Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/107

Rh buckets as could be pressed into service were put to work. Some of the boys even made their way into the building to snatch the boats out.

"Take care, there's a hole in the middle of the floor!" shouted Buster.

Three fellows found it immediately, and were plunged into the water, to add to the confusion by their cries of terror.

"Here comes the machine!" arose the shout; and the fire engine horses appeared in view, galloping toward the scene of confusion.

Fully five score of persons were now on the ground, and willing hands took hold to put out the fire. Water was being dashed on the side of the building from all sorts of available utensils, even to a dishpan borrowed from the back door of a neighboring house.

Buster had rushed into the building as soon as he heard the shrieks of the trio who had gone down into the river. There was no great trouble in fishing the unlucky ones out of their bathtub.

Once the engine started to play upon the flames, the firemen made short work of things. Lanterns were brought into service, to ascertain just how much damage had been done.

"Are the boats injured?" boys flung at each other, as they crowded into the building; for that seemed