Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

1eii 'o pay ana no pltCn not.
growled Dick as he faced Casey.
Drop It. Casey" he said, Delay
that. Let the dog 60"
"Hooray," yelled Casey. obeying
the order-the dog landed near its
owner-and throwing his arms
around Dicks neck. Here he is
Where ye been. me jewel? Did they
kill We at all9'
No sound. no ground. no bottom
to be found with the long pitch pine
pike-pole. Daddy" howled Shannon
vaulting between them on the end Of
long pole. Can we take soundin's
on the Erie Casey? This way" He
stabbed the pavement. NO sound.
no sround-hello, Dick. Here's
Dick"
They seized Dick by the shoulders
and pushed him, unresisting. over
toward the others. while O'Toole
prodded them with the club.
Stop this" he yelled, shaking
himself free. Stop IT, or you'll get
the worst of It. Come on, now, down
to the statlon-all of you" They
paid no attention. Dick retrented 10
the sidewalk and a dignified old gem
tleman tapped him on the shoulder.
He knew him. 1t was Mr.. Arthur
Mabel's father.
You appear to be sober. Young
man" he said. "If you can control
those fellows and induce them 10
leave town. do so; II not, as mayor OF
the town, shall call out the f1remen.
They can attend to them II the police
cannot"
Excuse me, SIR" answered Dick in
some embarrassment--fo the halo
Of Mabels divinity hung over her
father; but II you do. there will
only be some heads to mend can't
control them now-not yet. They're
three-she ets-inthe- wind and wouldn't
take orders from an admiral. But
wait little and I'll get them away"
Chief" called the old gentle
man to the gray-haired police cap
tain, who stood in the crowd. call
ont all the companies and send the
foremen TO me
III GO XII uuNtS Will n tIdnS-
ing Of bells and scattering Of boys,
two engines, two hose carts, and
two hook and ladder trucks clattered
up to the corner from different direc-
tons, and Dick. expostulaung with
his shipmates. who were now form
foot foremen, in fire helmets and
waterproof coats, Fastening toward
the mayor. He also Joined them.
Now look here, sir" he said ex-
citedly; there's no use in this.
They'll resent dictation and some one
will get hurt II you use force with
them. I can keep them from doing
any harm. Leave 1t to me. and I'll
march them to the station
The mayor regarded him seriously,
as though disposed to believe him;
but another man, pushing through
the crowd, interrupted him Just as
he was about to speak.
What's up, Mr.. Arthur" he
asked. Want to sprinkle 'em?"
why, yes. Jenkins, had thought
of tor else. throwing them out OF
town by force. ] called your men,
but as chief you are entitled to di-
rect This young man advises delay
thinks he can manage them"
Manage nothing. answered the
other. regarding pick contemptuous-
~. 'Tll give EN- a bath for the fun
of 1t. and drive EN- afterward"
Suit yourself jenkins"
"All right" said Dick, angrily.
you II be sorry for 1t, promise you.
I'll stand by my mates"
He hurried to them where they
were regarding with mild interest the
preparations for their undoing.
They seemed to have forgotten their
idea Of parade.
Break - scatter - clear out"
yelled Dick; they're going to turn
the water on you"
Going to what" they answered
in chorus. Going to turn the water
on us? Are we aHre? Going 10
wash US? Why not holystone us?
Billson. shut off steam, there: silence
that fog-horn O. yours. Scanlon,
beat to quarters. Repel boarders.
All hands repel boarders, Keegan,
from forrard."
Even as they detained the two
companies were rushing their en-
gines and hose carts In opposite d.
rections to the hydrants at the next
corners. the carts paying out hose as
they went. The hook and ladder
men remained by their trucks. Two
pipe men at each hose coupled on
the heavy brass nozzles, waited until
the engines whistled, and sang out
in answer. Men passed the word
along the two lines and water came
"A deluge of II, in two solid streams,
which struck the procrastinating
blue-jackets and knocked most Of
them down. while the crowd cheered.
Although wetting has little eff
feet on the health OF a sailor, It in
variably adds to his discomfort and
combativeness. They arose, much
soberer than when they fell. charged
ON the nearest nozzle and wrested II
from the firemen, who fed, followed
by the stream, which, first circlinR
overhead, generously soaked the
spectators on the sidewalk. Leaving
two In charge Of the first nozzle, they
charged on and captured the second,
the pipe men speeding out of range
like the others. Then, while the
flremen. who had so far regarded
the matter as an enjoyable frolic.
were reorgapizing with their oncom-