"If the Rockville engine was only here, Professor Hopkins' office might be saved," exclaimed Professor Ivins.
"Boys!" cried Dave Brandon; "I've got an idea. We'll form a chain and get water from the pond."
"Splendid, Chubby! You've struck it!" broke in Bob, enthusiastically.
"There are plenty of people around who ought to help us," added Dick Travers; "it must be a double line—one to pass back the empty buckets."
The students turned toward the crowd.
"Who wants to join a bucket brigade?" yelled Dave Brandon.
"I do!" shouted one.
"Count me in," added another.
The crowd, as if ashamed of its former inactivity, became animated with life. Strangely enough, it had not occurred to any one before that some use might be made of the pond.
Dick Travers, Sam Randall and Tom Clifton, accompanied by several others, started off in search of buckets. An axe was procured—then the frozen surface of Deal's pond began to resound to the sturdy blows of the volunteers.