"Hang on," said Nelson now, and away went the two fire horses, pulling
the fire engine.

Ruth nearly fell off when they started, for they jerked the sled, but
she managed to hold on. The two sleds bumped wildly behind her, but
she held the ropes tightly and never cried out even when the boys
pulled her over a curb-stone and her sled tipped far to one side.

"Toot! Toot!" cried Sunny Boy, trying to whistle, and not doing it
very well because it is difficult to run and pull a sled and whistle,
all at the same time.

"Nelson!" called Ruth, as they bumped her down another curbstone. "Oh,
Nelson! Say, Sunny Boy, wait a minute!"

"We can't stop! We have to get to the fire!" cried Nelson, panting.
"When we get to the fire we'll stop."

"But wait a minute!" begged Ruth, "I want to tell you something."

The two little boys pretended to kick up their heels and snort as they
had seen the fire horses do, and they would not stop. They galloped
and pranced and tried to run faster. At last they had to stop to get
their breath. Their cheeks were red and they were as warm as toast.

"Why--why--" stammered Sunny Boy, looking back at Ruth who sat on her
sled with her hands in her little fur muff. "Why, where are our sleds?"

"I dropped the ropes 'way back on Greene Street," replied Ruth calmly.