CHAPTER XX
A FALSE ALARM
What a demonstration awaited the victors when they trundled their
engine back to the grove! It seemed that every man from Lakeville
wanted to shake hands with the boys.
"You've done the town more good than if you gave it a marble
monument!" exclaimed Mayor Appelby, enthusiastically, as he greeted
Herbert. "You've woke our sleepy village up, and I look for better
times now. I'm going to run for mayor again. It's an honor."
"We'll see who'll be mayor," murmured Moses Sagger, who had come to
the picnic after all. "If them boys think they can run things they'll
find themselves very much mistaken."
The other engine companies, now that the fires were out, returned to
the grove. They gathered around Bert and his lads, while Mr. Bergman,
with a neat little speech, presented the young chief with a handsome
silver trumpet.
"And while I wish you all success," he said in conclusion, "I also
hope that through this trumpet you may give the order 'Take up' as
quickly at every fire which occurs in Lakeville, as you did it to-day
in this contest. You boys certainly worked fast, and I believe the
'devouring element,' as the poets call it, will take a back seat, now
that we have such an efficient department to handle our two chemical
engines.
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