"We ought to have a regular department, that's what we ought to have!" declared the butcher. "It's a shame that business men have to suffer losses by fire. What we need is a regular department here, with a steam fire engine." "He's singing a different tune from what he did a week or so ago," thought Bert. "Then the bucket brigade was good enough. I guess he wishes we had two volunteer departments now." It seemed as if the whole shop must go. The fire, as they learned later, had started in the sawdust packing of the ice box, and it had been smouldering for some time before being discovered. Then, with the sawdust and pine wood to feed on, in addition to the fat meats, the flames were more from what it had been at the Stockton blaze. "Do you think you can save part of it?" asked the butcher, anxiously, of Bert. The man's manner toward the young fireman was quite different from what it had been at the Stockton. "We're doing our best, Mr. Sagger," replied the young captain. "It's a hard fire to fight. The bucket brigade could come up closer now, the flames aren't quite so hot." "That's so. I'll tell 'em." He ran to where the members of the department to which he belonged were futilely passing buckets of water. "Why don't you come around front and closer?" the butcher asked them. "You ain't doing any good here!" "Why don't you take a hand yourself?" demanded Silas Lampert. "You ain't doing anything but running up and down." "I'll help," declared Mr. Sagger. "I declare, I don't know what I am doing! This will be a heavy loss to me!" "I guess you can stand it," murmured Mr. Lampert. "You got lots of money salted down, same as you have your pork." "Come on, help me save the shop!" cried the butcher, and his fellow members of the bucket brigade followed him. Fortunately, there was not much meat in the ice box, and when it had all been consumed, and there was only wood for the fire to feed on, the blaze was less fierce. The water from the three lines of hose and that dashed on by the men, who could now approach quite close, had its effect. In a little while the fire was about out, and Bert ordered the boys to use only one line of hose, which made it easier on the pumpers and bucket lads. Then, with a final hiss and splutter, the fire died away. "It's a terrible loss!" declared the butcher, as he contemplated the ruins of his shop. "I'll lose over a thousand dollars." "Haven't you any insurance?" asked Mr. Appelby. "Yes, it's fully covered by insurance; but think of the trade I'll lose until I can build a new shop!" "Oh, I guess you can put up some kind of a shack that will do for a while. We don't need much meat in the summer time." "I tell you what it is!" exclaimed Mr. Sagger, "we've got to have a regular department, mayor; that's what we have! We can't have business places burn up this way. Why, it will ruin the town!"