git a chance at Joe to--.' 'E didn't
say no more, but 'e drewed 'is finger across 'is throat; but the one as
'e called Phil said, `No, Jeff, no, I'll split on you if you do. It's
quite enough to give 'im a rap over the 'ead!' I didn't wait to 'ear no
more arter that."

"They're safe not to go off, then," observed the Bloater; "nevertheless,
we must take a Bobby into our confidence now, for the case begins to
look ugly."

While these things were transpiring in the dark and silent night outside
of "Number 5," the inmates of that modest mansion were buried in
profound repose. Joe Dashwood, on leaving the station for the night,
and going home, had found that Molly had already retired, and was asleep
in the inner room with the Rosebud in her bosom.

After contemplating this pleasant sight for a few minutes he returned to
the outer or kitchen-dino-drawing-room, where he found a cot
extemporised out of four chairs and a baking-board, on which reposed the
sturdy little figure of Fred Crashington. That enthusiastic amateur
fireman had been invited to take up his quarters at Number 5, until his
father should be out of danger, and having devoted his energies during
the entire day, along with the Rosebud, in a futile effort to extinguish
that obstinate fire in the cupboard, had at length been persuaded to
retire exhausted to the baking-board, where he lay with a happy smile on
his parted lips, and his right arm embracing the quaint old helmet, with
which he was wont to extinguish his little head.

Being unusually tired that night, but not sleepy, Joe resolved to solace
himself with a pipe before lying down. He threw off his coat, vest, and
braces, pulled up his flannel shirt, so as to let it hang comfortably
loose over the waistband of his trousers, sat down in an armchair in
front of the fire, filled his pipe, and began to smoke. His intention
was to "take a few whiffs and then turn in," but the influence of the
tobacco appeared to be soporific, for he soon began to nod; then he
removed his pipe, stared earnestly at the fire, and established quite a
nodding acquaintance with it. Presently he dropped his chin on his
broad chest and snored steadily.

From this condition of repose he was awakened by a sensation as if of
suffocation by smoke. This was such an extremely natural, not to say
habitual, state of things with Joe, that he was at least a couple of
seconds in realising the fact that there was unusual cause for h