y on fire, Distin?"

"I've just come out of it, and didn't see any flames," said the youth
contemptuously.

"Here, hi! Distie!" came from the side-road leading to the rectory
grounds. "Wait for us. Who's that? Oh, you, Vane. What's the
matter?"

"I don't know," replied Vane. "I jumped out of bed when I heard the
alarm bell."

"So did we, and here's Aleck got his trousers on wrong way first."

"I haven't," shouted Macey; "but that's my hat you've got."

As he spoke, he snatched the hat Gilmore was wearing, and tossed the one
he held toward his companion.

"Are you fellows coming?" said Distin, coldly.

"Of course we are," cried Macey. "Come on, lads; let's go and help them
get out the town squirt."

They started for the main street at a trot, and Vane panted out:--

"I'll lay a wager that the engine's locked up, and that they can't find
the keys."

"And when they do, the old pump won't move," cried Gilmore.

"And the hose will be all burst," cried Macey.

"I thought we were going to help," said Distin, coldly. "If you fellows
chatter so, you'll have no breath left."

By this time they were among the houses, nearly everyone of which showed
a light at the upper window.

"Here's Bruff," cried Vane, running up to a group of men, four of whom
were carrying poles with iron hooks at the end--implements bearing a
striking family resemblance to the pole drags said to be "kept in
constant readiness," by wharves, bridges, and docks.

"What have you got there, gardener?" shouted Gilmore.

"Hooks, sir, to tear off the burning thack."

"But where is the burning thatch?" cried Vane.

"I dunno, sir," said the gardener. "I arn't even smelt fire yet."

"Have they got the engine out?"

"No, sir. They arn't got the keys yet. Well, did you make him hear?"
continued Bruff, as half-a-dozen men came trotting down the street.

"Nay, we can't wacken him nohow."

"What, Chakes?" cried Vane.

"Ay; we've been after the keys."

"But he must be up at the church," said Vane. "It's he who is ringing
the bell."

"Nay, he arn't theer," chorused several. "We went theer first, and
doors is locked."

By this time there was quite a little crowd in the street, whose
components were, for the most part, asking each other where the fire
was; and, to add to the confusion, several had brought their dogs, some
of which barked at the incessant ringing of the big bell, while three
took part in a quarrel, possibly induce