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           Smithstokeduptherangefireboxandthemaidsbeganbringingdownhugepotsfromtheirceilinghooks.

           "Justaswellwekilledasteeryesterday,"saidthehousekeeper."Minnie,here’sthekeytotheliquorstorehouse.YouandCatfetchallthebeerandrumwe’vegot,thenstartmakingdamperbreadwhileIcarryonwiththestew.Andhurry,hurry!"

           Thehorses,unsettledbythestorm,hadsmelledsmokeandwerehardtosaddle;FeeandMeggiebackedthetwotrampling,restivethoroughbredsoutsidethestableintotheyardtotacklethembetter.AsMeggiewrestledwiththechestnutmaretwoswaggiescamepoundingdownthetrackfromtheGillyroad.

           "Fire,Missus,fire!Gotacoupleofsparehorses?Giveusafewbags."

           "Downthatwaytothestockyards.DearGod,Ihopenoneofyouarecaughtoutthere!"saidMeggie,whodidn’tknowwhereherfatherwas.

           ThetwomengrabbedhessianbagsandwaterbagsfromMrs.Smith;Bobandthemenhadbeengonefiveminutes.Thetwoswaggiesfollowed,andlasttoleave,FeeandMeggierodeatagallopdowntothecreek,acrossitandawaytowardthesmoke.

           BehindthemTom,thegardenrouseabout,finishedfillingthebigwatertruckfromthebore-drainpump,thenstartedtheengine.Notthatanyamountofwatershortofadownpourfromtheskywouldhelpputoutafirethisbig,buthewouldbeneededtokeepthebagsdamp,andthepeoplewieldingthem.