At that moment there came cries of alarm from the boys on the roof and Mr. Talcott hurried toward the ladder.
“What’s the matter?” he called.
“It’s on fire inside, sir! The flames are coming up through the roof on the back!”
[CHAPTER XII]
THE BATTING LIST
Mr. Talcott stooped, unlaced his shoes and kicked them off. Then he sprang up the ladder and joined the boys on the barn roof. Sure enough, the flames were pouring through venomously. Doubtless a stray spark had found lodgment there and had eaten its way through to the hay inside. Mr. Talcott watched a moment. Then he shook his head.
“All down from here, fellows,” he said. “We can’t stop that.”
“With a hose, sir, we might hold it,” said Joe Cassart.
“We haven’t one long enough. Get down the ladder in a hurry, boys; the hay is probably on fire underneath us this minute.”