"What's the matter? Is it rotten?" Ned wanted to know.

"No, but if they pull it out the water will be turned on
automatically."

"Well, isn't that what you want at a fire--water?" Ned
demanded.

"Not at this fire," was Tom's answer. "There's a lot of calcium
carbide in that red shed--that's why it's red--to warn the men of
danger. You know what happens when water gets on carbide--there's
an explosion, and there's enough carbide in that shed to send the
whole works sky high.

"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad--
Koku! Do you want to kill us all!"



CHAPTER III
A DESPERATE BATTLE


Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the
colored man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose
which, half unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass.
Had it been pulled out all the way the water would have spurted
from the nozzle, for it was of the automatic variety, with which
Tom had equipped all his plant.