"Can't help it. Might as well not go at all as to go with not enough to work the engine. The bucket brigade would only laugh at us then."
"There's some of 'em now!" exclaimed Cole.
Out in the village street could be heard the tramp of running feet, and a man's voice crying:
"Come on, bucket brigade! We'll beat the new department!"
"Why don't the fellows hurry!" exclaimed Cole. "We'll get left!"
"Here they are!" shouted Tom Donnell, as about ten lads rushed into the barn. They lived on the far side of town, and had come in a bunch to respond to the alarm.
"Grab the rope, boys!" cried Bert. "Don't let the bucket brigade beat us!"
The long double line was run off the reel, and a two-score of ready hands grasped it. Cole, as was his privilege, jumped on the engine to steer, for he had rigged up a tiller wheel on it, since it had been in his barn, and this made it easier to pull, even with his added weight.
"Let her go!" he called, and with a rumble over the barn floor, the apparatus was hauled out, the bell on the engine clanging out a warning.
In the street in front of Cole's house, were several members of the bucket brigade, trying to catch up with the foremost men, who, under the leadership of Moses Sagger, were running toward the blaze.