Brown, who might
not know where things were. But he had roughed it so long that he was
the man for emergencies, and seemed to lay his hand on whatever was
needed, by a sort of instinct. Finding that the hose was too short to
reach the upper part of the roof, he was on the roof in a jiffy with two
pails of water, and quenched the most dangerous flames before much harm
was done. This he kept up till the chimney burned itself out, while Ben
dodged about among the gables with a watering-pot, lest some stray
sparks should be overlooked and break out afresh.
While they worked there, Betty ran to and fro with a dipper of water
trying to help, and Sancho barked violently, as if he objected to this
sort of illumination. But where was Bab, who reveled in flurries? No one
missed her till the fire was out, and the tired, sooty people met to
talk over the danger just escaped.
"Poor Miss Celia wouldn't have had a roof over her head if it hadn't
been for you, Mr. Brown," said Mrs. Moss, sinking into a kitchen chair,
pale with the excitement.
"It would have burnt lively, but I guess it's all right now. Keep an eye
on the roof, Ben, and I'll step up garret and see if all's safe there.
Didn't you know that chimney was foul, ma'am?" asked the man, as he
wiped the perspiration off his grimy face.
"Ronda said it was, and I'm surprised she made a fire there," began Mrs.
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