“Whose idea is that?” questioned Meredith.
Without reply, Uncle Ben gave a signal to his police and the men saluted, turned upon their heel, and marched away in single file towards the Fire-house.
“Oh! I want to be a fireman, too! Isn’t it fun!” cried Don, running after the departing Force much as a small boy would at a circus parade.
“Now, come and see my Firemen drill,” added Uncle Ben, laughing at the amazement on the faces about him.
“How lovely!” cried Vene Starr, as she realized what had been planned by Uncle Ben for their entertainment.
Immediately after the Blue Birds and Bobolinks were stationed on a small platform near the Fire-house, a Policeman rang the fire-gong in the center of the camp-town. It was a great iron hoop hung upon a cross-beam and was sounded by striking it with a bar of metal.
Not until this moment had Uncle Ben noticed anything unusual about the Park, but now he saw a column of smoke issuing from a structure at one end of the field that had not been there the day before. It was loosely built of old boards and discarded lumber thrown aside by the carpenters when building the Nests. He understood what it meant, too.
The moment the fire-gong sounded, the Little Citizens standing about to watch the fun, began yelling at the top of their lungs: “Fire! Fire! Save us from the fire!”
Then they all started to run for the temporary house at the end of the field. At the same time, the Fire Department flung open the doors of its house and rushed out pulling the hand-engine at their heels. The boys with the hose reel followed, and last came the Hook and Ladder Team.
All made for the now flaming structure and naturally, the visitors ran too, to watch at close hand the daring and bravery of the Fire Department. Uncle Ben hoped the sparks from the fire would not start anything else as it was too near the Nests for safety.