adjoining the chimney, were on fire.

"Douse her out, boys!" cried Bert, as he signalled for the water. A
moment later two big streams spurted from the brass nozzles, and fell
with a hiss on the leaping flames.

"I'll take a look around and see if it's breaking out anywhere else,"
said Herbert. "One stream is almost enough there."

He turned aside, and started to run down another hall, that was at
right angles to the one where the fire was. Suddenly a man confronted
him, and, even in the excitement, Bert knew him for the individual who
had been in the motor boat that nearly ran the boys down.

"Where are you going?" the man asked.

"To look and see if there is a blaze anywhere else," replied Bert.

"Who are you?" inquired the man, who appeared very much excited, more
so than the occasion called for, since, as yet, the fire was not
beyond control.

"I'm captain of the Boys' Volunteer Fire Department," replied Bert.
"Who are you?"

"I'm Mr. Muchmore. I'm in possession of this house, and you can't pass
here!"

"But I only want to see if there's another place on fire. We have two
lines of hose, and one is enough back there."