"Oh, I hope you don't have to go to any dangerous fires. I'm so afraid you'll get hurt."
"A fireman has to take chances, mother. Father had to do it, remember."
"But you are only a volunteer."
"That's the best kind. I think I'll get the boys together and have a practice run. We need a little drilling. But I'd just as soon an alarm wouldn't come in to-night. I'm dead tired, and I can sleep like a top, after my swim."
"Then if I hear an alarm from the church bell I suppose you don't want me to call you?"
"Of course, I do, mother. But I guess I'll hear the bell if it rings."
But Bert did not, and it was not until his mother had shaken him vigorously, several hours later, that he became aware of the frantic sounding of the fire alarm.
"Herbert! Herbert!" called his mother. "The fire bell is ringing!"
"Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!"
The bell gave out four quick strokes. Then a pause.