perfect in the drill as
he could be until after having gained greater strength.

"You will participate in the exhibition, my boy, and I am expecting a
good showing from you."

"Will Ninety-four's men be there?" Seth asked eagerly, trying hard not
to show how delighted he was by this praise.

"Surely; they are to take part in the parade, and you can see 'Lish
Davis display his skill at driving. There are no lack of spectators at
such exhibitions, and you will show, not only to a vast throng of
citizens, but the mayor and heads of the Department, whether you are
worthy of receiving an appointment."

"Will that settle matters for me?" Seth asked in surprise.

"I don't say you will not be able to get the appointment without it; but
it is an opportunity of making a leap directly into the Department, and
of finding yourself suddenly on equal footing with Davis, Walters, or
Black, for they are intending to make a strong effort to have you
assigned to their company."

Seth hardly needed this incentive to labor, for he was already doing all
a boy of his age could do; but it caused him to feel extremely anxious
regarding the final result, and, noting this, 'Lish Davis said one
evening in a fatherly tone:

"You are working yourself all up into a snarl over the fear of not
pulling through, and the result will be, if you don't have a care, that
your head won't be of the clearest when the big day comes."

"I'm not afraid but that I'll be able to go through with our part of the
show all right, but the trouble is that I'll show up for no more than a
boy, and that's what bothers me."

"You can't pose for anything else, lad, seeing as how you are a kid; but
it won't work against you in face of the record. Go ahead as if there
wasn't a thought in your mind but to show the people how we swarm over
a building when the need arises, and that's all any man can do."

"Where is the exhibition to be held?"

"On the Riverside Drive. Number 38 is the house that's been loaned for
the occasion, and you lads couldn't have a better building on which to
work."

"Do you mean to say we're goin' to range a decent house? There'll be
considerable damage done if we have the reg'lar scalin' ladders; the
teeth can't fail to tear away a good bit of the woodwork."

"You'll only use the middle row of windows, and over the sills of these
will be fastened timber shields, or casings, so that you can swing your
ladders without fear of so much as a pin