"Uniforms would be a good thing to have," admitted Bert. "We need rubber boots, especially. My feet are soaking wet. It doesn't matter so much in summer, but if we go to a fire in the winter and get wet through it won't be so nice." "Well, I don't believe Mr. Bergman will ever do anything for us," insisted Tom. But he was mistaken. The very next day Bert received a letter from the owner of the lumber yard, in which Mr. Bergman thanked the young firemen for what they had done. Nor was this all. Enclosed in the letter was a check for two hundred dollars. "I send you this as a small taken of my appreciation," the letter read. "Not that it pays for the work you did, for you saved me a good many hundred dollars by pulling that barge out of the way. But this is only a starter. I understand your engine is not yet paid for, and that you have no uniforms. Please use the check for that purpose. You will also hear further from me in a few days. I have a plan to propose, but I want to talk it over with the town authorities first." "Say, he's all right!" exclaimed Cole, when Bert showed him the letter and check. "He certainly is. I was barking up the wrong tree," admitted Tom. "Say, we'll be a sporty department, all right! Let's get red and blue uniforms. They'll look swell!" "I wonder what his plan is?" asked Bert. "He says he has to consult with the town authorities about it." "Maybe he wants us to take in the bucket brigade," ventured Vincent. "Better wait and see," advised Bert. CHAPTER XVI MR. BERGMAN'S PLAN Never had Lakeville been so stirred as when, a few days after the lumber yard fire, notices were posted in various parts of the town, stating that a special meeting of the Selectmen would be held to take action on an offer made by Mr. Bergman to equip a regular fire department for the place. "So, that's what he meant!" remarked Bert, when he read the notices. "Well, I wonder where we'll be, if they have a regular department?" "Oh, I suppose the bucket brigade will be taken in, and they'll run the whole thing," said Vincent, a little bitterly. "If they do, we'll keep our old hand engine and run to blazes just the same," declared Cole. "That's what we will," added Captain Bert. The notices announced that the meeting would be a public one, and would be held in the town hall, over the post-office. Opportunity would be given for all interested to state their views, the notice added. "Then we'll state ours," threatened Cole. "Bert, can't you go there and make a speech?" "I suppose I can, if the boys want me to. But what shall I say?" "Oh, wait until we get there and see how things look. But if they want to turn us down, you get up and protest. We'll stand by you." "All right," agreed Bert. "I think we ought to have something to say." "So do I," came from Tom Donnell. "Put it good and strong, Bert."