That fire was like the blast of a trumpet, and all the old feelings, which had lain dormant for many years, were revived, and I wished that I had an engine and a brave company, to rush to the rescue. While I stood surveying the flames, I was joined by Fred, an old fireman like myself, but cooler, and not so impulsive.
"Do you see!" I exclaimed; "half of the city appears to be in flames, and I do not hear the working of an engine. Let us hasten, and render what assistance is possible."
"Where are your engine houses?" asked Fred, turning to Smith, who appeared to be remarkably cool and unconcerned.
"That's more than I can tell, and I don't believe that even the captain of police can find one, try he ever so hard," replied Smith.
"Do you mean that there are no regularly organized companies here, to take charge of engines?" I asked.
"There are no engines nor companies, to my knowledge," Smith answered, after a moment's thought.
"Then how do you arrest conflagrations like the present?" I asked.
"Well, we send for the police," he answered, with a laugh.
"Pshaw!" I replied, impatiently, "this is no time for joking. Your city is burning down, and I do not hear the first effort to extinguish the flames."