operty just
the same."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it looks to be my boathouse."

"So it does!" cried another man.

"Oh, father!" cried Bert. "Our nice boathouse!"

"Well, the firemen may save it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We will hope so,
anyhow," he added.

They had not gone on much farther before Mr. Bobbsey and Bert could see
that it was indeed their boathouse on fire. One side was all ablaze,
and the flames were slowly, but surely, eating their way over the whole
place. But two engines were now pumping streams of water on the fire,
and they might put it out before too much damage was done.

Mr. Bobbsey rushed forward, and, as the policemen and firemen knew him,
they let him get close to the boathouse.

"You stay here, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey to his son.

"Where are you going?" Bert wanted to know.

"I'm going to see if we can save any of the boats."

There was a sailing craft, a number of rowboats, and a small gasoline
launch in the boathouse. They had been stored away for the winter.

"Come on, men!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he saw some of his workmen in the
crowd. "Help me save the boats!"

All rushed forward willingly, and, as there was part of the place where
the flames had not yet reached, they could make their way into the
house. They began lowering the boats into the icy water, while the
firemen played the several lines of hose on the flames.

The third engine was now working, and so much water was pumped that
even a larger fire could not have stood it for very long. The blaze
began to die down, and when Mr. Bobbsey and his men were about to lower
the gasoline launch into the icy water the chief ran up, saying:

"You don't need to do that! We've got the fire under control now. It
will soon be out."

"Are you sure?" asked the lumber merchant.

"Yes. You can see for yourself. Leave the boat there. It will be all
right."

Mr. Bobbsey looked, and was satisfied that the larger part of the
boathouse would be saved. So he and his men stopped their work; and
went outside to cool off.

A little later the fire was practically out, but one engine continued
to throw water on the smouldering sparks. The crowd began to leave
now, for there was nothing more to see, and it was cold.

"My!" exclaimed Bert as his father came back to where he had left his
son, "it didn't take long to settle that fire."

"No, we have a good fire department," replied Mr. Bobbsey.

The fire chief came up to Mr Bobbsey,