Page 122 - An Amateur Fireman

It was the kitchen of the suite, and at one end, stretched across from wall to wall above the range, was a cord
on which hung several articles of wearing apparel.

Placing the child, who had ceased to struggle, on the floor, he tore at this apology for a rope with all his
strength, dragging it from its fastenings, and, taking up the baby once more, ran back to the window from
which he had just come.

It was but the work of a few seconds to tie one end of the cord under the child's arms; but yet it seemed to
him, half bewildered and suffering as he was, that more than five minutes passed before it had been
completed.

[Illustration: SETH RESCUES THE BABY. Page 272.]

"Ninety-four!" he shouted as he thrust the seemingly lifeless body through the aperture, cutting his hands and
arms again and again on the sharp points of glass.

Quickly, but at the same time gently, he lowered the burden until the cord was at its full length.

It did not seem possible this poor substitute for a life-line extended much below the top of the first story, and
he dared not let go his hold lest the child should be dashed to death upon the pavement.

Once more he called for the men who he knew must be close at hand, leaning far out of the window in the
faint hope he might be seen.

His eyes were so blinded that he could distinguish nothing; he was unable to say whether the smoke yet
enveloped him or if he was in full view of the men below.

The sense of suffocation was heavy upon him; he tried to repeat Josh Fernald's words, but failed, and then
came the knowledge--dim and unreal--that the cord was slipping, or being pulled, from his grasp.

He made a final effort to retain his hold, and at the instant there was in his mind, as if he dreamed, a fancy that
strong arms were around him.

After that all was a blank until he opened his eyes to see 'Lish Davis bending over him as he had done on that
night when Jip Collins set fire to the shed in Baxter's lumber-yard.

"Where's the baby?" he asked, attempting to rise, but forced back by the deathly faintness which assailed him.

"His mother has got him by this time, Amateur, and you've made a man of yourself in shorter order than the
majority of us are able to do. It was a close shave, lad, and we'll have no more like it till the time comes when
it's your duty to take such chances."

The driver's voice sounded oddly to the half-stupefied boy; usually it was gruff, like that of a man in a bad
temper, but now it quavered as if the speaker was making an unsuccessful effort to control his emotions.

Seth allowed his head to fall back on a pile of rubber blankets, and as his cheeks touched the smooth surface
there came to him the thought that once more he was in the patrol-wagon.

How long he remained apparently unable to speak he had no idea, and then he heard the shout from afar off,
but readily distinguishable above the panting of the engines:

"How is Ninety-four's kid?"