Meanwhile, the bucket brigade had been formed, and was passing water from the lake. But, as it had to go, hand by hand in the buckets, up a flight of stairs, very little of the fluid reached the blaze. The fire had been gaining headway. Bert and his two chums had entered a long hall with their hose, and they saw where the floor and woodwork, adjoining the chimney, were on fire. "Douse her out, boys!" cried Bert, as he signalled for the water. A moment later two big streams spurted from the brass nozzles, and fell with a hiss on the leaping flames. "I'll take a look around and see if it's breaking out anywhere else," said Herbert. "One stream is almost enough there." He turned aside, and started to run down another hall, that was at right angles to the one where the fire was. Suddenly a man confronted him, and, even in the excitement, Bert knew him for the individual who had been in the motor boat that nearly ran the boys down. "Where are you going?" the man asked. "To look and see if there is a blaze anywhere else," replied Bert. "Who are you?" inquired the man, who appeared very much excited, more so than the occasion called for, since, as yet, the fire was not beyond control. "I'm captain of the Boys' Volunteer Fire Department," replied Bert. "Who are you?" "I'm Mr. Muchmore. I'm in possession of this house, and you can't pass here!" "But I only want to see if there's another place on fire. We have two lines of hose, and one is enough back there." "I don't care! You can't pass here!" Bert wondered at the man's mysterious action, but the boy had no right to dispute the peremptory orders. "Put out that fire back there," went on Mr. Muchmore, motioning to where Bert had come from. "That is all there is in the house. And don't you dare pass into this hall." "Very well," replied the young captain, quietly, as he returned to Tom and Charlie. Just then he thought he saw a flicker of flame beyond where Muchmore was standing. He started forward to investigate. "Keep back, I tell you!" cried the man, and he thrust Bert to one side so violently that the young fireman hit the wall with considerable force. "There's no need for you to do that!" Bert exclaimed, highly indignant. "I only want to help put out the fire!" "You can't come in this hall!" declared the man, and then, before Bert could answer, he turned and ran along it at full speed. "Well, he certainly acts queer," thought the boy, but, as a second look convinced him that there was no blaze in that part of the house, he returned to his chums. In spite of their efforts the fire seemed to be gaining. "See if they can't give us a bit more water!" cried Charlie.