete and he had saved some lives.
“If that were all that was needed at a fire then every city fire would be a success as there is always excitement to be had and a big blaze if you give it time,” said Uncle Ben, who had recovered his good-humor.