“You’ll find several in the rear compartment of the car,” Mr. Hatfield instructed him. “Some spades, old blankets and everything I could get on short order. Mr. Holloway is following with more helpers and equipment. Without water though, there’s not much we can do.”
“We’ve found a well,” Brad told him. “I don’t know how long the water will last though.”
Mr. Hatfield and his neighbor seized fire extinguishers and joined the toiling linesmen. He ordered the Cubs, directed by Brad, to carry water.
“But don’t get too close to the fire,” he warned. “Your job is just to keep those buckets moving.”
With the additional supply of buckets, and other Cubs to help, Brad and Dan were able to keep a fairly steady flow of water in the hands of the fire fighters.
The smoke remained dense. But as Dan carried his fifth bucket of water, he noticed that the fire line among the trees had receded.
“We’re making a little progress,” Mr. Hatfield exclaimed jubilantly. “If the water only holds out we may win!”
In an endeavor to prevent the fire from spreading toward the Castle, the men had dug a narrow, wide trench.
As Brad earlier had noted, the fire, though widespread, had so far fed itself only on dry grass and brush. The fighters became increasingly hopeful that it could be put out before the trees ignited.
Within ten minutes Mr. Holloway arrived, bringing more equipment and extra helpers. In addition to two men, Midge and Ross Langdon were with him.