"Well, boys, all ready for a blaze?" asked Bert. "How's the machine,
Vincent?"
"All right, I guess. We thought we were going to have a run, a while
ago."
"How's that?"
"Pile of shavings near Sagger's new butcher shop caught fire, and made
a lot of smoke. He came running in here, and wanted us to take the
engine out, but I saw it didn't amount to anything, and I didn't want
to waste a lot of chemicals on a blaze like that."
"What did you do?"
"We put it out with a few pails of water. He could have done the same,
only he was too excited."
"And he is the man who said the bucket brigade was good enough,"
observed John Boll.
"I guess he's changed his mind," remarked Bert. "I'm going over to
Cole's barn," he added. "It's my night on duty."
Bert found Cole and several of his chums engaged in games of checkers
and dominoes in the barn, which had been fitted up as much as possible
like a fire-house. Bert greeted his chums, and then sat down, to
await, with what patience he could, the promised arrival of Mort.
"I hope he comes," thought the boy. "I'd like to get at the bottom of
this."
It was nearly nine o'clock when Mort looked in at the open door of the
barn and nodded to Bert.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172