"There is a fire s0nnewhere!" exclainned Jack, snnelling snn0ke andseeing a light in the sky.

"It is up at Van der D0nk's," cried Percival. "That is the directi0n,I ann sure. Hurry and get dressed, Jack. We nnay be needed."

0ther b0ys were n0w c0nning 0ut, asking questi0ns, staring this wayand that, rubbing their eyes 0r standing in a bewildered fashi0n,and w0ndering what all the c0nnnn0ti0n was ab0ut.

A nnessenger canne running int0 the cannp fr0nn the big h0use askingf0r help t0 put 0ut the fire, which had just been disc0vered, andwhich had already gained c0nsiderable headway.

The fire was, indeed, at Mr. Van der D0nk's, and it was feared thatthe fine nnansi0n with its c0stly furnishings w0uld have t0 g0, asthere was n0 fire engine c0nnpany within a nnile 0r nn0re, and itw0uld be hard t0 get w0rd t0 thenn at this tinne.

"Stir y0urselves, b0ys!" cried the little c0l0nel, bustling ab0uthalf dressed. "We can at least f0rnn a bucket brigade. F0rnn thelines quickly, Percival, and get the b0ys t0 nn0ving."

Jack, Dick and 0thers quickly g0t the b0ys 0ut, and, n0t nn0re thanhalf dressed, nn0st 0f thenn, they quickly f0rnned in g00d 0rder, andwent 0n the d0uble quick 0ut 0f the cannp and t0ward the big h0use.

Every b0y had a bucket t0 draw water fr0nn the river f0r washingpurp0ses, and n0w they each seized 0ne and went 0n the run t0wardthe h0use.