816 MYSTIC ISLES 



The little hose-carts, with a small ladder, arrived with 

 eclat, native gendarmes clearing the road, and French- 

 men and natives shouting the danger of death by these 

 formidable engines. They were of no purpose, the 

 water-taps which were conspicuous in the main streets 

 being absent here, and no water under pressure was 

 available. They knew this, of course, but the hose was 

 unreeled, and a dozen people tripped up by its snake- 

 like movements, the while bandsmen and gendarmes 

 roared out manoeuvers. By now a thousand were there. 

 I counted roughly several hundred bicycles and two pub- 

 lic automobiles, holding thirty persons each, came from 

 the center of town, the enterprising owners canvassing 

 the coffee-shops and saloons for passengers. These 

 carryalls drew up by the stream within forty feet of the 

 blaze, forcing the pedestrians and cyclists to retreat. 



Lovaina appeared, puffing furiously. Vava was 

 roused to a high pitch. He told me by signs how he had 

 seen the fire and given the alarm to the mairie, or city 

 hall, the bell of which tolled for an hour. 



There was no wind, and the flames rose straight up, 

 scorching the cocoanut-leaves, but unharming other 

 houses within twenty-five feet. The crowd lingered 

 until the last timber had fallen. After seeing that there 

 was small danger to the adjoining buildings, and learn- 

 ing that the loss fell upon Chinese only, that no one had 

 been hurt, and that a can of kerosene had exploded, in- 

 terest in the conflagration dropped, and friends and ac- 

 quaintances who had met chatted amiably on other sub- 

 jects. The proximity of the fire and the marshy con- 

 dition of the ground made it proper for the ladies with 

 well-turned legs to raise their gowns high, displaying 



