Cora said afterward that they reached the barn in less than four
minutes, but Bess declared they never went as fast as that. Mr.
Appleby did not know what to make of three excited girls, in two
panting automobiles, rushing up to him and demanding the fire
apparatus, but--he managed to understand what had happened, and why
they wanted it.
"Tie the hose carts to the back of the autos with ropes!" cried
Cora. "We can pull them up the hill. Are there any men around to
help with the hose? If there are we'll take them to the fire in our
cars."
"No, I guess not; but I'll send my boy for some help right away.
There'll be lots of men in their houses 'count of the rain. I'll go
with you."
Fortunately there was no need to hunt for ropes, as there were two
long ones on the hose carts, and Mr. Appleby, working with speed,
aided by the girls, soon had the apparatus attached.
The run back took longer, but it--was made in good time, and Cora
and Bess, at the wheels of their respective cars, guided them and
the hose carts into the yard near the burning house.
The blaze was fiercer now, but it had not eaten down as far as it
would have done had it not been for the heavy rain.
The farmer and his hired man had carried the bedridden woman out,
placing her on a mattress in the carriage house.
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