nine o'clock in the morning
Shouts , choking , gasping shouts , greeted the announcement . Then how they did work , the girls with handkerchiefs stuffed in their mouths , and Hippy Wingate with a piece of his khaki shirt gripped between his teeth and partly covering his nostrils as an aid in keeping the smoke out of his lungs . The throats of all were parched and aching for water , but there was none to be had near at hand , and no time to go to the river for it . At nine o'clock in the morning the forest fire was conquered , after having burned over several acres of timber . Here and there little blazes were fanned into life by the morning breeze , but alert eyes discovered , and ready hands quickly whipped them out . `` Done ! But it will have to be watched .