We only ran a little ways toward the other barn, and then we found an
old bucket, and George yelled to me to get a bit of rope, and we
lowered it into the canal and ran back to throw the water on the fire.
But it was too little, and the fire was too big.

Farmer Crosscup came running with his hired man, and we all worked with
hose and everything, but the barn burned, all but the north wall, and so
fast that though George and I ran and ran for help, and though Mrs.
Crosscup telephoned to town for engines, it was through burning before
they got up.

After this, George had to go. Aunty Edith got him sent to a place for
colored children, where he could have fresh air, and some one to look
after him, but he had to go away from East Penniwell. The farmers said
he was "dangerous." I was sorry and Aunty May was sorry, too, but it
couldn't be helped. George was sorry, too, but at the last minute he
leaned from the wagon and whispered to me, "Anyway, I done proved dat
dere old fire engine wuz too slow."




CHAPTER VII


LEFT ALONE

After George went away, it seemed very quiet on the towpath. It grew
warmer and warmer, and the cherries got ripe and were picked, and I