The fire was in a patch of hay at one end of the loft, close to an open window. Regardless of his personal safety, Abner Balberry leaped in and threw part of the hay out of the window. Then he began to beat out the fire with the water-soaked carpet. "Here's some water," came timidly from below, and Mrs. Felton appeared with two pails full to the brim. He took these upstairs and dashed them on the flames. "You look out or you'll be burnt up!" cried the housekeeper. She was trembling to such a degree that she could scarcely stand. "Git some more water," was Abner Balberry's only reply. The thought that his barn might be totally destroyed filled him with dread, for there was no insurance on the structure--he being too miserly to pay the premium demanded by the insurance company. More water was procured by Mrs. Felton, and at last it was apparent that the farmer was getting the best of the fire. He worked hard and did not seem to mind the fact that his eyebrows were singed and his hands slightly blistered. "There! now I've got it!" he sighed at last. "Are you sure?" asked the housekeeper in a faint voice. "Yes, but I'm a-goin' to hunt around fer sparks. Git some more water." Additional water was soon at hand, and Abner Balberry began a minute search of the whole loft, on the lookout for stray sparks. A few were found and extinguished, and then the excitement came to an end. "How thankful I am that the barn didn't burn down," said the housekeeper, as the farmer came below and began to bathe his face and hands. "It was hot work." "Are you burnt much?" "More'n I want to be. Jest wait till I catch Nat!" "Do you think----" began the housekeeper. "O' course I do!" snorted Abner Balberry. "Didn't I see him a-runnin' away from the barn?" "I never thought Nat would be wicked enough to set a barn on fire." "He was mad because I wouldn't give him no supper. He's a young rascal, he is!" "But to burn a barn!" "Thet boy has got to be taken in hand, Mrs. Felton. I've let him have his own way too much. I'm goin' to lay down the law good an' hard after this." "Maybe he won't come back," suggested the housekeeper. This thought startled the farmer and he lost no time in finishing his washing. "I'm goin' after him," he announced. "If he thinks to run away I'll put a spoke in his wheel putty quick." Taking another look around, to make certain that the fire was really out, Abner Balberry brought out one of his horses and hitched the animal to a buckboard, in the meantime sending the housekeeper back to the house to get his hat and coat. "Where do you suppose you'll find him?" asked Mrs. Felton. "Somewhere along the road most likely." "Maybe he'll hide on you." "He had better not. If he does that, I'll call on the squire about him." "Can you do that?" "O' course I can. Didn't he try to burn down the barn? The squire can make out a warrant for his arrest." "It would be awful to have him arrested."