"The world revolves from west to east at the rate of a thousand miles an hour," he said.
"I've heard so," broke in Jumbo, "but you can't believe everything you see in print."
B.J. brushed him aside, and went on:
"Now, all you've got to do is to invent a scheme for raising your fire-engine and your firemen up in the air a few feet, and holding them still while the earth revolves under them. Then you turn a kind of a wheel, or something, when the place you want to get to comes around, and there you are in a jiffy. It would beat the Empire State Express all hollow. Why, it would be faster even than an ice-boat!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "I guess I'll have to get that idea patented."
"But say, B.J.," said Bobbles, in a puzzled manner, "suppose your fire was in the other direction? You'd have to go clear around the world to get to the place."
"I didn't think of that," said B.J., dejectedly.
And thus one of the greatest inventions of the age was left uninvented.
* * * * *
But Tug had also been set to thinking by the snail-like Kingston firemen.
"What this place really needs," he said, "is some firemen that can run. They want more speed and less rheumatism. Now, if we fellows could only join the department we'd show 'em a few things."