"Well, we didn't do so bad," remarked Vincent to Bert, as they were on their way along the home road.
"No," replied the young chief, "but there's one thing we've got to look out for."
"What's that?"
"We must not use so much of the solution out of the tank. A small stream will do as much work, and it will last longer."
"That's so. We can't fill the tanks up very well while a fire is in progress."
"That's it. This afternoon, if the blaze had lasted a few minutes longer, there wouldn't have been any chemicals to squirt on it. It was my fault. I opened the valve too wide. We must remember that when we have a real fire."
As the young firemen entered the village, many, who had been to the picnic, but had come home early, crowded out to see them. The bells on the three engines clanged out in peals of victory, and when Bert started up a song, his comrades joined in with him.
As the two companies separated, one to go to the town hall, and the other to Cole's barn, a man stepped from the crowd, and approached Bert.
"Well, I see you won," he remarked pleasantly, and the young chief, looking up, saw the tramp he had rescued from the water.
"Yes. Were you there?"