g even more tired
than he looked, set out for home, and Mr. Walters said to his comrades:

"That kid will work himself down to skin an' bones for the sake of
tryin' to show he's thankful for the lift we've given him, and as for
making his way into the Department, why, there ain't a ghost of a show
that he'll fail."

And every member of the company appeared to share Jerry's opinion
regarding the matter.

When Seth arrived at Mrs. Hanson's he found Bill Dean and Dan making
ready to retire, and the latter cried in a joyful tone:

"I'm mighty glad you've come, Seth. Bill an' me was jest figgerin' that
they'd fixed it up to have you sleep there nights."

"There wasn't anythin' said about that, and I reckon they don't want
boys 'round," the amateur fireman replied gloomily, and Bill asked in
surprise:

"Why, what's the matter, old man? Ain't gettin' discouraged so soon, are
you?"

"I reckon it'll be all right after a spell, an' I wouldn't want any of
Ninety-four's men to know that I wasn't jest as chipper as a sparrer;
but things are different up there from what they are down here. They
jest set you to work an' let you keep hummin' without sayin' a word. I
don't believe a single one of 'em has spoke to me since Mr. Davis went
away."

"What you been doin'?"

"Cleanin' windows; an' I tell you they're so big that one of 'em makes
considerable work. I hung on to it till I'd finished all on that floor,
even though they told me to go home at six o'clock."

"What are you goin' to do to-morrow?"

"I don't know. Anythin' that comes up, I s'pose."

"Didn't they give you any lessons in the school?"

"I haven't even seen it yet. There might have been a hundred men 'round
there practisin' for all I'd know, 'cause I was in the front of the
buildin'."

"Why, I thought you'd go right to work learnin' to be a fireman," Dan
said in surprise.

"Mr. Davis never allowed anythin' like that. He said after a spell,
when I'd showed 'em I could 'tend to business, I might get a show; but
you see, it ain't anyways certain that they'll do what Ninety-four's men
have been countin' on. I've got to take the chances, you know, and work
my way in."

Both Dan and Bill were disappointed by this report. They had fancied
certain tasks might be required of Seth; but firmly believed he would be
given instructions at once.

In fact, Dan had told his roommate several times during the day that he
expected to see Seth an enrolled member of the D