The Motor Boys Overland | Page 6

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 on the western trip they were soon to make. For several miles they kept on. Suddenly Jerry yanked the levers and put on the brakes.
"What's the matter?" asked Bob, as the auto came to a stop.
"There," replied Jerry, pointing ahead.
The boys looked and saw, a little in advance, a tumble-down hut, from the window of which a light gleamed.
"That's queer," observed Jerry.
"What is, to see a light in a hut?" asked Bob.
"No; but in that particular one," replied Jerry. "I came past there day before yesterday and I noticed that the place is almost ready to fall apart. No one can be living in it, and any one who is there at night with a light is there for no good purpose."
"Let's take a look," suggested Bob.
Jerry shut off the power, took out the spark plug and the boys advanced cautiously, leaving the machine on one side of the road.
"Maybe there are tramps in there who won't like being spied on," said Ned.
"Don't make any noise," was Jerry's answer. "Be