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Schofield hurried away in search of Squire Hardy, head man of the

village, and local justice of the peace. He found him working

like a Trojan, his white whiskers ruffled into a circle about his

face.

"Lend us a hand here, Code," yelled the squire, who with three

other men was attempting to get a great circular horse-trough

under a huge pump with a handle long enough for three men to lay

hold of. Schofield fell to with a will and helped move the trough

into place. The squire set the three men to the task of filling

it and then went to Code.

"Any chance to save those wharfs, d'ye think?"

"No, squire. Better leave them and the fish-houses and work on

Boughton's store and the cottages. They're right in the path of

the wind. It'll be tough on Nailor and Thomas to lose their stand

and houses, but you know what will happen if the fire gets into

the dwellings."