Part 6 (1/2)
Ten minutes later, when Seth woke to consciousness, Dan was lying by his side in the bottom of the wagon, and 'Lish Davis bent over him.
”It must be that Jip Collins did what he threatened,” he said, speaking with difficulty because of the parched, burning sensation in his throat.
”Ay, lad, that's what he did, and this town won't be big enough to hold him after daylight to-morrow morning.”
”But why are you here, Mr. Davis? What about the team?”
”Ben Dunton is on hand, and I'm off duty for the time being till I can make sure whether you're alive or not.”
Seth knew that Ben Dunton was 'Lish's ”relief,” therefore the driver was not neglecting his duty by thus staying with him.
”Is it a bad fire?” he asked.
”The shop and about half the lumber-yard will go. It's nothing to speak of, lad, save for the fact of its having been kindled that murder might be done.”
”I don't believe Jip Collins really meant to kill us. He most likely thought we would get out before it was very bad. Is Dan all right?”
”There's nothing much the matter with me,” Master Roberts replied in what he intended should be a cheery tone. ”I've been awake quite a spell, an' thought you'd never open your eyes.”
”Sure you're all right?” 'Lish asked, shaking Seth gently as if doubting whether the boy was fully conscious.
”Of course I am, an' now we're inside the lines there's a good chance for me to look 'round after points. I'm going into the yard to see what Ninety-four's men are doin'.”
”I reckon you'll lay where you are for a spell,” 'Lish said with a grim smile, speaking half to himself, and in such a low tone that neither of the boys heard the words.
Seth attempted to rise; but had no more than gotten up on one elbow when a most violent nausea a.s.sailed him, and he fell back on the rubber blankets which had served as pillow, feeling much as he looked--desperately ill.
”Don't feel like wiggling 'round to any great extent, eh?” 'Lish asked, understanding full well the boy's sensations, and so relieved at knowing his life had been saved that the temporary sickness seemed as nothing.
”I don't see what makes me feel so bad,” and Seth did his best to speak in a careless tone.
”If it so be you ever get into the Department, lad, this ain't the first dose you'll take, nor the heaviest. It's the smoke which came nigh to strangling you, and there ain't a man that answers to Ninety-four's roll-call who can't tell exactly how you feel.”
”I've got to brace up pretty soon, or Dan an' me will have to walk 'round the streets the balance of the night, now our housekeepin' is broken up.”
”Don't worry about that, lad. I reckon the captain will give you a shelter till daylight, and after that we'll see what can be done.”
Then 'Lish, understanding that he could render no a.s.sistance, left the two boys to join his comrades, who were fighting the fire as gallantly in the lumber-yard as they would have done at a palatial residence.
”So Jip Collins had sand enough to try an' burn us out, didn't he?” Dan said interrogatively. ”I'll run across that duffer one of these days, and when I get through with him he won't set anybody else's shed on fire!”
”The police will most likely get hold of him, 'cause Mr. Davis knows all about what he threatened, an' even if Sam Barney didn't let out the whole story, the driver will.”
Having said this Seth relapsed into silence, for his bodily condition was such that it seemed a severe exertion to so much as speak.
The fire was subdued, but not extinguished, when the patrol-wagon was driven away with Ben Dunton on the front seat, and Dan asked in a tone of awe:
”Do you s'pose they're goin' to carry us up to the engine-house?”
”It seemed as though that was what Mr. Davis meant; but yet I'm afraid we're bound for the hospital.”