your `pancheons,'
pails, kettles, any thing that will hold water; and now, lads, pass them
along, and we will soon put out this fire. Now, you lads, tear away the
burning dry thatch from the tops of those cottages; never mind a little
singeing. You won't have a house standing in the place if you don't
look sharp about it!"

Jack, as he spoke, set an example, by doing himself as he directed
others to do. As soon as the people saw what was necessary to be done
to stop the progress of the flames, they worked willingly enough. Jack
leaped up to the top of a wall, and having buckets passed to him, threw
the water over the burning roof. Several of the most active of the men
did the same, while the women and children passed the buckets along with
considerable rapidity. It was very doubtful, however, whether their
efforts would avail in checking the progress of the fire. Jack
continued to encourage them with shouts and cheers, and by this time
many more people having arrived with buckets, he began to hope that his
efforts would not be without success. The shed in which the fire had
originated, and two or three hovels, had already been burned down, while
the outbuilding which communicated with the warehouse was already in
flames: on this, therefore, Jack now directed the people to bestow all
their efforts. A loud cheer at length announced to those who were
arriving on the spot, the owner of the warehouse among them, that Jack's
efforts had been crowned with success, and that the fire was
extinguished. Jack, with his hands blackened and burned, and his
clothes and hair singed, was now called for by the crowd, and before he
was well aware what they were about to do, he found himself seated in a
chair, and carried home in triumph, just at the break of the early
summer morning. Jack, however, was more burned and injured than he had
at first supposed; so much so, that his father forbore making any remark
on his absence during the night. On awaking a few hours afterwards--for
he had been immediately put into his bed, and doctored by the careful
hands of his mother and sister Kate--he found Dr Nathaniel Deane seated
by his side. The latter having felt his pulse, and complimented him on
his achievements, "No, no, Cousin Nat," he answered; "if you knew all,
you would not praise me. I have acted like an idiot, or worse than an
idiot."

"I am glad to find that no great harm has been done except to your poor
hands, my lad.