mself."

"All right, you do that, Teddy, an' I'll snoop over here," Bill added.
"Of course Seth can't take a hand in this work, on account of havin' to
go to headquarters, but Dan will kind-er lay 'round anywhere, either to
head Sam off, or find Jip."

Then Teddy Bowser took his departure for the night, and Mrs. Hanson's
three lodgers returned to their room thoroughly distressed in mind.

The greater portion of the night might have been spent by them in
discussing this new phase of affairs but for Seth, who said when his
comrades began to hold forth on the subject:

"You fellers can't do any good talkin'. I've got to get some sleep if I
count on bein' up early enough in the mornin' to do the work over to the
engine-house an' get to my job at seven o'clock, so s'pose you quiet
down and give me a chance?"

This was no more than a reasonable request, and soon Mrs. Hanson's
lodgers were enjoying their needed repose, despite the troubles which
had come upon them.

Seth, whose last thought had been that he must waken early, opened his
eyes just as the day was dawning, and aroused his comrades.

"You fellers must turn out if you count on helpin' Jip this mornin', an'
I'm goin' to get right off. Seems to me it would be a good idea if Bill
was at the ferry right soon."

"I'll start now," Master Dean replied, and, since their plans had been
fully arranged the night previous, there was nothing to prevent Seth
from going at once to Ninety-four's house.

The watchman on duty admitted him with a reproof for trying to crowd too
much work into one day; but made no further objection when the amateur
fireman declared that he should "feel better if he did the shinin' the
same's ever."

Not a man was awake save the one on duty, when, his work finished, Seth
hurried toward headquarters.

When he arrived it lacked twenty minutes of the time set for him to
begin work, and the first person he met inside the building was a
gray-haired man wearing such a uniform as did Jerry Walters, the driver
of Ninety-four, and all Seth's particular friends.

"What are you doing here?" the official asked in a not very friendly
tone.

"I began to work 'round this place yesterday noon," Seth replied in an
apologetic manner.

"Oh, you did, eh? You must be the kid 'Lish Davis made so much talk
about."

"I am the boy he got the job for, sir."

"Well, what are you doing here so early? Seven o'clock is the hour."

"Yes, sir; but I don't s'pose