"Don't you dare do it!" cried Mr. Sagger to John and Tom. "We can put this out."
"Why don't you do it, then?" inquired the owner of the hay. "You've been long enough at it. Here, I'll do it."
He made a grab for the nozzle Tom held, and in doing so doused Mr.
Sagger.
"I'll have you arrested for that!" cried the butcher. "You done it on purpose!"
"Wa'al, I'm going to have this fire out!" replied Mr. Kimball, and a few seconds later, with the aid from the other nozzle, the blaze was comparatively out. It still smouldered a bit on top, but a few sprinkles from a hose quenched that.
"Fire's out!" cried Cole, from his place on top of the engine. "How's that for the new department?"
"Boys, you're all right!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball. "There ain't more than half my hay burned. If I'd waited for that bucket brigade it would all be gone!"
"That's not so!" cried Mr. Sagger. "We'd have had it out in five minutes, if those lads hadn't interfered with us."
"That's right," added several men, who did not like the praise accorded to the young fellows.
In spite of the good work they had done, there was not the best of feeling toward the boys on the part of the members of the bucket brigade. But on unprejudiced observers the work of the young firemen made a good impression, and they were warmly praised.