Page 138 - An Amateur Fireman

"You are working yourself all up into a snarl over the fear of not pulling through, and the result will be, if you
don't have a care, that your head won't be of the clearest when the big day comes."

"I'm not afraid but that I'll be able to go through with our part of the show all right, but the trouble is that I'll
show up for no more than a boy, and that's what bothers me."

"You can't pose for anything else, lad, seeing as how you are a kid; but it won't work against you in face of the
record. Go ahead as if there wasn't a thought in your mind but to show the people how we swarm over a
building when the need arises, and that's all any man can do."

"Where is the exhibition to be held?"

"On the Riverside Drive. Number 38 is the house that's been loaned for the occasion, and you lads couldn't
have a better building on which to work."

"Do you mean to say we're goin' to range a decent house? There'll be considerable damage done if we have
the reg'lar scalin' ladders; the teeth can't fail to tear away a good bit of the woodwork."

"You'll only use the middle row of windows, and over the sills of these will be fastened timber shields, or
casings, so that you can swing your ladders without fear of so much as a pin's scratch."

"Where are the medals to be presented?"

"A stand will be built on the Drive, and there all the swells will sit. The mayor does the act, and after it's over
we poor duffers who haven't particularly distinguished ourselves will give a parade and drill. You'll see us
respond to a call in great shape. It's always a high time of the Department, for it's the only day in the year
when we have a chance to show what we can do when need comes."

The more Seth heard regarding the proposed manoeuvres the greater was his eagerness to receive further
instruction, and had he been allowed to do as he pleased, the class would have drilled not less than eighteen
hours out of every twenty-four.

"Practise as much as you please, Seth, but you are out of my jurisdiction now, for I can't suggest any
improvement on your work," Mr. Fernald said, but the praise did not prevent this particular "probationer"
from spending nearly every moment of his time at the drill.

Then came the night before the eventful day, and Seth, who was to sleep at headquarters, had come down for
a chat with his roommates and the members of Ninety-four's company.

"You can bet we'll be there, Seth," Dan Roberts said emphatically. "If it hadn't been for the show you're goin'
to give we'd bought the Third-Avenoo store yesterday; but Bill an' me both allowed it couldn't be done till
to-morrow, 'cause we ain't to be cheated out of seein' how much you know 'bout the fire business. We'll be
right in the front row, no matter how much the swells crowd for good places."

"Are you goin' to act jest like as if you was a reg'lar fireman?" Bill asked, much as if believing that would be
impossible.

"I shall go through the same drill as the others."

"Well, old man, I hope you'll get along all right, an' it seems as if you ought'er after workin' so hard. Look for
us when your crowd gets there, an' you can be certain of havin' more cheers than anybody else, for we'll yell
ourselves blue in the face but that it shall go in good shape."