frowned heavily. Then he set his lips firmly together. "I will not
let 'em down me this way. I'll learn their ways or die a trying."

After enunciating this resolve, he felt better. Presently he sat down
on a door step at the entrance to an alley and ate his lunch with a
better appetite.

"These--what was it she called 'em?--these bernanas ain't so bad after
all," he said to himself. "Taste a little like apples, seems like."

While he sat there some bells began ringing furiously and a steam fire
engine rushed by. The smoke, flame, roar and speed, stirred his blood,
while the singular, not to say splendid, appearance of the outfit, with
its bright brass work and powerful horses, was at once fascinating and
terrible.

Having finished his lunch he followed the crowd that was surging along
the street and presently came in sight of the burning building, which
was a large cotton warehouse. He soon was in the midst of a pushing,
noisy mass of people, with eyes only for the fire, the rolling smoke,
and the puffing engines.

Suddenly he felt a touch upon his person, which, though light as
thistle down, almost thrilled him with an indefinite sense of alarm.
Reaching quickly downward he grasped a wrist that was not his own.

CHAPTER VIII.

Captain Shard's Proposal.

The arm Ralph seized was violently jerked and twisted, but the mountain
boy was strong for his age, and held on tight.

Turning at the same instant he found himself facing the same negro boy,
who had probably saved him from arrest that morning by warning him
regarding the bill posting.

"What did you want in my pocket?" demanded Ralph, feeling with his free
hand to assure himself that his money was safe.

"Hush!" half whispered the darky. "I didn't see hit was yo'. Deed I
didn't, suh."

Ralph regarded the negro steadily, as it dawned upon his crude
conceptions that the other was a thief. Then he thought of the service
the fellow had unwittingly done him, and at once released his grip.

"Go," said he contemptuously. "Don't let me see you round here any
more."

The negro disappeared in the crowd, one of whom said to the mountain
boy:

"Why didn't you hand him over to yonder policeman?"

"Well--because I sort of felt sorry for the fool," was the explanation
Ralph would vouchsafe as he, too, turned away and extricated himself
from the throng.

After that he wandered about the city, finding something to excite his
wonder or admiratio