big shed he and the others had left on the alarm of fire.

Tom, himself, seemed in no doubt as to his procedure With one
look at the blazing red shed, as if to form an opinion as to how
much longer it could burn without getting entirely beyond
control, Tom set off on a run toward another large structure.
Ned, glancing toward his chum, observed:

"The dirigible shed! I wonder what his game is? Surely that
can't be in danger--it's too far off!"

Ned was right as to the last statement. The shed, where was
housed a great dirigible balloon Tom had made, but which he
seldom used of late, was sufficiently removed from the zone of
fire to be out of danger.

Meanwhile several members of the fire-fighting force that had
been summoned from the various shops by the alarm, had made an
effort to save from the red shed some of the more valuable of the
contents. There were some machines in there, as well as
explosives and chemicals, in addition to the store of carbide.

But the fire was now too hot to enable much to be done in the
way of salvage. One or two small things were carried out from a
little addition to the main structure, and then the rescuers were
driven back by the heat of the flames, as well as by the rolling
clouds of black smoke.

"Keep away!" warned Mr. Swift. "It will explode soon. Keep
back!"