"That's another point, Herbert. You'd have to have money to run a
department."

"Not much. You see we boys would serve without pay, and all we'd need
would be an engine."

"But engines, even the kind worked by hand-pumps, cost money."

"I know it, but we might get a second-hand one cheap. We could raise
the money somehow--get up a show, or have a ball game."

"Perhaps you might, Herbert. But I don't want you running into danger.
I'm sure you are thoughtful to take so much interest in the affairs of
the town. Your father used to be that way."

"Well, our house might catch fire some day, mother, and if I belonged
to the boys' volunteer department, we could put it out for you in a
hurry."

"Don't suggest such a thing, Herbert. I'm afraid we'll never have a
department here."

"Stranger things have happened, mother. I'm going off now to see some
of the boys."

Though this was the first time Bert had spoken to his mother about his
plan of organizing a fire department in Lakeville, he had been
thinking over the matter for some time. Even before the barn burned
down he had had the 'notion in his head, and, when he saw the futile
efforts of the bucket brigade, he determined to take some action.