第45章

A STRANGE DISCOVERY

Once it became evident to the occupants of the airship what Tom Swift's plans were, they all prepared to help him.Previous to the trip certain duties had been assigned to each one, duties which were to be exercised when Tom gave the exhibition of his new aerial fire-fighting apparatus at the set fire before the fire department of Denton.

This preparation now stood the young inventor in good stead, for there was no confusion aboard the Lucifer when she winged her way toward the burning Landmark Building, where the flames were continually spouting higher and higher as they rushed through the roof, directly above the stairway well and elevator shafts.

So far the flames had confined themselves to this central part of the big structure, but it was only a question of time when they would spread out on all sides, licking up the remainder of the pile.And, for the most part, the firemen on the ground were at a great disadvantage.

They had run in lines as near as they could get to the center of the blaze, and had also attached hose to the standpipes inside the building.But this last effort was wasted, as developed later, for there was no one in the building to direct the nozzle ends of the hose attached to the standpipes on the different floors.Also the fierce heat fairly melted the pipes themselves in the vicinity of the elevator shafts, and there was no automatic sprinkling system in the building.

This was the situation, then, when Tom in his airship loaded with fire- extinguishing chemicals headed for the blaze.And this, also, was the desperate situation that confronted Mary Nestor and her uncle, Barton Keith, as well as Amos Field and Jason Melling.Those unscrupulous and cowardly men were in a veritable panic of fear, which contrasted strangely with the calm, resigned attitude of Mary and her uncle.

"We must get out! Some one must save us!" yelled Field."Jump from the window!" cried Melling.

"No, I can't permit that!" declared Mr.Keith, standing in their path."Itwould be sure death! As it is, there may be a chance." "A chance? How?" asked Field."Listen to that!"Through the closed door of Mr.Keith's office could be heard the roar and crackle of flames, while the very air was now stifling and hot, filled with acrid smoke.

"We can only wait," said Mr.Keith, and he wet Mary's handkerchief in the water and handed it to her to bind over her face.

"Is everything all right, Ned?" called Tom, as he turned on a little more power, so that the Lucifer lunged ahead toward the great pillar of fire that now reddened the sky for miles around.

"All ready," was the answer."You only have to give the word when you want us to let go.""Let go!" cried Mr.Damon."Bless my umbrella, Tom! We don't have to jump out, do we?""He means to let go the extinguisher grenades," said Mr.Baxter."Shall we let them all go at once, Tom?" asked the chemist.

"No, drop half when I shoot over the first time.We'll see what effect they have, and then come back with the rest.""That's the idea!" cried Ned."Well, give us the word when you're ready, Tom.""I will," was the answer of the young inventor, and with keen eyes he began to set the automatic gages so those in charge of the grenades would be able to drop them most effectively.

The flames were mounting higher and higher above the ill-fated Landmark Building.It was a "land-mark" now, for miles around--a fearsome mark, indeed.

"I hope every one is out of the place," said Ned, as the airship approached nearer and the fierceness of the fire was more manifest.

"Bless my thermometer, you're right!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."I don't see how any one could live in that furnace."Seen from above it appeared that the fire was engulfing the whole building, while, as a matter of fact, only the central portion was yet blazing.But it was only a question of time when the remainder would ignite.

And it was to this fact--that the fire was rushing up the stairway and elevator shafts as up a chimney--that Mary and her uncle, as well as Field and Melling, owed their temporary safety.

Had Tom known that the girl he loved was in such direful danger, it is doubtful if his hand would have been as steady as it was on throttle and steering wheel.But not a muscle or nerve quivered.To Tom it was but carrying out a prearranged task.He was going to extinguish a great blaze, or attempt to do so, by means of his aerial fire-fighting apparatus.And his previous tests had given him confidence in his device.His one regret was that the fire department of the city that was contemplating the purchase of certain rights in his invention could not witness what he was about to do.

"But they'll hear of it," declared Ned, when Tom voiced this idea to his chum.

Nearer and nearer to the up-spouting column of flames the airship winged her way.Tense and alert, Tom sat at the wheel guiding his craft with her load of fire-defying chemicals.Behind him were Ned, Mr.Damon and Mr.Baxter, ready to drop the grenades at the word.

"Getting close, Tom!" called Ned, as they could all feel the heat of the conflagration in the Landmark Building, which now seemed doomed.

"You'll not dare cross it too low down, will you?""No, I'll have to keep pretty well up," was the answer."There's a current of air over that fire which might turn us turtle."Heat creates a draft, sucking in colder air from below, and making an upward-rushing column which, in the case of a big blaze, is very powerful.Tom knew he had to avoid this.

It was now almost time to act.In another few seconds they would be sailing directly into the path of the up-spouting flames.Realizing that to do this at too low an elevation would result in disaster, Tom sent his craft upward at a sharp angle.Then he turned to call to his companions.

"Be ready when I give the word!"

"All set and ready!" answered Ned, and the others signified their attention to the command that soon was to be given.