Part 15 (1/2)
”I don't see any other way of working it than the e 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 ht divide the company into three divisions One division, say of about ten boys, could sleep in Cole's barn for two nights, or ht 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 saine would, and there'd be no delay”
”That is a good scheot 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 departo all to pieces when school opens,” ad of a plan to attach ive 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 pu, 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 'e”
”What is it?”
”I think we ought to have some drills As it is now soood, 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 asseet there So out”
to stay at the barn
”And we'll have a drill to-morrow,” said Bert ”We need lots of practice There are soet on fire we'll have a hard job putting theood 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 ti, per been obtained