CHAPTER IX. FIRE!
"A most remarkable story; but I happen to know certain things that fit inwith it in every way. Boys, you have done me a great service to-day."
Mr. Mainwaring paused as he spoke and looked kindly and admiringly at thethree Boy Scouts who had unfolded to him the story of their experiencesat the old barn. The tale had been told as they strolled along the roadleading to the engineer's home, on a hill outside Hampton.
It had occupied some time in the telling, and dusk was drawing in sothat, much against their will, the boys were compelled to decline Mr.Mainwaring's invitation to visit his library and see some interestingdrawings and data relating to the Panama Canal. But they made anengagement to come at some other time and hear from the great engineerabout some of the wonders that had been accomplished in the magic landlying nine degrees north of the equator--a land which, so far as theCanal Zone is concerned, has been turned by Uncle Sam's canal commissioninto a land as healthful as any, if due precautions are observed.
It was almost dark as the boys hastened on their homeward way. There wasa meeting called in the Eagle rooms over the bank that night, and theywere all three in a hurry to get home and change and eat supper. As theywalked along at a brisk pace, the conversation naturally was chieflyconcerned with the topic which they had just been discussing with Mr.Mainwaring.
"I wonder what he'll do about it?" said Merritt.
"Well, as he said, it's a mighty delicate matter as things are now,"rejoined Rob. "To make a hasty move might force the plotters to rushthings before any precaution could be taken against them. Even to takeJared before the authorities might be premature, so Mr. Mainwaring said.I gathered, in fact, that he means to let matters lie quiet for a timeand watch every move of those whom he suspects."
"They ought to clap the whole outfit in jail," sputtered Tubby, "and givethem nothing to eat but bread and water."
"The last part of that remark would be a fearful punishment to Tubby, allright," chuckled Merritt, nudging Rob.
"What a lucky chap Fred Mainwaring is," said Rob presently. "Just think,when his father goes back to Panama he's to go, too. His dad says thatevery American boy who can ought to see the Big Ditch before the water isin it, and that, even if Fred does miss some schooling, he will begetting some education that can't be obtained from books."
"That's the sort I'd like," sighed Tubby, who was a notoriously unwillingworshipper at the shrine of knowledge.
"How about a cook book?" chuckled Merritt mischievously, and then dodgedaside just in time to avoid a blow from Tubby's chubby fist.
Suddenly, behind them came the sound of wheels and the staccato rattle ofa horse's hoofs tapping the road at a rapid trot.
"Out of the road, fellows, here comes a rig," cried Rob.
So fast was it coming that they had hardly time to step aside before thebuggy, which held two occupants, was beside them. The driver pulled thehorse up almost on its haunches and hailed them as they stood in the darkshadow of some big maples at the side of the road.
"Hey, you fellows! Got the time? We've got to make that seven-thirtytrain out of Hampton and my watch is broken."
Rob, and his companions, too, recognized the voice instantly.
"It's just seven o'clock, Jared," said Rob, "you'll have plenty of time."
"Confusion," muttered another voice in the rig, that of the strange youngman who now appeared to be Jared's shadow. "It's those Boy Scouts."
Jared picked up his whip and aimed a vicious slash into the darkness. Itis not likely that he had any hope of striking one of the lads hedisliked so much, but he intended it probably just to show his hatred ofthem in a graphic manner. The next instant the same whip cracked over theflanks of his horse and the buggy dashed off into the gathering gloom.
"Whew!" whistled Rob, "so Jared is going to beat a retreat, eh?"
"Looks like it. I saw a suit case strapped on the back of that rig."
"We ought to stop him."
"How? By what right? What excuse could we offer?"
"That's so; but just the same it looks as if he's going to give Mr.Mainwaring the slip and join those plotters some place."
"It certainly does," admitted Merritt. "I guess we ought to call up Mr.Mainwaring and ask him if there is anything we can do."
"That's a good idea, Merritt. At any rate, having done that, we shallhave performed our duty."
Hardly had the words left his lips before there came booming out on thenight air a sound that thrilled them all to the heart. Clear and loud,with a note of clamorous terror, there came winging toward them the clangof the fire alarm! Stroke after stroke struck with a heavy hammer on thetire of an old locomotive wheel--that was the only alarm Hampton boasted.The wheel hung outside the fire house of the Vigilant Engine CompanyNumber One. There was no Number Two.
"Gee whiz, fellows! The fire alarm!" cried Tubby, pulling up short in theroad.
They stood breathlessly listening, while out on the dusk the clamorousnotes of the steel tocsin went clanging and jangling. A thrilling,soul-stirring cry at any time, it was doubly so to these lads, members ofa body enlisted in the cause of helping those who needed aid.
They were standing on the main street at a point where the stores andbusiness houses had given place to residences surrounded by lawns andtrees. Out of the houses there came rushing men and women and children,all in high excitement.
"Fire," cried some of the men.
"Where?" came back in a dozen voices.
But nobody knew accurately. Suddenly a man, hatless and coatless, camesprinting up the street.
"It's the 'cademy!" he was yelling, "the 'cademy's on fire!"
"The Academy!" gasped Rob, aghast at the thought that the private schoolwhich most of the boys enrolled as Scouts attended was in flames.
"It's up to us to do something and do it quick!" he cried the nextinstant. "Merritt, run as quick as you can to Andy's house. Tell him tosound the Assembly. There's lots of work for the Eagles to-night."
A boy that Merritt knew was hastening by on a bicycle.
"Lend me your wheel for Scout duty, will you?" asked Merrittbreathlessly.
The boy eagerly assented.
"I guess they'll need all the help they can get," he volunteered asMerritt sprinted off up the street, "my pop has been on the 'phone andthey say it's a mighty bad blaze."
It seemed an eternity, but in reality it was only a few minutes beforeMerritt reached Andy's home. The little bugler was just rushing out asMerritt dashed up. They almost collided.
"Sound the assembly!" panted Merritt. "The Academy's on fire."
"Wow! Wait a second. I knew of the fire and was going to get hold of Robfor instructions."
Andy darted back to the house. He was out again in a flash and soundingthe sharp, clear notes of the assembly call. Then came another urgentsummons, the quick, imperative "fire call."
"There go the firemen on the run," exclaimed Andy, as several of theVigilants dashed by the house. "Come on, Merritt; the others will allbeat it to the fire-house at top speed."
"Rob's already there, I guess," panted Merritt as they ran side by side,balancing the bicycle. As they proceeded, Boy Scouts came from some ofthe houses and joined them.
"The Academy! The Academy's on fire," they shouted.
Against the darkening sky a red gush of flame leaped up suddenly.
"Come on, fellows!" implored Merritt. "It's going up like a pack offire-works. We've got to hustle if we want to be of any use."
The Boy Scouts at the Panama Canal Page 9