Page 96 - An Amateur Fireman

CHAPTER XIII.

THE LETTER.

There could be no question but that Ninety-four's company were highly delighted with the news brought by
Seth regarding his progress.

It was as if each man felt personally complimented by Mr. Fernald when he advanced the amateur so rapidly,
and all united in declaring that "Josh was a right good fellow."

Seth was in the highest degree excited. He had expected that his friends of Ninety-four would be pleased at
learning of his good fortune, but never fancied they could be so deeply interested, and now he began to
understand what a gloom might be cast over the company if he should fail in this attempt to gain a foothold in
the Department.

'Lish Davis would not be content until the boy gave an exhibition of what he had learned in the way of
gymnastic exercises during the morning, and when this had been brought to a close amid the applause of all
present, the driver said in a tone of satisfaction:

"You're getting on in great shape, Amateur, and if nothing happens to give you a pull-back, ought'er be well
up in the drill 'twixt now and a year from to-day. Josh Fernald has the name of being precious hard on them as
comes under him for instruction; but I've always allowed he'd boost along mighty fast any one who struck his
fancy. He must have seen that you were in earnest, young fellow, for when I talked with him the best promise
I could get was that he'd look you over in the course of a month or two."

"Do they keep you humpin' on the odd jobs, Amateur?" Jerry Walters asked solicitously.

"There's plenty to be done; but not enough to kill anybody. After I get used to the ways of the place I reckon
it'll come pretty easy."

"That's the kind of talk to make, young fellow!" the driver cried approvingly. "Don't allow that your job's a
hard one, however tough it may be, for a kid never gets any credit when he's always whining 'bout working to
death."

Not until ten minutes or more had been spent in answering the questions asked by each member of the
company, including the captain himself, was the curiosity of the men satisfied concerning the advancement of
their protege, and then Seth had an opportunity of inquiring as to the charge against the firebug.

"Dan Roberts said you carried a lawyer down to see poor Jip, Mr. Davis," the amateur began, and instantly the
look of pleasurable excitement faded from 'Lish Davis's face.

"So I did, Amateur, so I did. Jerry and I allowed we might do that much for the kid, even though he ain't
deserving of any man's attention."

"Will he get out of the scrape?"

"Not before having a trial, Amateur, and then all must depend on the judge. It seems he owned up to the
whole business when they first nabbed him, and the only thing he can do now is to plead guilty. The evidence
that can be given by the kids from Brooklyn will be enough to convict him, even if he finds somebody to help
him make a fight, which wouldn't be good sense."

"Then there's nothin' for the poor fellow but to go up the river?" and Seth's voice was tremulous with sorrow.