Page 119 - An Amateur Fireman

Even where he stood, shielding his face with his arm as best he could from the intense heat and blinding
smoke, Seth could hear the cry:

"Ninety-four! Start your water! Start your water!"

If there was any response those on the landing did not hear it; but a few seconds later the leathern hose began
to stiffen and round out into shape, and then with a mighty rush that threatened to wrest the nozzle from the
three strong men who were holding it, a jet of water struck the burning floor with a force that would have
shattered less substantial timbers.

"Hurrah for Ninety-four!" and Seth sprang to the hose, intent on doing a full share of the work even though
his face was almost blistered by the heat.

"Get back, Amateur, get back! It's too hot for you here!" and Ben Dunton thrust Seth aside with his elbow at
the very instant a wild scream was heard on the stairway in the rear of the firemen.

Turning quickly Seth saw dimly through the volume of choking vapor the form of a woman, and it seemed to
him that Ben Dunton was trying to force her down the stairs when she shrieked:

"There's a child on the next floor!"

Jerry Walters and Joe Black could not leave their places of duty; but Ben Dunton sprang forward, and almost
instinctively Seth followed, the smoke being so dense at the top of the stairs as to screen his movements from
the view of those at the nozzle.

For an instant he fancied Jerry called his name, and then he was groping his way upward, half-blinded,
choking, but eager to do what he might toward a rescue.

He gained the second landing.

Here everything was obscured by the black smoke, and he could no longer see Dunton, although now and then
a crashing noise as of wood being splintered under heavy blows told, as he believed, that the brave fireman
was intent on the effort to save life even though his own might pay the forfeit.

Then with a roar the flames burst from the elevator shaft directly in front of him, and he staggered on along
the hallway, hardly knowing in which direction he was going until, from behind a door near at hand came that
which sounded like the crying of a child.

He had only to turn the knob in order to gain an entrance into the apartment, which seemed entirely free from
smoke, as compared with the place he had just left.

On the floor near the window sat a child crying piteously, and Seth caught the little thing in his arms, thinking
it would be possible to gain the foot of the stairs, where he had left Black and Walters, before either he or his
charge should receive serious injury.

Thus laden he ran toward the hallway, but only to retreat.

The flames were pouring up through the shaft, spreading out in every direction, and forming such a barrier as
he could not hope to pass.

He shouted for Dunton, but no reply came, and for the briefest interval of time he despaired.