se he has? Do you want to consult with him?"

"That's 'bout the size of it."

"He's inside with the horses; go right through."

In order that he might not be an unwelcome visitor, Seth had had
sufficient good sense never to enter the building without an express
invitation or permission, and perhaps because he was thus scrupulous the
men were all the more willing to admit him.

"Hello! What's up?" 'Lish Davis asked as the boy appeared thus
unannounced.

"If you ain't very busy I'd like to talk with you 'bout somethin' that's
botherin' my pardner an' me a good bit since last night."

"Fire away, lad. I reckon I've got time enough to listen to the story,
unless it is in more than one chapter."

"It ain't so very long, an' I'll be quick as I can," Seth replied, and
then he told, without going too much into detail, of his trouble with
Jip Collins, and of the latest threats which the boy had made, according
to Sam Barney's statement, concluding by saying:

"Now, I don't believe Jip's got sand enough to do any sich thing as
settin' fire to the shed, an' it's sure he didn't try it last night,
'cause he had every chance; but I've been thinkin' 'bout it while I was
waitin' for the house to be opened, an' it kind-er come into my mind
that perhaps he might make a bluff at it."

"I wouldn't be surprised at anything some of these young villains did,"
'Lish Davis said after a brief time of reflection. "The general run of
street boys get an idea into their heads, and don't stop to realize what
the consequences may be. Let me see, you live in the rear of Baxter's
carpenter shop, don't you?"

"Yes, sir."

"There's a brick building butts up against the back end of that lot, so
your only chance of getting out would be to come through the
lumber-yard?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, it wouldn't amount to very much as a fire; but in case one got
started there, you and your partner would stand a good show of getting a
dose."

Seth understood the driver to mean that there was danger of being
suffocated by the smoke, and he admitted that such might be the case,
but added:

"We can't do as Sam Barney says, an' set up every night watchin', else
when would we sleep?"

"Why don't you leave this place for two or three days, and find some
other quarters?"

"That never'd do, 'cause jest as soon as the fellers knew I'd gone,
they'd snoop 'round, an' I'd be thrown out of a home mighty quick."

"You might get Baxter to let you put a lock o