Produced by Jim Ludwig
The Boy Scout Fire Fighters
Irving Crump
Copyright 1917
Barse and Company
CHAPTERS
I. The Motorcycle Fire Brigade
II. The Firemen's Tournament
III. Boy Scouts to the Rescue
IV. When the Circus Came to Town
V. A Scout is Resourceful
VI. Helping to Make the Movies
VII. Ethan Allen Comes To Life Again
VIII. The Prize Contest
IX. Working to Win
X. The Boy from Arizona
XI. The Courage of a Coward
XII. The Scout Life Guards' Beach Patrol
XIII. The Day of the Big Race
XIV. When the Unexpected Happened
XV. A Narrow Escape
XVI. Quarry Troop's Christmas
"By Jiminy, that was some fire for an old hay barn, wasn't it, fellows?"exclaimed Jiminy Gordon, as he entered the meeting room at headquarters.His eyes were flashing excitement and he was thoroughly out of breathfrom running up the long Otter Creek Hill. "I stayed until the lastspark was out," he said, as he dropped into a chair beside BruceClifford, leader of the Owl Patrol of Quarry Troop No. 1.
"Some fire, is perfectly correct," said Bruce bitterly, "though itneedn't have been anything more than an ordinary blaze. I tell you theWoodbridge Fire Department needs a little pep, fellows." This last was addressed to the four other occupants of the room, Bud Weir, Romper Ryan,Babe Wilson and Nipper Knapp.
"Right," said Romper.
"The way they went about it was a farce," said Bud.
"Yes, they all had to have their red flannel shirts on," remarked Babe,the fat boy, sarcastically.
"Say, did you see 'em scrapping over who should carry the fire trumpet?"laughed Romper.
"Sure, and about six men were giving orders," put in Jiminy, who hadcaught the spirit of the remarks.
"And no one obeyed any of 'em," supplemented Babe, sarcastic as usual.
"But the finest exhibition of firemanship was when one of the nozzlemenlet go of the only hose they got on the fire while he hunted through hispockets for a paper of tobacco or something else just as important," saidBruce. "Of course the other nozzleman couldn't hold onto the hose aloneand it twisted out of his hands. The thing acted like a big black snake,fellows, and hit Chief Blaney a whack in the chest that knocked himsprawling. Then it proceeded to wet down the whole fire departmentbefore some one captured it. It was a scream. Didn't any of you seeit?"
"I reached there in time to see Tom Hogan try to stop it and get aducking for his trouble," laughed Nipper Knapp.
"Oh, it is a shame," continued Bruce; "I know it isn't exactly proper tocriticise, but then if they'd had a little system about it old EliOsborne's barn would still be standing. Now it's a heap of cinders. Itell you any ordinary troop of Boy Scouts has more snap than theWoodbridge Fire Department. I believe— By Jove, fellows. I've an idea!Let's organize a fire department of our own. A motorcycle firedepartment. I was reading in a magazine only the other day how theystarted one over in England somewhere. How about it?"
"Bully—how's it done?" demanded Bud Weir, leader of the Blue Heron Patrol.
"Corking idea; let's get busy," exclaimed Jiminy Gordon.
"Great! Give us the details," shouted Romp