seen reflected on the
taller buildings, and Ninety-four got water a full two minutes before
any other engine.

"That little bootblack, Seth Bartlett, sleeps in the shed behind the
shop," 'Lish called hoarsely as the men ran swiftly through the
lumber-yard, and, hearing the words even above the tooting of whistles,
the sounding of gongs from the on-coming engines, and the puffing of
steam, Jerry Walters cried:

"I'll look out for him, 'Lish!"

Every man heard the driver's cry, and knew that the amateur fireman was
in danger.

They also knew where he slept, having been given by the boy himself a
description of his home, and with the first crash of Jerry's axe as he
burst in the door of the shed, the men set up a shout which sounded like
music in 'Lish's ears.

It was Jip Collins who had started the fire, and he also was the means
of saving the lives of Seth and Dan after the mischief had been wrought,
for the firemen gained the box-like apartment not one moment too soon.

All unconscious of the danger which threatened, the boys had slept on
until the noisome vapor overcame without awakening them, and when Jerry
carried the two out into the street through the piles of lumber which
were already beginning to blaze, he said to Joe Black as the latter
advanced to help him take the apparently lifeless bodies to one of the
patrol-wagons drawn up near at hand:

"I'm afraid the amateur has got more of a dose than he can well stand."

Ten minutes later, when Seth woke to consciousness, Dan was lying by his
side in the bottom of the wagon, and 'Lish Davis bent over him.

"It must be that Jip Collins did what he threatened," he said, speaking
with difficulty because of the parched, burning sensation in his throat.

"Ay, lad, that's what he did, and this town won't be big enough to hold
him after daylight to-morrow morning."

"But why are you here, Mr. Davis? What about the team?"

"Ben Dunton is on hand, and I'm off duty for the time being till I can
make sure whether you're alive or not."

Seth knew that Ben Dunton was 'Lish's "relief," therefore the driver was
not neglecting his duty by thus staying with him.

"Is it a bad fire?" he asked.

"The shop and about half the lumber-yard will go. It's nothing to speak
of, lad, save for the fact of its having been kindled that murder might
be done."

"I don't believe Jip Collins really meant to kill us. He most likely
thought we would get out before it was very bad. Is