"I'll help," declared Mr. Sagger. "I declare, I don't know what I am doing! This will be a heavy loss to me!"
"I guess you can stand it," murmured Mr. Lampert. "You got lots of money salted down, same as you have your pork."
"Come on, help me save the shop!" cried the butcher, and his fellow members of the bucket brigade followed him.
Fortunately, there was not much meat in the ice box, and when it had all been consumed, and there was only wood for the fire to feed on, the blaze was less fierce. The water from the three lines of hose and that dashed on by the men, who could now approach quite close, had its effect. In a little while the fire was about out, and Bert ordered the boys to use only one line of hose, which made it easier on the pumpers and bucket lads. Then, with a final hiss and splutter, the fire died away.
"It's a terrible loss!" declared the butcher, as he contemplated the ruins of his shop. "I'll lose over a thousand dollars."
"Haven't you any insurance?" asked Mr. Appelby.
"Yes, it's fully covered by insurance; but think of the trade I'll lose until I can build a new shop!"
"Oh, I guess you can put up some kind of a shack that will do for a while. We don't need much meat in the summer time."
"I tell you what it is!" exclaimed Mr. Sagger, "we've got to have a regular department, mayor; that's what we have! We can't have business places burn up this way. Why, it will ruin the town!"
"Well, if the taxpayers wanted a hired department they can have it," declared Mr. Appelby. "But it will cost money."