that at a real
fire when they aren't half so well fixed for it. Why, is there no bottom
to that barrel at all? Why, look!... Say, the judge forgot to close the
valve. There's a hose connected with the bottom of the barrel to run the
water off after each trial and he's forgotten to--... Well, isn't that
too bad! All that work for nothing. I suppose they'll let them try
it over again.... That man must have got a pretty hard rap. They're
carrying him out. His head's all bloody.... Wapatomicas, I guess. Yes,
Wapatomicas. I hope the valve's closed this time. Whope! did you see
that? One fellow got hit with a water bucket and it was about half-full.
It's running out of the spout. Yes, and it's falling on those people
right where you wanted to sit. Hear the girls squeal. Talk about your
fun. I don't want any better fun than this. Look at 'em come down the
ladder just holding the sides with their hands. They couldn't do that if
the ladder was dry.

Ah, here's our crowd. Come on! Come on! Come on! COME ON! Oh, don't be
so slow with those buckets! Aren't they fine? Say, they don't care if
they do spill a drop or two. Why. Why, what are they coming down for?
It isn't running out of the spout yet. Come back! COME BACK! Oh, pshaw!
Just threw it away by being in too much of a hurry. That judge looks
funny, doesn't he, with a rubber overcoat on and the sun shining? See,
he's telling them: "One bucket more." They'll let 'em have another
trial, of course.... No? Oh, that's an outrage. That' s not fair. The
Caledonias will get it now.... Yes, sir, they did get it. Oh, well,
accidents will happen. What? "Where's Caledonia now?" Well, they got it
by a fluke. What say?... Well only for--Oh, pshaw! Now, don't tell
me that because I was there and--Well, I say they didn't .... I know
better, they didn't.... Oh, shut up. You don't know what you're talking
about. I tell you--Now, Mary, don't you interfere. I'm not quarreling.
I'm just telling this gentleman back of me that--Well, all right, if
you're going to cry. If there was any fouling done it was the Caledonias
that did it, though.

The next is where they "run three hundred feet from the judges' stand,
raise ladder, hose company to couple to hydrant, break coupling in hose
and put on nozzle, scale ladder, and fill twenty-five gallon barrel."
Only the Caledonias, and our boys are entered in this. Now we'll see
which is the best. All right, Mary, I won't say a word.... Say, for
country-jakes