g, produced the key and unlocked the door. In
another minute the greater portion of the ironwork in the establishment
was on its way to the fire.

The rope-seekers were just returning, laden with everything from
clothes-lines to cables. Half a dozen boat anchors and a grapnel were
fastened to as many ropes, and the crowd pranced gayly about the burning
ell, looking for a chance to make them fast. Captain Eri found a party
with axes endeavoring to cut a hole through the side of the saloon in
order to get out the pool table. After some endeavor he persuaded them
to desist and they came around to the rear and, taking turns, ran in
close to the shed and chopped at it until the fire drove them away. At
last they made a hole close to where it joined the main building, large
enough to attach the grapnel. Then, with a "Yo heave ho!" everyone took
hold of the rope and pulled. Of course the grapnel pulled out with only
a board or two, but they tried again, and, this time getting it around a
beam, pulled a large portion of the shed to the ground.

Meanwhile, another ax party had attached an anchor to the opposite side,
and were making good progress. In due time the shed yawned away from the
saloon, tottered, and collapsed in a shower of sparks. A deluge of water
soon extinguished these. Then everyone turned to the main building,
and, as the fire had not yet taken a firm hold of this, they soon had it
under control.

Captain Eri worked with the rest until he saw that the worst was over.
Then he began the search that had been in his mind since he first saw
the blaze. He found Captain Jerry and Captain Perez perspiringly passing
buckets of water from hand to hand in the line, and, calling them to one
side, asked anxiously:

"Have either of you fellers seen John Baxter tonight?"

Captain Perez looked surprised, and then some of the trouble discernible
in Eri's face was apparent in his own.

"Why, no," he replied slowly, "I ain't seen him, now you speak of it.
Everybody in town's here, too. Queer, ain't it?

"Haven't you seen him, either, Jerry?"

Captain Jerry answered with a shake of the head. "But then," he said,
"Perez and me have been right here by the pump ever sence we come. He
might be 'most anywheres else, and we wouldn't see him. Want me to ask
some of the other fellers?"

"No!" exclaimed his friend, almost fiercely. "Don't you mention his name
to a soul, nor let 'em know you've thought of him. If anybody should
as