got out two horses which stood ready harnessed in their stalls.

The fireman's grasp sobered the madman. A street was named. The
outbreak of the fire was instantly telegraphed to head-quarters, and
thence to other stations concerned. Round came the horses; in flowed
the roused firemen, buttoning their garments as they ran each to his own
peg for helmet and axe. At the same time two or three hauled out the
steam fire-engine and yoked the horses. Three minutes from the first
shout of fire had barely elapsed when the whip cracked, eight or ten
helmeted men sprang to their seats, the steeds bounded away and tore
along the no longer quiet streets, leaving a trail of sparks behind
them.

Haste! haste! was the one idea. One minute saved may be a matter of
life or death in cases of fire.

Constant training, stern drill, made every man act like a calm, cool,
collected thunderbolt. No fuss, but tremendous energy. No noise, but
now and then a deep bass roar when any vehicle chanced to get in the
way, and a quiet smile when the danger was passed.

Thus they rushed along, like a fierce fiery monster, until they reached
a square in the great city which was bright as with the sun at noon-day.
A mansion was blazing from cellars to attics!

Our engine was soon at work. Other engines, whose stations lay nearer
to the scene of action, were already pumping volumes of water into the
flames. A strong force of police kept back the vast crowd, so as to let
the firemen do their work undisturbed. It was deadly work they had to
do! Not only were flames spouting from every window, but masses of
brickwork and blazing beams were falling in various places, rendering
the service full of danger. A London crowd is usually well-behaved, but
there are sometimes a few forward geese in it who think they can do
things better than other people. One such, a huge man with a foreign
accent, became excited, shouted, "Oh! vy don't you put 'im hout?" broke
through the crowd, and rushed among the firemen.

Our friend with the brass epaulettes and bushy eyebrows chanced to pass
at the moment.

"Vy you not put more vatter on 'im?" shouted the foreigner.

The stern countenance of the fireman relaxed, and a humorous smile lit
up his countenance for one instant; but he took no other notice of the
foreigner, who was quickly collared by two policemen as strong as
himself, and thrust back into the crowd, where he was received with
laughter, and presen