Part 39 (2/2)

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 subst.i.tute 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 a.s.sailed 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?”

'Lish Davis rose to his feet and cried in reply:

”He's got his head again, and appears to be all right!”

At that moment some one stepped to the side of the wagon and asked the driver:

”Shall we send an ambulance?”

”I reckon he'll get along without it, Chief. It's only the reg'lar dose, as nigh as I can make out.”

”How did he happen to be here instead of at headquarters?”

”It was his day off, owing to being a witness in an arson case, and he'd come up to the house to visit us.”

”We shall have to put him in a straight-jacket until he is taken on as a fireman, else something serious may happen. This would be a case for a medal if he belonged to the Department.”

”That's what he does, Chief. He comes as nigh being one of Ninety-four's men as I am, and if it so be a medal belongs to him, we'll see he gets it.”

Seth heard, but did not understand this conversation.

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