CHAPTER XII
SAGGER'S FIRE LOSS
Though the boys were not thanked by Muchmore, for their good work atthe blaze in the Stockton mansion, the lads knew that they had doneefficient service. Herbert, however, was not satisfied with hisdepartment.
"There are lots of things we'll have to do better," he told Vincentand Cole, the next day. "We get in each other's way, and we're notquick enough. Why, it took ten minutes for all of us to assemble lastnight."
"I don't see any other way of working it than the way we have beendoing," replied Cole, "All the boys run when they hear the bell."
"Yes, I know, but the trouble is some of them have to run too far."
"How else can we do it?" asked Vincent.
"I've been thinking of a plan," replied the young captain.
"What is it?"
"Well, we might divide the company into three divisions. One division,say of about ten boys, could sleep in Cole's barn for two nights, ormaybe three. Then, if an alarm came in they would be right there torush the engine out. The other boys would stay in their homes, and, assoon as they heard the bell, they'd run to the fire. In that waythey'd get to the blaze about the same time the engine would, andthere'd be no delay."
"That is a good scheme," declared Cole. "We've got some old cot bedswe could put here in the barn to sleep on."
"Oh, the hay's good enough in the summer time," replied Bert. "Ofcourse, we couldn't stay here in the winter, unless we fixed up aplace with a stove. Besides, in winter we have to go to school, and wehaven't so much time to attend to fires."
"That's so, our department is liable to go all to pieces when schoolopens," admitted Cole. "That's too bad! And I was just thinking of aplan to attach my force pump to the engine, so as to give us threelines of hose."
"Say, haven't you got anything else to talk about except that forcepump?" asked Vincent. "You must have it on the brain."
"Just the same, that's a dandy pump," went on Cole. "I put a new kindof valve in this morning, and she squirts a hundred feet now. Let meshow you."
"No, let's talk some more about our department," said Vincent. "Do youthink the boys will like this new plan, Bert?"
"I guess so. We'll ask 'em, anyhow. And then there's another thing."
"What is it?"
"I think we ought to have some drills. As it is now some of the boysdon't know what to do. They don't pump good, and they don't pass watergood. We ought to have more practice."
"So we had," admitted Vincent. "Lots of the fellows spilled about halfthe water on the ground last night, instead of putting it in the tank.They were so excited."
"A drill would help that," observed Bert. "We'll get the fellowstogether in a couple of nights, and talk things over."
This was done, and Bert's plan, of having a part of the force stay onduty in Cole's barn every night, met with instant approval. In factthey had to draw lots to see which boys would take the first threenights, as every one wanted that honor. It was arranged that those inthe barn would rush out with the engine, as soon as they heard thealarm on the church bell. The others would assemble at the scene, assoon 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 ofpractice. There are some old buildings in this town, and if they geton 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, wasbuilt in a vacant lot, the location of which was known only to Bertand Vincent. At a certain time, the hour also being unknown to theboys, the bell was rung, permission to do so having been obtained.
One or two boys had been hanging around Cole's barn all day, havinganticipated the alarm, and they wanted to rush off with the engine atonce, but Vincent, who arrived shortly after the first round of twostrokes, which showed that the fire was in the eastern section, wouldnot permit this.
"No, we've got to wait for the others," he said. "It's only at nightthat the new plan is to go into effect."
Soon nearly every member of the company was at the barn, and, withyells, cheers and shouts, the boys dragged the engine through thestreets to where the fire had been kindled.
"Pretty good!" exclaimed Herbert. "You got here in eight minutes, andit's farther than it was to the Stockton mansion. Now, then, douse thefire!"
The big pile of boxes was blazing furiously, but the boys ran theengine close to a small pond, the bucket corps got busy, the hoselines were unreeled, and, in less than three minutes, there was only asmoking heap where there had been fierce flames.
"That's the stuff, boys!" exclaimed Mayor Appelby, who was among thespectators that had gathered. "First thing you know the town will haveto vote you an appropriation."
"Humph!" retorted Mr. Sagger, the miserly butcher. "If the bucketbrigade was here we could do better than that. The brigade is goodenough for Lakeville, and it keeps down taxes."
"Yes, and sends our fire losses up," added the mayor. "Insurance rateswould be much lower if we had a good fire department, even as good aregular one as the boys' volunteer organization is."
"I don't believe it," declared the obstinate butcher.
For the next week the boys had several drills, and they showed a greatimprovement. The different divisions took turns sleeping in the barn,though they were disappointed that no alarm came in to test theirabilities. Some improvements had been made to the engine, for Cole,after much experimenting, had mounted his force pump on the forwardpart of the tank, and attached a long garden hose to the spout. Withit he could send a small stream a considerable distance, though notmuch water went through the small hose, as compared with the largerlines.
"It'll do for small fires," observed Cole, with much satisfaction, ashe contemplated his work.
The very night that Cole finished the work of attaching his forcepump, an alarm came in about eleven o'clock. The volunteer division,which was assigned to barn duty that night, had hardly retired to thecots or the haymow, when the clanging bell told them there was ablaze.
"Lively, boys!" cried Cole, who assumed the post of captain until Bertarrived.
Surely no boys ever dressed more rapidly than did the ten lads in thebarn. In really quick time they were running the engine out of thedriveway, and Cole cried:
"Three strokes! Over to the south side! Say! But it's quite a blaze,all right!"
The sky was already showing a bright glow.
"It's Sagger's butcher shop!" cried Tom Donnell. "Look, it's blazinglike fury!"
The shop was indeed wrapped in flames.
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" cried Constable Stickler, and scores of voicesjoined in the shout.
"Come on! Come on!" yelled Mr. Sagger, as he stood in front of hisstore, fairly jumping up and down in his excitement. "The whole placewill go if you don't hurry, boys!"
"I wonder why he doesn't shout for the bucket brigade now?" askedCole, as he steered the engine as close as he could to the flamingstructure.
"That's right, boys! Put out the fire!" cried Mr. Sagger. "I'll giveyou a hundred dollars if you save my shop!"