Part 23 (2/2)

Me Mr

Bergman stood with his watch in his hand He looked at the four fires

Then he called:

”Get ready!”

The boys tightened their grip on the rope They leaned forward, prepared to spring at the command

”Go!” shouted the umpire, and the four coed the engines, the big wheels ruan to cheer,to their favorite companies to beat in the race

Nearer and nearer to the blazing shacks cahters The cohtly in the lead, for their engine was lighter, and there were a score of men on the rope Next came the Lakeville lads, while those from Weedsport were in the rear

Suddenly there sounded a crash, and Bert, turning his head, saw the foreine, striking a rut, overturned, dragging the whole company down

”That--puts--them--out--of--the---race!” panted Cole, who, in spite of his fleshi+ness, was keeping well up with his coot--a--better--chance--now,”

he said

”Don't talk,” advised Bert ”Save your breath for running, Cole”

Which advice the young engineer followed

It was now an even race between the Lakeville, Jamesville and Northville Centre departht their engine

”They've--got--her--up! They're--co!” spoke Cole, as he looked back to see how their unfortunate adversaries fared The three contestants were now about as close as they dared go to the blazes

”Never ot our oork cut out for us!” cried Bert

”Unreel, boys! I'll give you the stream as soon as you're ready!”

”Give it to us now!” cried Cole, quickly ”Turn the valve, Bert The hose and nozzle will stand the pressure, and hold it back until we need it Maybe we can beat 'e for us”

Bert was a little doubtful, but he knew Cole was an authority on hose and nozzles So, before the line was unreeled he had burst the sulphuric acid bottle, and the hissing within the tank told hienerate

”Come on, boys!” cried Cole, ith To snake-like line of rubber toward the blaze which had been assigned to theht proved successful By the time the Lakeville boys were at the fire, the fluid had filled the hose, and was ready to spurt out of the nozzle The others had waited until the hose was fully unreeled before putting the apparatus in operation

”First streaht, as he saw the whitish fluid spurting toward the blaze

They beat the other two companies by at least half a minute, and seconds count in these fire departun So fiercely were the shacks blazing that it seeuish them

The small chemical ones did not appear adequate But it was science triu over matter