Part 13 (1/2)
”That's what!” added Cole ”Besides, you men can't dip up any water unless you put some ropes on your buckets”
”Where are the ropes?” asked the butcher, as he saw the truth of that statement
”You'll have to find 'em, same as we did,” replied Vincent, as he and his chums continued to dip and fill But the clothes line was all cut up, and there was no ine was hauled
”Take that rope,” suggested one ade
”Don't you dare touch that!” cried Cole ”Reel it up, boys, and if they try to take it, douse 'eht to take their rope,” spoke a cooler-headed member of the ot enoughbucket line There's plenty of water there”
Just then there came a blast from the whistle Bert carried
”Pump!” yelled Cole ”Pump, boys!”
The lads, who had an to work the handles with vigor, the flat hose bulged out, and, fro fireorous streams
”Now, boys, lively!” cried Vincent ”Give 'eood-natured race between the two divisions of the depart to pu to it that the tank did not becoine to the cistern, and the fact that there was plenty of water in it, the tank was kept more than half full all the while
Meanwhile, the bucket brigade had been for water froo, hand by hand in the buckets, up a flight of stairs, very little of the fluid reached the blaze The fire had been gaining headway Bert and his two chu hall with their hose, and they sahere the floor and ork, adjoining the chimney, were on fire
”Douse her out, boys!” cried Bert, as he signalled for the water Astreams spurted fro fla out anywhere else,”
said Herbert ”One streah there”
He turned aside, and started to run down another hall, that was at right angles to the one where the fire was Suddenly a man confronted him, and, even in the excitement, Bert knew him for the individual who had been in the motor boat that nearly ran the boys down
”Where are you going?” the man asked
”To look and see if there is a blaze anywhere else,” replied Bert
”Who are you?” inquired the man, who appeared very much excited, more so than the occasion called for, since, as yet, the fire was not beyond control
”I'm captain of the Boys' Volunteer Fire Department,” replied Bert
”Who are you?”
”I'm Mr Muchmore I'm in possession of this house, and you can't pass here!”
”But I only want to see if there's another place on fire We have two lines of hose, and one is enough back there”
”I don't care! You can't pass here!”
Bert wondered at the ht to dispute the peremptory orders
”Put out that fire back there,” went on Mr Much to where Bert had come from ”That is all there is in the house And don't you dare pass into this hall”