them that there was a chimney on fire in Holborn, to which they
need pay no attention, even though "called" by an excited informer,
because it was already being attended to, and didn't merit farther
notice; or to let them know that there was a fire raging in Whitechapel,
which, although being most energetically looked after by the men of the
brigade in its immediate neighbourhood, would be the better of aid,
nevertheless, from _one_ man from that station.

On such distant duty, Bob Clazie and his brother David were successively
sent out in different directions during the first part of the night; but
they returned in the course of an hour or so--Bob considerably dirtied
and moistened in consequence of having had to go vigorously into action
at the tail end of a fire, while David returned as he went, having found
that _his_ fire had been effectually got under before his arrival.

Only once during the night did a regular "call" reach the station. It
was about eleven o'clock. Our youthful watchmen, feeling that the
appointed hour was drawing nigh, had retired to the shade of a
neighbouring court to avoid observation, when a man came tearing round
the corner, dashed into the fire-station, tumbled over a bucket into the
midst of the men, and yelled, "Fire!"

In three minutes the engine was out, the horses were attached, the men
in their places, and away they went.

"Oh! let's follow," cried Little Jim, enthusiastically, while his eyes
glittered as if they, too, were on fire.

The more sedate Bloater laid his hand heavily on his little friend's
shoulder.

"No, Jim, no. Business fust, pleasure arterwards. We've got business
on hand to-night."

Little Jim felt the force of the observation, and made what we may call
a mighty effort--considering that he was such a mite of a thing--to
restrain himself. His heroism was rewarded, for, in less than half an
hour, the engine came rattling back again, its services not having been
required! The fire had occurred close to the fire-escape, of which one
of the men of that station had the charge that night. He had run to the
fire with his escape at the first alarm, and had brought to bear on it
the little hand fire-engine, with which all the escapes are now
provided. At that early stage in the fire, its little stream was more
effectual than the flood from a powerful "steamer" would have been at a
later period. The consequence was that the fire was got under at once,
and, as w