to put out the fire!"

"Why don't they think to use the hose?" cried the young
inventor, for he had his shop equipped With many hose lines, and
an electrically driven pump. The hose! The hose, dad!" shouted
Tom, but it is doubtful if his father or Mrs. Baggert heard him,
for the engine of the airship was making much noise. However, the
two with the buckets looked up, and waved their hands to those on
the Flyer.

"There's Eradicate!" yelled Ned. "He's got the hose all right!"
The colored man was beginning to unreel a line.

"That's what it needs!" exclaimed Tom. "Now there's some chance
to save the shop."

"We'll be there ourselves to take a hand in a few seconds!"
cried Mr. Damon, forgetting to bless anything.

"The scoundrel who started this fire, and those back of him,
ought to be imprisoned for life!" declared Mr. Nestor.

A moment later Ned had landed the airship within a short
distance of the shop. In an instant the occupants of the craft
had leaped out, and Tom, after a hasty glance to see that his
valuable camera was safe, dashed toward the building crying:

"Never mind the pails, dad! Use the hose! there's a nozzle at
the back door. Go around there, and play the water on from that
end."