"No, we haven't any right to take their rope," spoke a cooler-headed
member of the men's fire department. "Come on to the lake, men. We've
got enough men to make a long bucket line. There's plenty of water
there."

Just then there came a blast from the whistle Bert carried.

"Pump!" yelled Cole. "Pump, boys!"

The lads, who had mounted to the top of the engine tank, began to work
the handles with vigor, the flat hose bulged out, and, from the sound
of the pumps, the young firemen knew they were sending out two
vigorous streams.

"Now, boys, lively!" cried Vincent. "Give 'em all the water they can
use!"

Thus it became a good-natured race between the two divisions of the
department, one trying to pump as much water as possible, and the
other seeing to it that the tank did not become empty. Because of the
closeness of the engine to the cistern, and the fact that there was
plenty of water in it, the tank was kept more than half full all the
while.

Meanwhile, the bucket brigade had been formed, and was passing water
from the lake. But, as it had to go, hand by hand in the buckets, up a
flight of stairs, very little of the fluid reached the blaze. The fire
had been gaining headway. Bert and his two chums had entered a long
hall with their hose, and they saw where the floor and woodwork,