e. There was also a small river which emptied into the lake, and which ran around one edge of the town. Altoge

council. Then there was a mayor. At the time this story opens Mr. Appelby was mayor, and Moses Sagger was cha

inner the day following the fire, "I hope you d

, mo

about you. I knew you would get

much. I'm glad I went, for I helped Mr.

ut you. You certainly take after your father, and I am qu

king of a plan that might save the village from any

you mean,

a fire department, a volunteer one at lea

but he never could get any one to agree with him. The men don't seem t

ng of taking in

men? Whom would

oys-my

nds-the boys you

s if we had the men, and I'm sure we could get out quicker

ert. Maybe the men will get together, now, and do something,

and Mr. Sagger were talking about it, and Sagg

bert. You'd have to have m

ld serve without pay, and all

he kind worked by ha

d one cheap. We could raise the money som

o danger. I'm sure you are thoughtful to take so much interes

er, and if I belonged to the boys' volunteer dep

Herbert. I'm afraid we'll n

ned, mother. I'm going off

akeville, he had been thinking over the matter for some time. Even before the barn burned down he had had the 'n

e lookout for some of his chums to whom he mi

called Cole. "H

better. What y

pecial. Wh

s. I was looking fo

oing swimmin

on, school having closed

going swimming, but I wa

ut some new washers in it, and it'll squirt fifty feet

o? Wha

my pump on the cistern, and some hose ready to a

he boys to talk about, Cole. I'm thin

belong, and I'll let 'em use my force-pump-n

e have a department," replied Bert, "but you can join, and w

ally? Say, th

erbert Dare, as he saw his chum w

Here she comes!" and Cole threw a ball high in the air

called Cole. "Bert

f his plan for getting as many of the village boys as possib

ing to get the en

oney coming from?"

eplied Bert. "Maybe Cole can make us

o," came

ngine, though," responded Cole. "But say, I just happened to th

ow that helps

've got a new engine, they won't

el

s a good one, and has a fine pump on. All it needs is a little fixing, and I ca

rned Bert slowly, "except th