Bluff and Will jumped ashore after their leader. Jerry grumbled a whole lot, not at Frank’s decision, but the unfortunate freak of Fate that made him suffer from stepping on a nail in his bare feet, just when he wanted to have an equal chance with his chums about going to the help of those in danger of being burnt out.
Frank and his two companions ran as fast as they could. The bank happened to be fairly open, so they quickly reached the point of land that jutted out. Below here there seemed to be some sort of beach, and over this they could make quick time.
Before now they had discovered that, sure enough, a boat was afire, and Bluff called out that it seemed to be some sort of shantyboat, too. Perhaps they imagined they were about to render assistance again to some poor family, such as the one that had been rescued from the floating treetop, at the time of the adventure with the savage panther.
“I don’t hear any children hollering, though,” panted Bluff, as he kept close to Frank’s heels.
“That’s so,” spoke up Will; “but there’s a heap of yelling going on all the same. Listen to ’em; will you, boys.”
And just then a single voice, filled with excitement, came easily to their ears:
“It’s gaining on us, Ossie, I tell you! There isn’t enough of a crowd to keep the flames back. Didn’t I say that gasolene stove’d do us some day? and it has. The whole thing’s going under!”
“Ossie!” said Will, as they somehow came to a sudden stop.
“Shucks! it’s only _that_ crowd, after all,” remarked Bluff; “let their boat go up in fire and smoke, for all it matters to us, fellows.”
“Well,” said Frank, who knew the speaker better than Bluff did himself; “you can both go back, if you feel that way; but these fellows are in a bad fix; and even if they don’t thank me for lending a hand, I’ve just _got_ to try and help put that fire out, if I want to look at myself in a glass without blushing.”
With that he rushed off again. And hearing the patter of two pair of willing feet close behind him, Frank had to chuckle. Of course neither Will nor Bluff could be left out when there was anything exciting going on.
Two minutes later, and they were on the scene. They found a pretty serious situation, with the flames pouring out from one end of the houseboat, that must have cost the millionaire father of Oswald Fredericks some thousands of dollars to outfit.