"Fire's out!" cried Cole, from his place on top of the engine. "How's
that for the new department?"

"Boys, you're all right!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball. "There ain't more
than half my hay burned. If I'd waited for that bucket brigade it
would all be gone!"

"That's not so!" cried Mr. Sagger. "We'd have had it out in five
minutes, if those lads hadn't interfered with us."

"That's right," added several men, who did not like the praise
accorded to the young fellows.

In spite of the good work they had done, there was not the best of
feeling toward the boys on the part of the members of the bucket
brigade. But on unprejudiced observers the work of the young firemen
made a good impression, and they were warmly praised.

Quite a crowd had collected around the engine, examining it by the
light of the four lanterns. All the boys were there save Bert, and he
had remained near the brook to gather up some of the engine buckets
that had been dropped there.

As he was picking them up he saw some one crossing the little bridge
that spanned the stream, over a hole that was quite deep. The bridge
had no side rails, and the figure, which was that of a man, seemed to
be unfamiliar with this fact.

As Bert watched he saw the man sway toward the edge, and, an instant