SAGGER'S FIRE LOSS
Though the boys were not thanked by Muchmore, for their good work at
the blaze in the Stockton mansion, the lads knew that they had done
efficient service. Herbert, however, was not satisfied with his
department.
"There are lots of things we'll have to do better," he told Vincent
and Cole, the next day. "We get in each other's way, and we're not
quick enough. Why, it took ten minutes for all of us to assemble last
night."
"I don't see any other way of working it than the way we have been
doing," 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, or
maybe three. Then, if an alarm came in they would be right there to
rush the engine out. The other boys would stay in their homes, and, as
soon as they heard the bell, they'd run to the fire. In that way
they'd get to the blaze about the same time the engine would, and
there'd be no delay."
"That is a good scheme," declared Cole. "We've got some old cot beds
we could put here in the barn to sleep on."
"Oh, the hay's good enough in the summer time," replied Bert. "Of
course, we couldn't stay here in the winter, unless we fixed up a
place with a stove. Besides, in winter we have to go to school, and we
haven't so much time to attend to fires."
"That's so, our department is liable to go all to pieces when school
opens," admitted Cole. "That's too bad! And I was just thinking of a
plan to attach my force pump to the engine, so as to give us three
lines of hose."
"Say, haven't you got anything else to talk about except that force
pump?" asked Vincent. "You must have it on the brain."
"Just the same, that's a dandy pump," went on Cole. "I put a new kind
of valve in this morning, and she squirts a hundred feet now. Let me
show you."
"No, let's talk some more about our department," said Vincent. "Do you
think 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 boys
don't know what to do. They don't pump good, and they don't pass water
good. We ought to have more practice."
"So we had," admitted Vincent. "Lots of the fellows spilled about half
the 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 fellows
together in a couple of nights, and talk things over."
This was done, and Bert's plan, of having a part of the force stay on
duty in Cole's barn every night, met with instant approval. In fact
they had to draw lots to see which boys would take the first three
nights, as every one wanted that honor. 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."
Soon nearly every member of the company was at the barn, and, with
yells, cheers and shouts, the boys dragged the engine through the
streets to where the fire had been kindled.
"Pretty good!" exclaimed Herbert. "You got here in eight minutes, and
it's farther than it was to the Stockton mansion. Now, then, douse the
fire!"
The big pile of boxes was blazing furiously, but the boys ran the
engine close to a small pond, the bucket corps got busy, the hose
lines were unreeled, and, in less than three minutes, there was only a
smoking heap where there had been fierce flames.
"That's the stuff, boys!" exclaimed Mayor Appelby, who was among the
spectators that had gathered. "First thing you know the town will have
to vote you an appropriation."
"Humph!" retorted Mr. Sagger, the miserly butcher. "If the bucket
brigade was here we could do better than that. The brigade is good
enough for Lakeville, and it keeps down taxes."
"Yes, and sends our fire losses up," added the mayor. "Insurance rates
would be much lower if we had a good fire department, even as good a
regular 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 great
improvement. The different divisions took turns sleeping in the barn,
though they were disappointed that no alarm came in to test their
abilities. Some improvements had been made to the engine, for Cole,
after much experimenting, had mounted his force pump on the forward
part of the tank, and attached a long garden hose to the spout. With
it he could send a small stream a considerable distance, though not
much water went through the small hose, as compared with the larger
lines.
"It'll do for small fires," observed Cole, with much satisfaction, as
he contemplated his work.
The very night that Cole finished the work of attaching his force
pump, an alarm came in about eleven o'clock. The volunteer division,
which was assigned to barn duty that night, had hardly retired to the
cots or the haymow, when the clanging bell told them there was a
blaze.
"Lively, boys!" cried Cole, who assumed the post of captain until Bert
arrived.
Surely no boys ever dressed more rapidly than did the ten lads in the
barn. In really quick time they were running the engine out of the
driveway, 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 blazing
like fury!"
The shop was indeed wrapped in flames.
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" cried Constable Stickler, and scores of voices
joined in the shout.
"Come on! Come on!" yelled Mr. Sagger, as he stood in front of his
store, fairly jumping up and down in his excitement. "The whole place
will go if you don't hurry, boys!"
"I wonder why he doesn't shout for the bucket brigade now?" asked
Cole, as he steered the engine as close as he could to the flaming
structure.
"That's right, boys! Put out the fire!" cried Mr. Sagger. "I'll give
you a hundred dollars if you save my shop!"