e Barnaby mill," and the man went
on his way.

The boys gazed down the river and saw a thick volume of smoke
rolling skyward. Men and boys were running toward it from every
direction.

"It's the mill, as sure as fate!" cried Snap. "Come on, I'm going
to the fire, fellows!" And away he started.

"Isn't that the mill in which your father owns an interest?" asked
Whopper.

"Yes; he owns a third share," answered Snap.

CHAPTER II

THE FIRE AT THE SAW MILL

It was indeed the Barnaby place that was going up in flames, and
already the fire had gained much headway. The place was composed
of the saw mill proper and half a dozen sheds used for the storage
of cut lumber. The plant was valued at thirty thousand dollars,
so if it was swept away the loss would be a heavy one.

The mill was a good half mile from the orchard, but the boys were
all good runners and covered the distance in a few minutes, Shep
and Snap arriving there first and little Giant bringing up the
rear, with a face as red as a beet.

A dozen men and boys were on hand, besides the mill workers, and
a bucket brigade had been formed to throw buckets of water taken
from the river on the flames. Some men were bringing out a line
of hose, which was presently attached to the engine of the mill
itself.

"I am going to help here!" cried Snap, throwing off his coat,
and he went to work with a will and the other lads did the same.
The buckets of water came along swiftly, but for a long time
it looked as if the whole plant was doomed to destruction. The
fire was in a shed next to the saw mill itself, a place one end
of which was used as an office by the mill company. The wind
was blowing the sparks directly to the mill proper.

"Phew! but this is hot work!" cried one of the men. "Can't stand
this much longer."

"Don't give up!" pleaded the master of the mill. "Perhaps the
wind will change."

It certainly was warm work, as all of the boys found out. The
sparks and brands were dropping over them, and once Snap's shirt
sleeve caught fire, while Shep had a spark blister his neck and
cause him to let out a yell like an Indian.

In the midst of the excitement, Mr. Dodge arrived, and a moment
later the local fire engine, an old-fashioned affair purchased
from a neighboring city. The stream of water, however, did good
service, and the fire was kept largely to the shed in which it
had started. The mill itself caught a dozen times, but the fl