nute.

Up to this date that catastrophe had never happened; but Paul remembered
the old saying that "a pitcher may go to the well once too often;" and he
had fears.

It proved that they were well grounded too, after the hose reed had
safely negotiated the last bend in the road, and the burning dwelling was
in plain sight.

"Look at them coming, full tilt! They will be over at the turn!" shrieked
Bobolink, who, being near the tail end of the double line could observe
what was taking place without hindrance.

Immediately there arose a chorus of loud shouts, as of warning. But
apparently Hank Seeris must have been indulging in more liquor than was
good for him; or else he happened to be in an unusually reckless state.

"They're going over!" howled Bobolink.

"Smash!"

"Oh! there goes our only engine to the scrap heap!" exclaimed Jud
Elderkin, in dismay; for his father happened to be the foreman, and it
looked just then as though the gallant fireman might be without a job.

Paul ran back, as did most of the boys, thinking that something terrible
must have happened.

The plunging horses had been pulled down, and a man was already sitting
on the head of each to keep them from kicking further. There are
generally some wise persons present in such a calamity, who know just
what ought to be done.

Willing hands were already unhitching the horses, so that they could be
taken out of the way, and the ditched engine upraised.

"Where's Hank, the driver! Is he hurt?" asked some one; and Paul
recognized the old minister, who must have been on the way home from
visiting when the alarm burst out, and hence he had accompanied the fire
fighters, eager to lend a hand at the rescue work.

"Here he is, and just comin' to, after being knocked senseless. Hank
ain't hurted, I reckon," answered a citizen who had run with the machine.

"How about the engine--is she much damaged?" asked the foreman, as men
set about raising the heavy Rescue No. 1.

"Out of business for this trip, Elderkin. She'll never work again till
she's gone down to the city for repairs," came the answer.

A groan of dismay went up.

"That settles the fate of the old Bradley house, then," declared many, as
they saw the flames and smoke apparently increasing.

Everybody was now anxious to get on the scene, and the engine was left in
charge of a watcher, while the crowd rushed along, exchanging views of
the accident, and the chances of saving the building by