THE FIRE 



balconies, on the street, were doing the same thing. 

 Some had ordinary cups which they filled a block 

 away! The limit of efficiency was a pail. Nobody 

 did anything in concert with anybody else. The sight 

 of these thousands of little midgets, each with his 

 teacup, or his teapot, or his tin pail, throwing each 

 his mite of water — for which he had to walk a block 

 or so — into the ravening roaring furnace of flame 

 was a sight as pathetic or as comical as you please. 

 They did not seem to have a show in the world. 



Nevertheless, to my vast surprise, the old system 

 of the East won out at last. The system of the East 

 is that if you get enough labour you can accomplish 

 anything. Little by little those thousands of tea- 

 kettles of water had their aggregate effect. The 

 flames fed themselves out and died down leaving the 

 contiguous buildings unharmed save for a little 

 scorching. In two hours all was safe, and I returned 

 to the hotel, having enjoyed myself hugely. I had, 

 however, in the interest and excitement, forgotten 

 how deadly is the fever of Mombasa. Midnight in 

 pajamas did the business; and shortly I paid well 

 for the fun. 



109 



