It was arranged that those in
the barn would rush out with the engine, as soon as they heard the
alarm on the church bell. The others would assemble at the scene, as
soon as they could get there. Some of the boys called it "camping out"
to stay at the barn.
"And we'll have a drill to-morrow," said Bert. "We need lots of
practice. There are some old buildings in this town, and if they get
on fire we'll have a hard job putting them out."
"Especially if they're a good distance from water," added Cole.
The drill took place the next afternoon. A big fire, of old boxes, was
built in a vacant lot, the location of which was known only to Bert
and Vincent. At a certain time, the hour also being unknown to the
boys, the bell was rung, permission to do so having been obtained.
One or two boys had been hanging around Cole's barn all day, having
anticipated the alarm, and they wanted to rush off with the engine at
once, but Vincent, who arrived shortly after the first round of two
strokes, which showed that the fire was in the eastern section, would
not permit this.
"No, we've got to wait for the others," he said. "It's only at night
that the new plan is to go into effect.
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