e fire is under control now."

"Yes, it seems to have gone visiting," observed Koku.

"Visiting?" queried Ned, in some surprise.

"Yes, that is, it is going out," went on Koku.

"Oh, I understand!" laughed Ned. "Yes, and I hope it doesn't pay us
another visit soon. Oh, look at Tom, would you!" he cried, for the
young aviator had swung his ship about over the flames, to bring
another row of sand bags directly above a place where the fire was
hottest.

Down showered more sand from the bags which Tom opened. No fire could
long continue to blaze under that treatment. The supply of air was cut
off, and without that no fire can exist. Water would have been worse
than useless, because of the carbide, but the sand covered it up so
that it was made perfectly harmless.

Moving slowly, the airship hovered over every part of the now slowly
expiring flames, the burned opening in the roof of the shed making it
possible for the sand to reach the spots where it was most needed. The
flames died out in section after section, until no more could be
seen--only clouds of black smoke.

"How is it now?" came Tom's voice, as he spoke from the deck of the
balloon through a megaphone.

"Almost out," answered Mr. Damon. "A little more sand, Tom."

The eccentric man had caught up a piece of paper and, rolling it into a
cone, made an improvised megaphone of that.

"Haven't much more sand left," was Tom's comment, as he sent down a
last shower. "That will have to do. Hustle that carbide and other
explosive stuff out of there now, while you have a chance."

"That's it!" cried Ned, who caught his chums meaning. "Come on, Koku.
There's work for you."

"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great arms.

The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and Tom,
observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away in the
dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little distance away from
the shed whence it had arisen. It was impossible to drop it back again
through the roof of the hangar, as the balloon was of such bulk that
even a little breeze would deflect it so that it could not be
accurately anchored. But Tom had it under very good control, and soon
it was being held down on the ground by some of his helpers.

As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was obliged to
open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor escape, or he
could not have descended.

"Come on, now!" cried th