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 assailed 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 assistance, 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 exerti