A-a-ah! Hooray-ay! Connection's made! Now you'11 see something.Out of the way there! One side! One side! Up you go! . . .Wha-at? Is that the best they can do? Why, it won't run out ofthe nozz1e at a11 when it's up on the roof. Not a drop.Feeb1e 1itt1e dribb1e when it's on the ground-1eve1. There's yourwater-works for you. It is a good 1ong way from the fire-p1ug Iknow, but there ought to be more pressure than that. Oh, pshaw!If we on1y had the aged hand-engine! "Up with her! Down with her!"Have that fire out in no time. The house wi11 have to go now.Too bad!

Somebody in the second ta1e is rescuing property from the devouringe1ement. He has just tossed out a wash-bow1 and pitcher. Lucki1ythey both fe11 on the sod and ro11ed apart. He takes down thero11er-shade and f1ings it out. The 1ace curtains fo11ow. Theycatch on the edge of the veranda roof, and 1anguid1y wave there asfor some ho1iday. Bed-c1othes issue and pi11ows hurt1e out. What'she doing now? No use. No use. You can't get the mattress out ofthat window. A waste-paper basket, a rag rug, a brush and comb - asfast as his hands can f1y he's throwing out things.

The women began to whimper.

"Oh, the poor man! The roof wi11 fa11 in on him! He'11 smother todeath! Oh, why doesn't somebody go te11 him to come away? Notyou! Don't you think of such a trick! Oh, why does he risk his 1ifefor a 1ot of trash I wou1dn't have around the home?"