The Young Firemen of Lakeville; Or, Herbert Dare's Pluck

of the roof, were now blazing. The structure was beyond saving, as far as anything the

Usually about half the fluid was spilled. And what little did get there was merely tossed against the side of the barn

in their stalls. Their cries were weird and terrifying, for

had been said. He left his supervision of the bucket brigade and ran al

ing to try,"

ed Mr. Stimson. "This mea

nsured?" asked

Oh, this is a terrible cal

learly no one could enter that way. But he knew the structure well, for he

such was the effect of his leadership, that no one now thought of question

from that, by means of stairs, the main floor of the barn, where the horses were, could be reached. This door was locked, but

!" cried

e stairs," said the constable, as he

dded the farmer. "The

. Hey, Cole," he called to his chum, who with Vincent had left the now utterly useless bucke

. We'll git t

level with the ground. The flames had not eaten down, as yet, and the cows were found patien

were running about, having now broken their halters, and they could be heard trampling on the floor ove

them out," prophes

have his own doubts. But he ha

d to his chum. "You know how

ur

head of the stairs, and were inside the barn, on the main

!" yelled Mr. Stickler.

. The interior of the barn was becoming hotter and hotter. Most of the front had burned away, and through it, wreathed

he horses through

en across the threshold of what had been the big doors of the barn. There was a wide zone of fire, and from it

to do it?" aske

alled Vincent. "They'r

t surged down from the now blazing roof, charged, like a

ey reached it just in time. The horses thundered past, huddled together, avoiding by instin

Bert. "While they're in

going to do?"

se other

levated driveway led. The others were to give air to the place, when hay was being stored away

ses will jump out there

ill, rather tha

p will break

e men can lead them out. Come on, Vincent, help me open the doors." Bert's plan was

hen the horses thundered past, the two boys hurried across

d some men aroun

ht," rep

re, the horses came at them with a rush. The boys wer

over the extended tongue of the machine, and fell. It got up in an instant, however, and joined its companions, that stood trembling in a corner, staring wi

ide the heavy bar that held the doors in place, and had swung t

e called to Vincent. "Get behind them

horses off on the run again. Fortunately the leader smelled the fresh air coming in through the opened doors. The hor

ragingly. "Jump! You won't hurt yoursel

could not be told. Certainly he did jump, after a moment's hesitation

roar of the flames Bert could hear the thud as the horses landed in the soft muck of th

ndering around. One had fallen down, but none of them seemed to be

anything more we can

shove out the mowing ma

he muck it can't

d doors. Another shove and it toppled over and

ve them, too," suggested Bert. "The fall won't hurt them, and th

y also rolled out a carriage, which, as it had the bales to toppl

d of others was in the cowyard, removing such things as the boys pus

lled Bert in answer. "It's getting pretty

s they did so there was a crash, and the forward part of the roof fell in. An i

way!" cried Vincent. "W

Bert. "We can jump out, j

but to their horror they saw a stream of fire pouring down over the opening, as a cataract