"The lumber yard!" exclaimed Captain Bert. "If that gets going we can't do anything to stop it!" "We've got to try," declared Cole. "Of course," answered Bert, as if any one doubted it. "Come on!" They increased their pace, and as they neared the end of the long street, they were joined by several of their comrades, who had rushed from their houses half-dressed. "Where's the fire?" called Bob Fenton, who was hardly awake yet. "Bergman's lumber yard, I heard some one yell," answered Bert. "And this wind blowing right across the lake toward it!" The lumber yard of Perrett Bergman was located on the edge of the lake, where boats could easily unload their cargo of timber. It was quite a large yard, and was one of the principal industries of Lakeville. As Bert had said, the wind was blowing right across the lake. The breeze was a stiff one, and if it was sending the flames in among the pile of dried and seasoned boards the fire was likely to be a furious one. But the boys did not falter. They dragged their rumbling engine as fast as they could, the bell clanging loudly as Cole pulled the cord attached to it. The little company was constantly being increased in numbers. Many of the young firemen, however, had proceeded directly to the scene of the conflagration. The lurid light in the sky seemed to grow brighter, and there was a thick pall of smoke visible now. "It's getting worse!" cried Cole. "You don't expect it's going to put itself out, do you?" asked Frank Burton. "Wait till we get there!" A little later they turned into the street leading to the lumber yard. As they did so the blaze shone full in their faces, and they saw where the fire had originated. One of the big lumber barges that plied on the lake was on fire at the dock, and the flames were blowing right toward the heart of the yard, with its piles of timber. "We've got our work cut out for us!" cried Bert. "We'll have plenty of water, anyhow," shouted back Cole. "My force pump can be used, too!" "He'd say something about his force pump if we had a steam fire engine," murmured Vincent. "Run her right down, boys," called Bert. "Get as close to the water as you can!" The boys picked their way through the piles of lumber. Already several members of the town bucket brigade were on hand, and they were standing in the shallow part of the lake, dipping up water in their pails and dashing the fluid on the blazing barge. "Volunteers this way!" sung out Bert, and several of his chums, who were already on hand and waiting, hastened to join their comrades. But now a new problem was presented. The flames, eating their way among the dry lumber on the barge, had assumed a fierceness that made it impossible to run the engine down on the dock. In fact, the pier was already ablaze in places. Great glowing embers were being carried by the wind into the middle of the yard, but this danger had been seen, and several men were putting out the big sparks as fast as they fell.