Part 17 (2/2)

”Hark! What's that?” inquired Cole

The boys heard a distant shouting

”The bucket brigade is turning out,” spoke To about the fire!”

There came a shi+ft in the wind, and to the ears of the boys was borne this cry:

”The lumber yard's on fire! Hurry!”

”The lu we can't do anything to stop it!”

”We've got to try,” declared Cole

”Of course,” answered Bert, as if any one doubted it ”Come on!”

They increased their pace, and as they neared the end of the long street, they were joined by several of their comrades, who had rushed from their houses half-dressed

”Where's the fire?” called Bob Fenton, as hardly awake yet

”Bergman's lumber yard, I heard soht across the lake toward it!”

The lue of the lake, where boats could easily unload their cargo of tie yard, and was one of the principal industries of Lakeville As Bert had said, the as blowing right across the lake The breeze was a stiff one, and if it was sending the fla the pile of dried and seasoned boards the fire was likely to be a furious one

But the boys did not falter They dragged their ru loudly as Cole pulled the cord attached to it The little co increased in nu firemen, however, had proceeded directly to the scene of the conflagration

The lurid light in the sky seehter, and there was a thick pall of s worse!” cried Cole

”You don't expect it's going to put itself out, do you?” asked Frank Burton ”Wait till we get there!”

A little later they turned into the street leading to the lumber yard

As they did so the blaze shone full in their faces, and they sahere the fire had originated One of the big lues that plied on the lake was on fire at the dock, and the flaht toward the heart of the yard, with its piles of tiot our work cut out for us!” cried Bert

”We'll have plenty of water, anyhow,” shouted back Cole ”My force pu about his force puine,” ht down, boys,” called Bert ”Get as close to the water as you can!”

The boys picked their way through the piles of luade were on hand, and they were standing in the shallow part of the lake, dipping up water in their pails and dashi+ng the fluid on the blazing barge ”Volunteers this way!” sung out Bert, and several of his chu, hastened to join their comrades

But now a new proble the dry lue, had assuine down on the dock In fact, the pier was already ablaze in places Great glowing e carried by the wind into the er had been seen, and severalsparks as fast as they fell

But there was every chance that several tiers of lu froht, the whole yard would go