rs."

Then came the fear that now, having reached the threshold of the
Department, as it were, he might fail in his purpose, and Seth literally
trembled with apprehension until 'Lish Davis's voice was heard from
below ordering him to "hurry up."

"I won't go back on Ninety-four's men," the boy said to himself
resolutely. "It's jest as the driver says, all depends on me, an'
knowin' what's to be gained I'm a chump if I can't pull through."

Then, acting on an impulse, he slid down one of the poles, instead of
going by the way of the stairs, and suddenly stood before the entire
company, who were awaiting his appearance.

"Well done, Amateur, well done," 'Lish Davis cried in a tone of
approbation. "I declare I wouldn't have known who it was if I'd met you
sudden-like on the street. Why, you're a corker, Amateur, a regular
corker!"

"I do look pretty nice, an' that's a fact," Seth replied complacently,
whereat the men laughed heartily.

Then each member of the company in turn came forward and shook him by
the hand, congratulating him upon his first appearance as a member of
the Department, at the same time that they wished him success in the
effort to gain a permanent foothold among them.

"You're a credit to us, Amateur, and that much I must say. The money we
spent on the toggery ain't been thrown away even if you do get fired out
of headquarters after a spell. From this time forth you're much the same
as a probationary fireman, and the bootblack part of it has disappeared,
except when you're 'round here where there's no one to know what you're
doing. Though, mark you, lad, I'm not saying anything against a boy's
shining boots for a living. If you hadn't done it well, and taken some
pride in your calling, Seth Bartlett wouldn't be standing in that 'ere
suit of blue this minute. Now that we've launched you, as it were,
Amateur, I, and I'm speaking for my mates as well, want you to
understand that it's a hard row ahead. You've got to work early and
late; put up with a good many disagreeable things and look pleasant all
the while; do considerable more'n your duty, and be always on the jump.
Keep up as we've known you, Amateur, my boy, and you'll win."

When this speech--for it could be called by no other name--was
concluded, the driver's comrades applauded loudly, and then 'Lish
stepped back a few paces as if expecting Seth to respond.

The "probationary" fireman understood the movement; but the words in his
mind w