"Come with me to the spring, Sandy!" he cried huskily. "We must have more water! This way, Mr. Brewster, with your bucket! And please run with all your might!"
A neighbor had arrived on the scene, for the cries of the family as they fought the devouring element had been heard, and there was no need to ask what had happened, since the flames could be seen for some distance.
Mr. Brewster had come up with his musket in one hand, and an empty bucket gripped in the other. Thus he was prepared for almost anything that might arise, for, with all this talk of an Indian uprising in the air, it was only natural that he might suspect there would be need for the firearm as well as the wooden pail.
The three hastened to the spring, in order to secure a further addition to the supply of water. Before they had gone half way another figure showed up, being a second neighbor who, like Mr. Brewster, had come prepared to cope with any emergency. He joined the procession of runners; and in this order they arrived at the spring, which was located about eighty yards from the Armstrong cabin, and used by several families in common.
Fortunately it was of some depth, so that quite a pool formed at its "run-off." Here they filled their buckets, and started back just as fast as they could go without spilling the contents.
Others began to arrive, for, as the clamor increased, every cabin in the settlement yielded up its quota of eager assistants. In a little community like this, where hundreds of miles separated them from civilization, with untold perils surrounding them, the interest of one must ever be the interest of all. They knew not what terrible danger might be abroad; but, with the bold spirit that marked the early pioneer, they sallied forth to grapple with whatever threatened.
And these men did yeoman service. Some slapped at the creeping flames with garments that had been saturated with water; others beat frantically with branches and bushes; while the few who had means for carrying water dashed this natural enemy of fire on the flames.
Thus it was only a short time before they got the fire under control, for many hands made light work. Some damage had been done, it is true, and Mr. Armstrong would have to do more or less repairing to his cabin ere it would be in as good shape as before the fire. Still, he and his good wife felt that they had much for which to be grateful.
"How did it start?" asked old Anthony Brady.
There was latent suspicion in his voice, for he had seen that the fire had all been on the outside, which would indicate that it certainly could not have started in the interior from a smouldering brand falling beyond the hearth, such as had been the case in one other alarm they had had earlier in the season, before the cool nights had gone.