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The Ne'er-Do-Well by Rex Ellingwood Beach
page 124 of 526 (23%)

Kirk pointed to the nearest fireman. "If he'd get up under that
wall he could save the roof and be out of the heat." He undertook
to convey this suggestion to the fellow, but without result. "I
can't stand this," he exclaimed at last. "Let's give him a hand,
Allan."

"Very well, sar."

"Here! help me get a kink in this hose. There! Now you hold it
until you feel me pull." Kirk forced his way out through the
crowd, to find the fireman holding the nozzle, from which a feeble
stream was dribbling, and mechanically directing it at the fire.
Kirk laid hold of the canvas and, with a heave, dragged it, along
with its rightful guardian, ten feet forward; but there had been
no bugle-blown order for this, and the uniformed man pulled
backward with all his might, chattering at Kirk in Spanish.

"Well, then let go." Anthony shook the Panamannikin loose, then
ran forward across the street until he brought up at the end of
the slack and felt the hose behind him writhe and swell as Allan
released his hold. The next instant the negro was at his side, and
the two found themselves half blistered by the heat that rolled
out upon them. But the newly ignited roof was within range, and
the stream they played upon it made the shingles fly.

"Oh, Lard!" Allan was crying. "Oh, Lard! I shall h'expire."

"Pull down your hat and shield your face."

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