For once, Ross made no protest at being asked to work. He seized the bucket and ran back with Dan to the old well.
Brad had just raised another bucketful which was only a little over half-filled.
“The water level is going down fast,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll have enough to see this thing through.”
“The fire’s almost licked,” Dan encouraged the others. “More help is coming too.”
Smoke had drawn a number of motorists and nearby residents to the scene. Many of the curious had remained to help.
The Cubs carried water until they no longer could get enough out of the well to make it worth while. But by that time, the fire definitely was under control. Beating at the flames with blankets and canvas, the men finally were able to extinguish the last spark.
“We’ve done it!” Mr. Hatfield exclaimed, sinking down on the grass to rest. “Dan, if that fire had had another ten minutes start, we never could have saved the Castle.”
“I wonder how it started?” the boy remarked.
“That’s what I was asking myself. I hope—” Mr. Hatfield did not finish what he had intended to say.
Dan, however, guessed at his thought.