"That's so," came from John.

"Guess I'll have to wait a few years before I can make a fire engine,
though," responded Cole. "But say, I just happened to think of it!
They've got a new chemical engine over to Jamesville."

"I don't see how that helps us," said Bert.

"Don't you? Well, listen. If they've got a new engine, they won't need
their old hand-pumping one."

"Well?"

"Don't you see what I mean? They'll sell the old machine and we can
buy it. It's a good one, and has a fine pump on. All it needs is a
little fixing, and I can do that. What's the matter with buying the
second-hand engine of Jamesville?"

"Nothing's the matter," returned Bert slowly, "except that we haven't
got the money."




CHAPTER V

BUYING THE ENGINE