means of a bucket
brigade.

The foreman proved himself to be the right man in the right place. He
instantly organized a double line of men and boys, leading from the creek
near by, up to the house that was burning.

Every imaginable species of bucket and tin pail was pressed into use. Men
and boys invaded the kitchen and captured all sorts of utensils, from
milkpans to butter firkins.

These were put into use, and passed along as rapidly as those at the
creek end could plunge them in, and fill them with water.

At the other terminus the foreman and his assistants took the water
pails, and dashed the contents here and there as opportunity arose.

The Boy Scouts were nearly all somewhere in the line, and working
valorously. For the time being they utterly forgot they were dressed in
their new suits of khaki, and that the pails slopped over continuously,
soon soaking them to the skin.

Cheered on by the appeals of their leader they never flinched. It was the
first chance Paul had of seeing how his enlisted followers could forget
self, and rise grandly to an occasion.

When any one showed signs of tiring he was quickly crowded out of the
line by another eager willing worker. Indeed, there seemed to be three
applicants for each job; and had there been more buckets several lines
might have been formed to make use of that accommodating creek.

Jack, after a little, found himself pushed aside by another scout, who
wanted to exercise his muscles, and could wait no longer.

Seeing a group around some children, and hearing sudden cries from a
woman, Jack hurried across the lawn. Somehow he seemed to fear that
new trouble had broken out; and when he saw a half-clad figure wringing
her hands, and shrieking, he realized that his suspicions were going to
prove true.

"What is it?" he asked, of another scout, coming away from the group.

"Her baby. She says it is in the house!" replied the boy, whose face was
white with the horror of it all.

"What?" cried Jack; "did she forget her own baby, then?"

"She thought her husband had it. He's a sick man too. See, that's him
they are holding back there. He wants to go in for the baby, and they
won't let him. Oh! Jack, I'd like to do it, but I'm afraid of fire. I
just dassent!" sobbed the boy.

Jack waited to hear no more. His blood seemed to be on fire, and his
teeth came together with a click.

Another moment and he was in the group, eagerly plying the almost
distracted m