Stimson. "It's been a terrible night."
"But it might have been worse."
"That's so."
There was nothing more that could be done. The horses and cows were
taken in charge by several neighbors, who agreed to keep them until
Mr. Stimson could build a temporary barn. Then, as there was little
more to see, for the barn was now completely consumed, the crowd began
dispersing.
"Lakeville ought to have a fire department," said Bert, as he walked
home with his chums.
"Yep. They need some force-pumps like mine," agreed Cole. "I got a
hose rigged up on it, an' if our house got afire, I could put it out
as easy as pie."
"Yes, it's a good pump of yours," admitted Vincent, "but what we need
here is a regular pumping engine, and some lines of hose. If we'd had
'em to-night we might have saved the barn."
"The Selectmen of Lakeville are too stingy to appropriate any money
for a fire department," said Bert. "I remember once, years ago, when
my father was alive, he proposed it, but nothing ever came of it."
"This is a miserly town, anyhow," added Cole. "They never have any
Fourth of July celebration."
"That's right," agreed his chums.
Little was talked of in the village the next day but the fire at the
barn.
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