In the course of the first hour, the water in the Islington reservoir actually fell four feet. It never fell lower, however; for instructions were telegraphed to the authorities at other reservoirs to send on more water, and the supply was satisfactorily maintained,--a striking contrast, indeed, to the Great Fire of 1666, when the New River water-pipes were dry! It was about nine o'clock when the chief officer of the salvage corps felt able to leave. During the eight hours he had been on duty, his men had saved goods to the value of many thousands of pounds. He had known to some extent the class of goods he would meet with, for the inspectors of the corps make reports from time to time as to the commodities stored in various City warehouses, and he is therefore to some extent prepared. On the following day, the 20th, the corps were occupied in pulling down the tottering walls of the burned-out warehouses which were in a dangerous condition. This great Cripplegate fire aroused a good deal of attention in the American papers, and certain discussion also arose in England as to water-towers and chemical fire-engines. America is very proud of its well-furnished firemen, and not without cause. Several cities in the States are, indeed, famous for their well-organized and well-equipped fire departments. Let us, then, cross the Atlantic, and see something of the men and their methods in active operation. We shall find much to interest and to inform us. CHAPTER XV. ACROSS THE WATER. "How can the firemen climb up there?" The question may well be asked; for the tall New York houses seem to reach to the sky. "Ordinary ladders won't do." "I guess not," replies the New Yorker. "Why, as far back as 1885, fourteen out of every hundred buildings were too high to be scaled that way. We build tall here." "Then, how about the fire-escape?" asks the Englishman. "Wa'll, iron ladders or steps are permanently fixed to some of the top windows. But the firemen bring their hook-and-ladder; that is a most valuable contrivance." Pursuing his enquiries, the Englishman would find that a hook-and-ladder consisted, briefly, of a strong pole, with steps projecting on either side, and a long and stout hook at the top. The fireman can crash this hook through a window, and hang the pole firmly over the window-sill; the hook, of course, plunging right through into the room. Climbing up this pole, with another length in his hand, the fireman can hang the second length into the window next above, and so on, up to the very top of the building. He has also a hook in his belt, which he can fasten to the ladder, when necessary, to steady and secure himself. In fact, a well-trained and courageous fireman can climb up the tallest structures by these appliances.