, having the location of each signal station in mind,
that there were two engines whose houses were nearer the call than was
Ninety-four's.

To get first water under such circumstances seemed impossible, and
timidly Seth reminded Walters of the fact.

"I know it, Amateur, and am not counting that we'll win; but if we
should, and if there be such things as mascots, then I'm free to admit
you'll be a lucky one for us."

Perhaps 'Lish Davis had in his mind some idea similar to that expressed
by Walters, for although Seth had seen him urge his horses to their
utmost speed time and again, never before had he known him to press them
so hard.

The mass of steel and iron was drawn over the pavement as if it had been
but a feather's weight, and 'Lish Davis guided the horses, without
checking their speed in the slightest, around a sharp corner so suddenly
that Seth was nearly overthrown, while the clanging of gongs in the
distance told of the approach of a second engine.

"It's Fifty-three!" Jerry Walters shouted in the boy's ear. "It's
Fifty-three, and we've got thirty seconds the start of her. How about
getting first water now, Amateur?"

Seth pointed straight ahead where could be seen a cloud of sparks
arising from the stack of a third engine which was coming directly
toward them.

"Yes, Amateur, it's her or Ninety-four; Fifty-three is distanced, and
I'll hold that you're bringing good luck to us if we do no more than
beat one of 'em out."

Every man of that company, however eager he had previously been to be
first at the scene of conflict, seemed now to outdo himself in activity.

A cloud of black smoke issuing from the second floor of a dwelling
located the fire, and Ninety-four's tender was making a run for the
nearest hydrant, passing the engine just as 'Lish Davis slackened speed.

Joe Black had gained the desired spot in advance of his rival, and as
Ninety-four's tender dashed by, fifteen or twenty feet of the hose had
been run off of the reel.

Then it was that Jerry Walters and 'Lish Davis gave vent to a loud cry
of triumph, for Joe Black had made the connection.

Ninety-four's tender was stretching in just as the other company reached
the hydrant, beaten by no more than ten seconds.

"We've got first water, Amateur, we've got first water!" Jerry Walters
shouted as if having taken leave of his senses. "It ain't that we've
never done such a thing; but this time it didn't belong to us, and we
took it on