Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/127



" mischief!" cried Bob.

"Schoolhouse burning up!" echoed Sammy. "That's big news."

"Come on, fellows!" ordered Frank, making a rush down the road.

"Don't wait for me," said Tom. "I'm too fat to run fast."

"Say, I don't see any blaze," spoke Bob.

"No, but look—everybody is putting for the schoolhouse!" cried Sammy.

This was true. In the dim dusk they could see men, women and children rushing in the direction of the schoolhouse. They could hear the man who had told the news, and others, shouting nearer to the center of the village.

The news seemed to spread like wildfire. Just as the boys joined the procession hurrying to the schoolhouse, they caught the echo of a great clanging and clatter.

"They've got the hose-cart out," said Bob.

"The schoolhouse is on fire!" cried Sammy.

"Sure enough," added Frank.

They were now in full sight of the school building. From one end a great volume of smoke was pouring out of the windows. Then, just as they bounded over the fence, one of a dozen men already come upon the scene, ran at a door and kicked it in.

At once the flames came out in a sheet. Some one shouted