The plunging horses had been pulled down, and a man was already sitting
on the head of each to keep them from kicking further. There are
generally some wise persons present in such a calamity, who know just
what ought to be done.

Willing hands were already unhitching the horses, so that they could be
taken out of the way, and the ditched engine upraised.

"Where's Hank, the driver! Is he hurt?" asked some one; and Paul
recognized the old minister, who must have been on the way home from
visiting when the alarm burst out, and hence he had accompanied the fire
fighters, eager to lend a hand at the rescue work.

"Here he is, and just comin' to, after being knocked senseless. Hank
ain't hurted, I reckon," answered a citizen who had run with the machine.

"How about the engine--is she much damaged?" asked the foreman, as men
set about raising the heavy Rescue No. 1.

"Out of business for this trip, Elderkin. She'll never work again till
she's gone down to the city for repairs," came the answer.

A groan of dismay went up.

"That settles the fate of the old Bradley house, then," declared many, as
they saw the flames and smoke apparently increasing.

Everybody was now anxious to get on the scene, and the engine was left in
charge of a watcher, while the crowd rushed along, exchanging views of
the accident, and the chances of saving the building by means of a bucket