The Young Firemen of Lakeville; Or, Herbert Dare's Pluck

Donnell, whom he joined, almost as

bells. Old Stickler is ringing

y, Vincent, do you

, a few minutes ago, that he thought it was the Sto

t gets going we can't put tha

s only a s

rt. "But come on. We mu

when they got there. Cole had jumped out of bed at the first

ied, as Bert and his

We will need a few more fellows to haul her up th

will get too m

s to go with not enough to work the engine. T

of 'em now!" e

be heard the tramp of running

igade! We'll beat t

s hurry!" exclaimed C

s rushed into the barn. They lived on the far side of

ried Bert. "Don't let th

s was his privilege, jumped on the engine to steer, for he had rigged up a tiller wheel on it

r the barn floor, the apparatus was hauled out

e bucket brigade, trying to catch up with the foremost men, who, u

ft behind, and soon they were almost up to th

to the foot of the hill on which the big house stood. It could b

Bert. "Maybe we can put it out, boys, and s

t as soon as did the first contingent of the bucket brigade. Ou

be burned up! The house will be

asked Bert, as he signalled

Here's one! But be car

Oh, dear! This f

but seemed to be only in one pa

he buckets. We'll have to dip up the water from the cistern, and pour it into the engine tank. Vincent, you take charge here

ope attached to them, by which they could be dropped down into the cistern, when the co

, and with the nozzle

t hurried in

re the fire is," he sai

the house as fast as her tottering legs would carry her. "The fire's in an

ter and filling the tank. The boys had not yet begun to work the handles, as Bert had arra

r the streams. The flames were becoming brighter and brighter, and were now shooting from windows

followed by several men he pushed his way to the cistern. He had been searching all abou

and we're going to st

you men can't dip up any water unless

ed the butcher, as he saw

chums continued to dip and fill. But the clothes line was all cut up, and

ggested one member o

ole. "Reel it up, boys, and if they

mber of the men's fire department. "Come on to the lake, men. We've got

e a blast from the

led Cole. "

e handles with vigor, the flat hose bulged out, and, from the sound of th

ed Vincent. "Give 'em al

possible, and the other seeing to it that the tank did not become empty. Because of the closeness of the engine to

buckets, up a flight of stairs, very little of the fluid reached the blaze. The fire had been gaining headway. Bert and his tw

e water. A moment later two big streams spurted from the

breaking out anywhere else," said Herbe

ne where the fire was. Suddenly a man confronted him, and, even in the excitement, Bert

ou going?" t

ere is a blaze anywher

much excited, more so than the occasion called fo

ys' Volunteer Fire Dep

are

possession of this house

ther place on fire. We have two lines

e! You can't

ous action, but the boy had no rig

tioning to where Bert had come from. "That is all there

ung captain, quietly, as he

f flame beyond where Muchmore was stand

hrust Bert to one side so violently that the you

Bert exclaimed, highly indignant. "I

e man, and then, before Bert could answer,

as a second look convinced him that there was no blaz

efforts the fire s

ive us a bit more wa

e boys at the handles, who had lagged a bit, increased their strokes, and more water was available. A few seconds l

you, Bert?

. "There are some valuable paintings in that room, and they ought to be saved. Can you boys get them out?"

nt. "Come on, Bert. That will

e aid given by the bucket brigade, which last was not much. They had run up ladders on th

d!" exclaimed Vincent,

's the

at. The paintings will be burned, and Mr. Stockton

oor in!" cried Bert

ared to rush

ooked up to see Muchmore hastening toward