anticipated the alarm, and they wanted to rush off with the engine at
once, but Vincent, who arrived shortly after the first round of two
strokes, which showed that the fire was in the eastern section, would
not permit this.

"No, we've got to wait for the others," he said. "It's only at night
that the new plan is to go into effect."

Soon nearly every member of the company was at the barn, and, with
yells, cheers and shouts, the boys dragged the engine through the
streets to where the fire had been kindled.

"Pretty good!" exclaimed Herbert. "You got here in eight minutes, and
it's farther than it was to the Stockton mansion. Now, then, douse the
fire!"

The big pile of boxes was blazing furiously, but the boys ran the
engine close to a small pond, the bucket corps got busy, the hose
lines were unreeled, and, in less than three minutes, there was only a
smoking heap where there had been fierce flames.

"That's the stuff, boys!" exclaimed Mayor Appelby, who was among the
spectators that had gathered. "First thing you know the town will have
to vote you an appropriation."

"Humph!" retorted Mr. Sagger, the miserly butcher. "If the bucket
brigade was here we could do better than that. The brigade is good
enough for Lakeville, and it keeps down taxes."

"Yes, and sends our fire losses up," added the mayor. "Insurance rates