Part 22 (2/2)
”Whew! But it's hot!” exclai beside Bert, no particular forrounds
”You'll be cooler pretty soon,” consoled the young chief ”I wonder if we can beat those fellows?” he added, referring to the members of the other fire companies
”I'm not afraid of the Northville Centre bunch,” declared Cole, ”but Jamesville is a different proposition The chief there is a hustler, and I understand they are pretty quick They've had lots of practice”
”So have we”
”But not with the cheuess we can rove I'oodly crowd already assereeted the Lakeville boys with cheers Soon after this the Weedsport and Northville Centre contingents arrived
Mr Berga There were running races, walkingraces, and tied-leg races, wherein two ether, did al but run
But what everyone was anxiously looking forward to were the fire drills Though the boys of Lakeville took part in the other ga some of the contests, they waited with ira field, adjoining the grove, Mr Bergman had caused to be erected six small sheds, constructed of old lu boxes To make the fire burn more fiercely kerosene oil had been poured over the boxes
The idea was to let the two companies of Lakeville have a chance first to see what they could do in the way of putting out a fire They were to start fro shacks, and the company which first put out the blaze was to be declared the winner
Then a four-cornered contest, a the Jamesville, Weedsport and Northville Centre firemen, and the winner of the Lakeville event, would strive for the honor of carrying home the silver trumpet
When all was in readiness, with the two divisions of the Lakeville boys lined up at their respective man set fire to two of the shacks In an instant they were enveloped in flaave the word to start
”Now, boys!” cried Bert to his men ”Show 'em hoe do it!”
”Run! Run!” yelled Vincent, to his lads, ”We want the chance to co wheels over the rough ground, the two cheines were hauled toward the blazes
CHAPTER XIX
WINNING THE TRUMPET
Bert gave his lads the order to halt, when the engine was about fifty feet away fro shacks
”Run out the hose!” he called to Tom Donnell ”The rest of you stand ready with the hooks, and, as soon as Toot her pretty near out, pull the boards apart so he can get out the last spark”
Quickly was the hose unreeled Bert stood near the engine, ready to swing the lever and turn the valve wheel that would send the hot sulphuric acid into the soda water Then, when there was a good head of gas accumulated in the cylinder, he would open another valve, and the fire-quenching fluid would spurt frolass holding the vitriol was followed by the instant generation of gas
”Here she comes!” cried Bert, as he turned the valve
A second later a white, foamy stream jetted from the nozzle, and sprayed into the ic