n after you begin, you may have to fire several
shots."

"I shall fire only one at each tank," replied Ralph, calmly. "The pieces
were dirty and rusty, and it would have been a waste of both time and
ammunition to have shot with them before they were cleaned. I am ready
now. Both pieces are loaded, and you shall see both balls count."

Ralph had been working as near the blazing tanks as the heat would
permit, and as he finished speaking with George, he shouted for those
near by to stand back. Already had the weapons been aimed, and, with a
blazing stick in his hand, he stood ready to show either his skill or
his ignorance.

Quickly the crowd separated, knowing only too well the value of time,
and Ralph applied the torch.

The explosion was almost deadened by the roar of the flames and the
sharp reports of the iron plates, as they were broken by the heat, but
above all could be heard the crashing of the iron, as the ball, aimed
perfectly true to the mark, made its way into the oil, allowing it to
spout forth in torrents.

"Hurrah! hurrah!" burst from the crowd, as they realized that the boy,
whose skill a moment before they had doubted, had done that which would
have required hours for them to do so successfully, and then on every
side arose the demand that another outlet be opened.

Ralph was perplexed for a moment, since the other cannon was aimed at
the smaller tank, and he had believed that one opening would be
sufficient.

"You will have to put another shot in," cried George. "It will take too
long for the oil to run out of that one hole."

While the crowd were engaged in digging a ditch for the oil that Ralph's
shot had let out, in order that it should not be set on fire by that
which was already blazing, the young student aimed the second cannon.

Again the word was passed for the people to stand back, and a second
ball was sent crashing into the tank with as true an aim as the first.

Then, while all save those who were at work on the dam or helping at the
cannon worked at ditches to carry off the unlighted oil, Ralph made
ready for another volley.

Two perforations were made in the small tank, and two more in the large
one, which admitted of such a discharge of the contents, that all hands
could hasten to the relief of those who were working at the dams.

Already was the day nearly spent, and yet the fire-fiend was raging with
fury hardly abated. The trees had long since fallen before the fiery
bl