Page 37 - An Amateur Fireman

"Look here, Amateur, I don't reckon you know where you're going to sleep!"

"We'll turn in somewhere; that part of it will be all right. So long!"

"Hold on here, you kid!" and Jerry Walters spoke in a tone which sounded unusually stern. "Have you been
with Ninety-four's crew at this 'ere fire, or not?"

"I reckon we have," Seth replied, with a laugh.

"Then we'll take care you have a roof over your heads for the balance of this night. Wait till 'Lish Davis shows
up, and see what he has to say about letting the kid who pulled him out of a big hole go off to bunk in the
streets. Come back, I say, till the driver gets here."

"We ain't begging for a bed, Mr. Walters," Seth said decidedly, as he obeyed the command, "an' if we turn
anybody out as we did last night--- "

"If you was begging a bed I reckon you wouldn't get it from me; but since you're so mighty independent I'm
just contrary enough to see that you have one. I reckon it won't strain the rules very hard if you sleep on the
straw, an' that's about the best you'll get up at the house to-night, unless another alarm is sent in."

At this moment 'Lish Davis returned with the horses, and Jerry Walters held a short, whispered conversation
with him, at the conclusion of which the latter said gruffly:

"Amateur, go on with your partner up to the house--there's no need of your riding--an' wait there till I come.
We ain't going to have any sulking jest because we've taken it into our heads to see that you get some sleep
'twixt now and morning."

"We ain't sulkin', Mr. Davis," Seth made haste to say, "an' we'll go wherever you say; but I don't want you to
think we can't find a lodgin'-place."

"Get on with you!" the driver roared as if in a fury of passion, and when the boys obeyed he said in a low tone
to Jerry Walters:

"The Amateur has got a good bit of spirit in him, and that's what I like to see. He shall come into the
Department, eh?"

"I'd like to see him there, for sure, and hope you'll be able to work it."

"I don't know as a fireman's life counts much to the city; but if it does something ought'er be done for the
Amateur, 'cause if it hadn't been for him there'd be one driver short in the Department by this time."

Dan was in high glee at the prospect of spending another night in the engine-house, and said in a tone of
satisfaction as the two made their way rapidly up the street:

"This is great luck, eh?"

"Yes, though I almost wish we was to shirk for ourselves."

"What's makin' you so foolish all of a sudden? Don't you think a bed on the straw in Ninety-four's house is
better'n bunkin' in anywhere, or perhaps walkin' the streets for the rest of the night?"

"Of course it is; but I'm 'fraid the men will think we hung 'round for jest such a chance."