The Young Firemen of Lakeville; Or, Herbert Dare's Pluck

eld the quarter which Bert had given him a

e," said the la

llow. I've had a hard time of it. Maybe it was mostly my own fault, but I certainly have had hard luck. I can't afford to work for the wages they pay gi

id Bert. "But I haven't any more money. You se

ake this, when I'm a grown man, and you're but a lad. I tell you, when

wrong wa

to make a new start, thanks to you. I'll not forge

, this time in safety, and hurried off across the fields,

ought Bert. "I wonder if I

o, and under stra

one of the group of boys. "What are

d better get the engine back home-that's another thin

the pump valves. They didn't work just right to-night. Why-hello! You're all wet!"

k," replied Bert, not caring t

ws must have left the buckets too close to the

aid no attention to them, but, taking hold of the long rope, pulled the machine through the main street of the village. The lads found their new fire department increased large

ize two companies wit

king at t

xt day and elect officers. Then we'll have to ar

They actually seemed to hate to leave it to go home to bed. "Say, I guess it isn't going to run

n Cole shut up the barn, taking extra go

cket brigade might take a notion to ru

when Cole overhauled the valves and fixed them. Bert and some of his chums called

ganized. Because of his part in starting it, Herbert was unanimously elected captain. There was a little contest as t

ld take the pumps apart and get them together again. Tom Donnell was made chief of the "bucket corps," as the boys decided to call that part of the fire-fighting force whose duty it wa

d a post of honor, Bert decided the boys could take turns. There was something fascinating about directing a stream of water upon a blaze, and i

ermanently in Cole's barn, as that

sort of an alarm bell

s depend on Con

onder if we couldn't get permiss

e be rung whenever there was a fire, and it was arranged that a long rope would hang from the belfry to the ground outside, where i

engine, and now favored the new fire department more than he did the bucket brigade. "I'll ring the bell once when there's a fire in the northern

e took such an interest in their work. As for the members of the bucket brigad

agger. "Then we'll see what good their old second-hand eng

each boy who belonged. As every youth in town was anxious for the honor, it was figured that they could collect at least a dollar a week in this way, since they charged each bo

iew of the good work of Bert and Vincent, sent the new department ten dollars, so they began to see their way cle

good as new. Constable Stickler had practiced sending the signals, and the bell could be heard by the boys living in the farthest part of the town. As soon as members of the new fire department heard the

lake. They frequently spent much time on the water, for there was good fishing in

," proposed Bert, who, with Tom Donnell, was at th

of the lake. To reach it the boys had to row around a point, which extended for quite a distance out into the water. On this point was a boathouse, which was part of t

boys were surprised to see a small mo

I didn't know there was one of th

m. "Must be a new one

house," said Vincent; "though I didn

t," added John Boll, "but I

exclaimed Bert. "It's

wing craft, and it was coming on at top speed. No one cou

ay!" cried Tom.

. "Do you want to be sunk in the deepest part of

s now almost upon