As soon as Captain Putnam felt assured that the scholars and all
others were safe he organized the boys into a bucket brigade. In
the meantime Mrs. Grow, with more forethought than seemed
possible to her nature, had turned on the water pipes leading
from the water tower on the Hall roof. Thus a dozen small
streams were thrown on the fire, to which the boys soon added
their buckets of water. Then the Cedarville fire department
added their services, and fighting the fire began in earnest,
while Captain Putnam directed the removal of all furniture and
other things which could be gotten out with safety.

"Say, but this is work!" panted Tom, as he struggled along with a
big bucket of water in each hand.

"I only hope we succeed in saving the building."

"We won't save all of it," replied Sam, who was laboring as hard
as anybody. "And I guess all of our clothing will be burnt up."

"Don't say a word about dat!" put in Alexander Pop. "I dun gone
an' buy me a new pair ob checked pants las' week -- an' a new
silk hat, too!" And the negro was almost ready to cry with
vexation at the thought that those new clothes, with which he had
hoped to cut such a dash, would go down in the ruin.

It was a good two hours ere the fire was gotten under control,
and not until after sunrise was the last spark put out. Then
Captain Putnam and several of the others surveyed the damage that
had been done.