CHAPTER II
THE RUNAWAY ENGINE
“Did you hear that?” asked Jerry of his two chums, when they were inthe anteroom of the auditorium, and could speak without disturbing themeeting.
“Sounded as if some one was hurt,” added Ned.
A number of men and boys had come out at the same time as had the threefriends, and one of them now hurried to the door and looked down thestreet. There were a number of electric lights, and, as the trees werebare of leaves, a good view could be had.
“Look at that!” cried the man who had made the observation. “Look!”
“What is it?”
“The fire engine horses are running away!” was the excited answer. “Thedriver’s been thrown off, and the horses are pulling the engine downHoyt street hill lickity-split! Say, there’ll be a smash-up all right!”
It did seem so, as Ned, Bob and Jerry noted a moment later, whenthey hurried out in front of the auditorium and gazed down thethoroughfare. The engine could plainly be seen, smoke and sparkspouring from it, for the automatic apparatus, that starts a blaze underthe boiler, had been set going by the engineer as the steamer pulledout of its quarters.
The engine was a new one for Cresville, being one of two purchased toreplace the old hand-drawn pumping affairs that had so long done dutyin the town.
“Come on!” suddenly exclaimed Jerry Hopkins, and he led his two chumsover toward his auto, the trio having come to the meeting in thepowerful machine.
“What are you going to do?” asked Ned.
“Catch those horses!” replied Jerry as he hurried on.
And in the momentary pause that ensued, while he and his friends weregetting in the car, to give pursuit to the runaway fire engine steeds,I will take a brief moment to acquaint my new readers with the chiefcharacters of this story.
Those of you who formed your friendship for the chums in the bookcalled “The Motor Boys,” know Ned, Bob and Jerry full well by this time.
Jerry Hopkins was the son of a rich widow of Cresville, and was theleader of the trio, the three boys having been chums, friends andinseparable companions for many years. Bob Baker, otherwise known as“Chunky,” was the son of Andrew Baker, a banker of the town, while NedSlade’s father kept the chief department store in Cresville. As alreadystated, this town, or city, as its more enthusiastic admirers calledit, was in New England, not far from Boston.
As may be guessed from the title of the first book, the lads were muchinterested in machines propelled by gasoline motors. Their initialventure was with motor cycles, after their bicycle days, and then theysecured an automobile, in which they went on many a tour, even downinto Mexico, as related in other volumes of the “Motor Boys Series.”
They later acquired a motor boat and voyaged on the Atlantic andPacific, and several books are devoted to their activities in thisregard. As might be expected, the perfection of the aeroplane gave theboys a chance for new activities, and they ventured above the cloudsmore than once.
From the heights to the depths was a natural descent, and a submarinetook the motor boys under the ocean where they had more than onethrill. Then they went back to their motor car and boat again; and hadmore exciting times on road and river.
In “The Motor Boys at Boxwood Hall; or, Ned, Bob and Jerry asFreshmen,” the seventeenth book of this series, you will find ourheroes in a new phase. Too long, their parents decided, had they beenliving a free and careless life, with no systematic studying to fitthem for the struggle that lay before them. So they were sent to schoolagain, and Boxwood Hall was the place selected for them.
Because a certain clique there had the idea that these lads regardedthemselves too seriously, there was a conspiracy formed against Ned,Bob and Jerry at the school, and they entered under a handicap. Howthey worked it off, and came in “first under the wire,” will be foundfully set down. Also may be read how the faithful trio, at the lastmoment, turned what might have been an athletic defeat into victory,and, incidentally, helped a fellow student to develop his characteralong the right lines.
Mr. Slade and Mr. Baker were financially interested in a certainwestern cattle ranch, and when it was learned that serious thefts hadtaken place there the motor boys were eager to go out and try to solvethe mystery. How they did is told in “The Motor Boys on a Ranch.”
From then on matters at Boxwood Hall went more smoothly, and Ned, Boband Jerry were accorded the place to which they were entitled.
They had now come home for the Easter vacation, to find their townplunged in war excitement, in which the whole country shared.
“Do you mean you’re going to chase after that engine in this car?”asked Bob, as he managed to fling himself into the rear seat, whileJerry and Ned took the front one and the former started the motor.
“That’s just what I’m going to do,” Jerry answered. “If Jim Foster, thedriver, has been thrown off, there’s no one aboard to stop the firehorses.”
“Well, Jim was thrown off all right!” exclaimed Ned. “They’ve pickedhim up, and are carrying him into Doctor Newton’s place.”
“Hank Tedder, the engineer, is hanging on all right,” added Bob, as hepeered down the street and observed a man clinging to the rear of theswaying engine.
“Yes, but he can’t climb over and get into Foster’s seat and stop thehorses,” decided Jerry, as he turned on more speed and swung his bigtouring car after the engine ahead of him. “This is the only way tostop those frightened horses.”
“Unless some one gets in front of ’em and brings ’em up,” added Ned.
“Who’d take a risk like that?” asked Bob, from the rear seat. “In fact,I don’t see how you are going to work it, Jerry.”
“I don’t quite know myself; but I’m going to try. You know the way amounted policeman stops a runaway team is to ride up alongside ofthem, get his horse to going at the same speed as the bolters, and thengradually bring them to a stop.”
“And you’re going to try that?” asked Bob, incredulously.
“Sure! Why not? It’s the only thing to do,” answered Jerry, calmly. “Ifthose horses keep on down the Hoyt street hill they’ll go smack intothe river! It’s a pity they didn’t get auto engines while they were atit.”
“That’s right!” agreed Ned. “Keep on, Jerry, old man!”
“I will! Hold tight, though, fellows, when it comes to the last lap.There may be an upset!”
Indeed the boys were taking a desperate chance. The frightened horses,hitched to the heavy engine, were pulling it along at top speed, andthe downward slope of the street added to their momentum. As yetthe grade was gradual, but, a little farther on, the slant was moredecided, leading down to the river.
Hoyt street turned at the end, and went along the river bank, but atthe speed they were going it would be impossible for the horses to makethe turn, the boys thought.
By this time a number of persons, some of whom had left the meeting,were in the street, following after the runaway engine, and shoutingwildly. One or two persons in automobiles started after the speedinghorses, but Jerry’s car was well in the lead, though the horses had agood start.
The engineer of the steamer, realizing the danger should anypedestrians or persons in vehicles get in the path of the wild horses,pulling the tons of steel and fire behind them, kept the whistle goingspasmodically.
The new engine house, as are all those in cities, was fitted with adevice to keep steam at ten pounds pressure constantly in the boiler.When the engine pulled out this pressure was enough to operate thewhistle, and when the fire was started there was soon steam enough towork the pump, in case it should prove to be needed.
“Do you see anything of the fire?” asked Bob, as Jerry’s car speeded on.
Ned looked up. The number of the alarm box indicated that it was inthe neighborhood of his father’s large department store. And he wasrelieved when he saw no tell-tale glare in the sky. But the danger ofthe runaway engine was still present. Could Jerry reach and stop theteam in time?
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