The Motor Boys Overland | Page 6

automobilists passed scores of men and boys who were
running at top speed. In their excitement many were yelling at the top
of their voices.
"Where is it?" asked Bob of a group of boys.
"The old windmill!" was the answer.

"The place where we found the box Noddy Nixon stole from Mr.
Judson!" cried Jerry, turning to his companions. "Queer, isn't it?"
"Maybe he got his toady, Jack Pender, to set the place afire so nothing
would ever come out about it," suggested Bob.
"Hardly," ventured Jerry. "But what's the trouble up ahead?"
In advance could be seen quite a crowd of people in a group about
some object. Just then came a long-drawn-out whistle of a steam
engine.
"The fire apparatus is stuck!" cried Ned. "The horses can't pull it!"
"I always thought that machine was too heavy for two horses," said Mr.
Slade.
The auto soon came up to the scene of the trouble. The fire-engine had
sunk deep down in a rut of the road and, pull as they did, the horses
could not budge it.
"Lay hold of the wheels, boys!" called the driver of the apparatus.
"Everybody give a hand!"
Willingly enough the crowd tried to aid. But the roads were soft and the
engine was heavy. It seemed bound to stick fast.
"Hold on!" cried Jerry. "Let us through, will you? I have an idea!"
The crowd parted, the attention of the men and boys being attracted
from the stranded engine.
"What are you going to do?" asked Mr. Baker.
"Give 'em a lift," replied Jerry. "I say, have you a rope?" the boy called
to the driver of the steamer.
"Yes!" was the reply. "But we need more than a rope to get out of
here."

"No, you don't! I'll show you!" shouted Jerry. He had brought the
machine to a halt by throwing out the gear, but did not stop the
gasolene engine. He quickly fastened the rope to the rear axle of the
auto.
"Now tie the other end to the engine and we'll pull you to the fire," the
boy said.
The driver saw the feasibility of the scheme at once. He unhitched the
straining horses, attached the cable to the pole and gave the word. Jerry
threw on the clutch, there was a tightening of the rope and slowly but
surely the engine was dragged from the mud hole. Then, once on solid
ground, Jerry put on more speed, and, amid the cheers of the crowd, he
started off at a swift pace, dragging the engine to the fire.
The hose-cart had gone on ahead and was waiting for the steamer.
Power was soon up in the apparatus, and soon two streams were
directed toward the mill, which was now a mass of flames.
There was no chance of saving it, such a start had the fire gained, and,
in fact, the loss would be small if it burned down, but the fire company
could not let slip a chance of going to the blaze. So the crew continued
to squirt water, though most of it did little good. However, there was
plenty of excitement, which suited the boys.
Those in the auto watched the old mill gradually being consumed. To
the boys it brought a recollection of the time they had there made the
final discovery of Noddy Nixon's villainy, and had practically forced
him to admit his guilt. At last the roof fell in, with a big shower of
sparks, and the fire was practically out, though the steamer continued to
pump water.
"Let's go home," suggested Mr. Baker. "We've seen enough."
"Oh, stay a while longer!" pleaded his son. "It's a fine moonlight night
and it will be fun going home later."
"You boys can stay if you like," said the banker, "but home's the place

for me, eh, Mr. Slade?"
The merchant agreed. So Jerry turned the auto toward Cresville and
made a quick run, leaving Mr. Baker and Mr. Slade at their respective
homes, and then he and the boys came back in the machine to the fire.
They found most of the crowd gone, and the engine about to return to
quarters.
"Do you want us to trail along and pull you again if you get stuck?"
asked Bob of the engineer.
"Well, you might come in handy," was the answer. "We're much
obliged to you, boys."
"Glad we were on deck," said Jerry. "However, I guess you will not
need us again," and he sent the auto ahead at a good speed. "We'll take
a little ride before we go home," he added to his chums.
It was a bright moonlight night, rather warm for the close of September,
and the road was a fairly good one, so the boys skimmed along, their
thoughts