"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great
arms.

The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and
Tom, observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away
in the dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little
distance away from the shed whence it had arisen. It was
impossible to drop it back again through the roof of the hangar,
as the balloon was of such bulk that even a little breeze would
deflect it so that it could not be accurately anchored. But Tom
had it under very good control, and soon it was being held down
on the ground by some of his helpers.

As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was
obliged to open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor
escape, or he could not have descended.

"Come on, now!" cried the inventor, as he leaped from the deck
of his sky craft. "Let's clean out the red shed. That fire is
only smothered, and there may be sparks smoldering under that
sand, which will burst into flame, if we're not careful. Let's
get the explosives out of the way."

"Bless my insurance policy, yes," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That
was a fine move of yours."

"It was the only way I could think of to put out the fire," Tom
replied. "I knew water was out of the question, and sand was the
next thing."