The sudden and unexpected shock nearly threw Snap from his feet, and
it was several seconds before he could collect his senses.

Then, in a dim and uncertain way, he realized two things--that there
had been a terrific explosion and that the old boathouse containing
their precious camping outfit was in ruins.

"What in the world can it mean?" he asked himself, as he stared in a
bewildered fashion at the ruin in front of him. "It sounded as if some
dynamite went off."

The noise and shock of the explosion was heard all over Fairview, and
soon people came flocking to the scene from all directions.

"What blew up?"

"Hullo, the Cramer boathouse is down!"

"Fire! fire!"

Such were some of the cries which arose on all sides. Then the crowd
came closer, staring at the fallen building, as Snap had done.

In the meanwhile Snap ran forward until he was less than a rod away
from the wrecked building. He saw a small fire start up among some
splintered boards and, quick to act, picked up some chunks of snow and
attempted to put it out.

"That's a good idea," said John Sell, the grocer, who had arrived, and
he, too, began to throw the snow, and so did others.