to be a successful aerial warship rushed to the open. From the
other shops and buildings nearby were pouring men and boys, for
the Swift plant employed a number of hands now.

Above the shouts and yells, above the crackle of flames, could
be heard the clanging of the alarm bell, set ringing by Koku, who
had pulled the signal in the airship shed. From there it had gone
to every building in the plant, being relayed by the telephone
operator, whose duty it was to look after that.

"My, you've got a big enough fire-fighting force, Tom!" cried
Ned in his chum's ear.

"Yes, I guess we can master it, if it hasn't gotten the best of
us. Say, it's going some, though!"

Tom pointed to where a shed, painted red--a sign of danger--
could be seen partly enveloped in smoke, amid the black clouds of
which shot out red tongues of flame.

"What have you got it painted red for?" Ned asked pantingly, as
they ran on.

"Because--" Tom began, but the rest of the sentence was lost in
a yell.

Tom had caught sight of Eradicate and the giant, Koku,
unreeling from a central standpipe a long line of hose.

"Don't take that!" Tom cried. "Don't use that hose! Drop it!"