"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad--
Koku! Do you want to kill us all!"
CHAPTER III
A DESPERATE BATTLE
Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the
colored man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose
which, half unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass.
Had it been pulled out all the way the water would have spurted
from the nozzle, for it was of the automatic variety, with which
Tom had equipped all his plant.
"But what are you going to do, Tom, if you don't use water?"
asked Ned, wonderingly.
"I don't know--yet, but I know water is the worst thing you can
put on carbide," returned Tom. For all he spoke Slowly his brain
was working fast. Already, even now, he was planning how best to
give battle to the flames.
It needed but an instant's thought on the part of Ned to make
him understand that Tom was right. It would be well-nigh fatal to
use water on carbide. Those of you who have bicycle lanterns, in
which that not very pleasant-smelling chemical is used, know that
if a few drops of water are allowed to drip slowly on the gray
crystals acetylene gas is generated, which makes a brilliant
light.
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