been, their motto. It was their maxim to
attack the enemy with promptitude and vigour, no matter what his
strength might be. When he crept out like a sneaking burglar from under
a hearth-stone, or through an over-heated flue, they would "have at him"
with the hand-pumps and quench him at once. When he came forth like a
dashing party of skirmishers, to devastate a wood-yard, or light up a
music-hall with unusual brilliancy, they sent an engine or two against
him without delay, and put him down in an hour or two. When he attacked
"in force," they despatched engine after engine--manuals and steamers--
to the front, until he was quelled, and if the prey already seized could
not be wrenched from his grasp, they, at all events, killed him before
he could destroy more. When he boldly and openly declared war,
attacking the great combustible warehouses of Tooley Street, threatening
a descent on the shipping, and almost setting the Thames on fire, they
sent out the whole available army from every quarter of the metropolis
with all their engines of war--manuals, steamers, and floating
batteries, or spouteries, and fought him tooth and nail, till he gave
in. They might be terribly over-matched--as in the case of the great
fire when the gallant Braidwood fell--they might lose men, and might
have to fight day and night for weeks, but they would "never say die,"
until the enemy had died and left them, tired and torn, but still tough
and triumphant victors on the field of battle.

Before the engine from Regent Street came on the ground, two manual
engines from Kensington and Notting Hill had arrived, and opened water
on the foe. At first their shot fell harmlessly on the roaring furnace;
but by the time the "steamer" had got ready for action, some little
effect was beginning to be produced. When this great gun, so to speak,
began to play, and sent a thick continuous stream through the windows,
like an inexhaustible water mitrailleuse, clouds of white steam mingled
with the black smoke, and varied the aspect of the fire, but did not
appear to lessen its fury in any degree. Just then another manual
engine dashed into the square at full gallop, and formed up. Before it
had well taken a position, another "steamer," with three horses, came
swinging round the corner, and fell into the ranks. The panting steeds
were unharnessed, the bold charioteers leaped down, the suction-pipe was
dipped into the water-trough, and the hose attache