"Oh, we won't need you boys when we get the chemical engines," said Mr. Sagger quickly. "The members of the bucket brigade will attend to them. You boys can give your old engine away if you want to."
"We'll do nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Bert. "We bought and paid for that engine, when there was no prospect of Lakeville having anything like a department. Now we have a good organization and—-"
"Yes, and we can put out fires!" interrupted Cole. "My force pump—-"
"Dry up!" exclaimed Vincent, pulling Cole by the coat-tails. "Let Bert do the talking."
"That's all right. I was going to tell them about my force pump," murmured Cole.
"They don't want to hear it. Listen."
"I think we ought at least be allowed to continue our organization, and be recognized by the town as a part of the fire department," went on Bert. "We don't ask to run your chemical engines, but we would like to keep our hand engine."
"No, we don't want it!" cried Mr. Sagger. "We have no use for you boys. The men can run things in this town, We'll merge the bucket brigade into a regular department."
"That's what we will!" came from some of the older members of that ancient organization. "Then we might as well go home, boys!" exclaimed Herbert, somewhat bitterly. "They have no use for us here."
"One moment!" exclaimed Mr. Bergman, rising in his seat.