Amateur Fireman

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER XVI.

  WINNING A MEDAL.

  The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served toconfuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling eachmoment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

  But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he northe baby would have left the apartment alive.

  He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as JoshFernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeatedagain and again the words of the instructor.

  During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and thencame the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly byinhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

  A garment--perhaps it was a table-cloth or a light blanket--hung overthe back of a chair near at hand, and this Seth wound around the baby'sface, regardless of its struggles.

  "A clear head is the next best thing to a ladder," he said again andagain, repeating the words of Mr. Fernald, and all the while searchingfor a rope, or something which would serve him in its stead.

  By this time the room was completely filled with smoke, and his eyeswere blinded, smarting, burning.

  Near the window was a footstool, and seizing this with one hand hehurled it through the glass.

  Fresh air was a necessity now; he must have it, or speedily succumb tothe deadly vapor.

  Holding the child, who was apparently in a paroxysm of fear, or a spasmcaused by pain, close against his breast, he thrust the upper portion ofhis body through the aperture regardless of the sharp fragments of glasswhich cut his flesh cruelly.

  What a blessed relief was this first indrawing of comparatively freshair!

  The "clear head" was coming to him rapidly, and he understood thatunless aid could be summoned from below he must make immediate battlewith the vapor again, for with every moment the flames on the landingwere increasing.

  "Ninety-four!" he shouted at the full strength of his lungs. "This way,Ninety-four!"

  He could hear from below a tumult of shouts and commands; but none ofthem appeared to be an answer to his cry.

  The roaring of the fire as it came through the elevator-shaft could beclearly distinguished even above all the noise, and he knew full wellthe blaze must soon make its way through the door, which presented but afrail barrier against the on-rush of flame.

  "Ninety-four! Here, Ninety-four!" he cried once more without receiving areply, and feeling comparatively strong for another struggle against thesmoke, he drew the covering more closely around the child's head, at thesame time stepping back into the suffocating vapor.

  He made his way by sense of touch rather than sight into the adjoiningapartment.

  It was the kitchen of the suite, and at one end, stretched across fromwall to wall above the range, was a cord on which hung several articlesof wearing apparel.

  Placing the child, who had ceased to struggle, on the floor, he tore atthis apology for a rope with all his strength, dragging it from itsfastenings, and, taking up the baby once more, ran back to the windowfrom which he had just come.

  It was but the work of a few seconds to tie one end of the cord underthe child's arms; but yet it seemed to him, half bewildered andsuffering as he was, that more than five minutes passed before it hadbeen completed.

  SETH RESCUES THE BABY. _Page_ 272.]

  "Ninety-four!" he shouted as he thrust the seemingly lifeless bodythrough the aperture, cutting his hands and arms again and again on thesharp points of glass.

  Quickly, but at the same time gently, he lowered the burden until thecord was at its full length.

  It did not seem possible this poor substitute for a life-line extendedmuch below the top of the first story, and he dared not let go his holdlest 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 wasunable to say whether the smoke yet enveloped him or if he was in fullview of the men below.

  The sense of suffocation was heavy upon him; he tried to repeat JoshFernald's words, but failed, and then came the knowledge--dim andunreal--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 wasin 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 Davisbending over him as he had done on that night when Jip Collins set fireto the shed in Baxter's lumber-yard.

  "Where's the baby?" he asked, attempting to rise, but forced back by thedeathly faintness which assailed him.

  "His mother has got him by this time, Amateur, and you've made a man ofyourself in shorter order than the majority of us are able to do. It wasa close shave, lad, and we'll have no more like it till the time comeswhen it's your duty to take such chances."

  The driver's voice sounded oddly to the half-stupefied boy; usually itwas gruff, like that of a man in a bad temper, but now it quavered as ifthe speaker was making an unsuccessful effort to control his emotions.

  Seth allowed his head to fall back on a pile of rubber blankets, and ashis cheeks touched the smooth surface there came to him the thought thatonce more he was in the patrol-wagon.

  How long he remained apparently unable to speak he had no idea, and thenhe heard the shout from afar off, but readily distinguishable above thepanting 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 thedriver:

  "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'dcome up to the house to visit us."

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

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

  Seth heard, but did not understand this conversation.

  He knew it was one of the battalion chiefs who had been talking with Mr.Davis, and it was enough for him that his name had been spoken in afriendly tone.

  The driver leaned over him once more, and asked almost tenderly:

  "Will I send you up to the house, Amateur?"

  "Can't I stay till Ninety-four pulls out?"

  "Well, of all gluttons, you're the worst!" 'Lish Davis cried as if indelight. "Dosed 'way up till you can hardly wink, and yet wanting tohold on to the last! Ben Dunton is caring for the team, and I reckonyou and I had better pull out in this 'ere hurry-up."

  "What about the fire?"

  "It's under control, though I'm allowing it'll be a full two hoursbefore Ninety-four gets the word to leave."

  Then Davis left the boy a moment, and when he returned the patrol-wagonwas driven slowly out past the laboring engines, through the throng ofspectators, into the unobstructed streets, after which the horses wereurged to their full speed.

  "There's no need of takin' me back, Mr. Davis. I ain't much worse than Iwas the time Dan an' me was burned out."

  "But then it needed a night's rest to put you into shape, and I'm notminded to run any risks. Ninety-four's kid is getting to be so near aman that we can't afford to take any chances with him."

  "Hello! Amateur in trouble again?" the house watchman asked when 'LishDavis helped Seth into the building, and the driver replied proudly:

  "I don't allow he's an am
ateur any longer, Bob, but fit to be one of usin proper form. He saved a baby, and came mighty nigh knocking under."

  "How did he get a chance to do anything like that?"

  "Slipped past me, and followed Jerry and Joe; I don't rightly know thewhole of it yet. The Chief allowed it was a medal job, though one can'tbe given, except to members of the Department."

  "Then Seth is entitled to it, for he's on our rolls as if belongin' tous."

  "We'll see that he gets all he's earned, Bob," 'Lish Davis replied, andthen he conducted the boy upstairs, insisting that he should go to bed.

  "I'll be all right after a spell," Seth protested, and the driverreplied grimly, in his usual harsh tone:

  "That's what I'm going to make certain of, kid. Peel off your clothesand turn in if you don't want to have trouble with me."

  Seth obeyed with a laugh, and was equally tractable a few moments laterwhen 'Lish Davis brought a glass half full of a certain disagreeablemixture for him to drink.

  Then the boy's eyelids grew heavy; he said to himself he would remainawake until Ninety-four returned, but the thought was hardly more thanformed in his mind before slumber overcame him.

  It was late in the evening when he was awakened by the sound of voicesnear at hand, and on looking around Seth saw, to his great surprise, Mr.Fernald talking with 'Lish Davis.

  "Hello! got your eyes open again, eh?" the old instructor cried, andSeth would have arisen to his feet but that Mr. Fernald's hand was laidheavily upon his shoulder.

  "I'm all right now, sir, an' I promised to go to school with Bill an'Dan."

  "It's a little late for anything of that kind now, my boy, seeing thatthe clock has just struck ten. What's all this talk I hear of yourshowing the members of the Department how to effect a rescue?"

  "It wasn't me, sir. I only got the baby out of the window, an' somebodyelse must have taken him from there."

  "It was Jerry Walters who came up the ladder," 'Lish Davis interrupted.

  "The credit of saving the child belongs to you, Seth," Mr. Fernald said,decidedly, "and I hope there'll be no question about its being given.Tell us how it was done."

  "There isn't much to tell, sir. I jest heard the baby yellin', an' wentin after it. Then the smoke made me feel silly, an' I had to keep sayin'to myself what I heard you tellin' the class, about a clear head bein'the next best thing to a ladder, else I'd gone under before I found therope."

  "Now there's the kind of a pupil to have!" Mr. Fernald cried proudly."There's some satisfaction in knowing that what a man says will beremembered when the time comes that it may be of profit. You shall goregularly into the class from this out, Seth Bartlett, whether thecommissioners approve or not, and we'll find some one else to do the oddjobs."

  "Do you really think I stand a better chance of gettin' into theDepartment because of tryin' to pull the kid through?" Seth asked insurprise, and Josh Fernald replied to the great delight of both the boyand Mr. Davis:

  "If I can bring any influence to bear, you shall be there very soon, mylad, and at all events, from this time out you will be kept at work onthe drill. Ninety-four's kid is of considerably more importance to-nightthan he was this morning."

  After such praise as this it seemed impossible for Seth to remain inbed, and finally 'Lish Davis consented to his going down-stairs for atime.

  The hour which Seth spent on the lower floor on this night was the mostpleasant he had ever known.

  The men did not occupy the time in praising him, but discussed therescue again and again, and never once was the boy spoken to, or of, asthe "Amateur."

  'Lish Davis insisted on his remaining in the engine-house all night, butgave Seth distinctly to understand that however many alarms might comein, he was not to so much as think of going out with the company.

  "You'll be on sick leave till to-morrow morning, when Josh Fernald isexpecting you at headquarters, and then it'll be for him to say whenwe're to see you again."

  "But of course I'll sleep at Mrs. Hanson's same's I've been doin'?"

  "I can't say how it'll be, lad; but whatever Josh allows must be donewill come nigh being right."

  What between his happiness and the sleep he had indulged in during theearly part of the evening, Seth Bartlett was unusually wakeful, anduntil past midnight he lay in a cot near 'Lish Davis's bed speculatingupon what Mr. Fernald might be able to do in regard to procuring hisadmission to the school at headquarters.

  Then slumber interfered with his waking dreams, and he knew no moreuntil daylight next morning, when he crept softly out of bed to performhis customary task.

  He did the work on the lower floor lest he should disturb those who wereyet asleep, and was getting well along with it when Joe Black came down.

  "How are you feelin' this mornin', kid?" he asked, in an unusuallyfriendly tone.

  "Fine as silk. That medicine Mr. Davis gave me fixed everything in greatshape."

  "I see you're still blackin' boots."

  "Why shouldn't I be? It was the bargain that I could do it till I gotinto the Department."

  "I'm allowing 'Lish will claim you're so near there now that you mustgraduate from this kind of work."

  "But, of course, I'm not near gettin' into the Department, for theydon't make firemen of boys."

  "As a rule they don't; but I'm reckoning there'll be something in theway of an exception with you. I'm not allowin' you'll be allowed toswell around as full member of a company, but you are bound to berecognized as belonging to us."

  Seth failed to understand how any immediate change could be effected inhis standing, save that he might be admitted to the classes atheadquarters, and before he could ask Joe Black to make an explanation ashrill voice was heard calling through the half-opened door:

  "Say, Mister, is Seth Bartlett here?"

  It was Dan, and Seth stepped forward to prevent him from coming in, whenJoe Black said:

  "There's no reason why you should go out on the sidewalk to talk withyour friends. You've got the same privileges here that all hands have."

  By this time Dan had stepped inside, and catching a glimpse of Seth hecried:

  "Say, old man, you're goin' it mighty strong, but we're proud of you.The fellers count on givin' you a reg'lar blow-out to-morrow, if it's soyou can come down-town."

  "Do you mean 'cause of what was done last night, Dan?" Seth asked,surprised that his roommate should have learned of the affair so soon,and Joe Black gave way to his mirth, although why he thought there wasanything comical in what had been said, neither of the boys understood.

  "Course I'm talkin' 'bout your savin' the baby."

  "How did you hear of it so soon?"

  "Hear of it! Why, it's in all the papers! Look at this!" and Danunfolded the morning _Herald_ as he pointed to an article nearly acolumn in length, which was headed, "A Brave Boy."

  Seth made no attempt to read the account, and Dan cried impatiently ashe held the sheet in front of him:

  "Why, don't you see what it says? The fellers down-town are pretty nighwild 'cause you've showed the firemen that you ain't any slouch, even ifyou did black boots for a livin'. I reckon Sam Barney will get greenwhen he sees it, an' Bill's hangin' 'round so's to make certain thatduffer hears 'bout it the first thing. Say, can't you come down by thepost-office now?"

  "I've got to go up to headquarters same as ever, an' it's most timenow."

  "But the fellers are just crazy to see you."

  "They'll have to wait till night," Seth replied with a laugh, "'causeI'm bound to be there right on the dot."

  "I'll walk up with you."

  "All right; I'm ready now as soon as I put on my coat."

  Seth went to the floor above for the purpose of getting the garment, andwhile he was absent Joe Black asked Dan:

  "What are you boys counting on doing with our kid?"

  "We're goin' to give him one of the biggest blow-outs that's ever beenseen in this town. Do you s'pose we'd lay still after he's been an' donewhat he did? We'll show that we believe
he's a dandy."

  "What kind of a blow-out do you mean?"

  "A reg'lar spread with plenty to eat, an' it won't cost Seth a cent.Bill an' Teddy Bowser are rushin' 'round seein' to it now. Folks thinkwe fellers don't count for much, but some of 'em will sing a differenttune after readin' what he did! You can bet we're reckonin' on givin'him a great send-off."

  "Look here, Dan," Joe Black whispered. "I wouldn't mind seeing how youlads get up a thing of that sort, and if you'll give me an invite I'llchip in a dollar."

  "Will you wear your uniform?" Dan asked eagerly.

  "I'll put on every button I've got; but you are not to tell Seth I'mcoming."

  "It's a go," Master Roberts replied gravely, and then the arrival ofSeth interrupted the conversation.

  When they were outside the engine-house Dan insisted that his partnergive him the full story of the rescue, and he was not satisfied with ageneral account, but demanded every particular from the time Ninety-fourleft her quarters until Josh Fernald had taken his departure.

  "Well, it's bound to be a big thing for you," he said, thoughtfully,"even if you don't get a medal."

  "See here, Dan, Mr. Davis has said considerable 'bout medals, an' Idon't understand it."

  "Are you claimin' to be posted in the fire business, an' don't knowthings like that are given to men who save folks from bein' burned up?"

  "Of course I know it; but I'm talkin' about myself. I can't have a medal'cause I ain't a fireman yet."

  "If you'd read the _Herald_ as I wanted, you'd seen that the printedpiece said you earned one."

  "I don't think I did, not even if I belonged reg'larly to theDepartment. It was Jerry Walters who did the most of the work, 'cause ifhe hadn't come jest then it would have been all day with me--I wasmighty near gone."

  "Don't you make such talk as that to anybody but me, Seth Bartlett," Dancried sharply. "What's the use of givin' anything away when folks arehowlin' 'bout your bein' so brave? A feller is bound to blow his ownhorn sometimes in this world, else he'd never get along, an' that's whatyou must do now."

  "If I can't get into the Department without it, I'll go back to shinin'boots. Look at Sam Barney! He's always doin' that, an' what does he'mount to?"

  "Oh, a feller must have some sand to back him, else he won't pullthrough, an' you know there's nothin' to Sam but wind. Here's where youstop, an' I'll snoop back down-town. The fellers are countin' on givin'you a racket to-morrow night, an' you must be on hand."

  "See here, Dan, don't you spend good money when you're needin' it forthe store, jest for the sake of puffin' me up."

  "I reckon what I'll put out won't bust me, even if we have 'greed towhack up fifteen cents apiece. Bill, Teddy, an' me will chip in for Jip,so's he can have a good time after all his hard luck, an' we'll makeyour eyes stick out before it's over."

  "I'd a good deal rather you didn't do it."

  "There's no use to kick now, 'cause it's too late. I wouldn't wonder ifit was all fixed by this time. You see, Bill an' me was 'fraid you'dbeen hurt, seein' 's you didn't come over to the room last night, an'the fellers wanted me to find out 'bout it, so's if there was anytrouble we could hold off the blow-out till you'd come 'round ag'in. Solong; I'll see you to-night," and Dan was off like a flash.

  Seth watched until his friend was lost to view in the distance, and thenentered the building.

  The first man he met shook hands with him in the most friendly manner,congratulating him upon the service he had done, and so did every one hesaw, until he was absolutely astounded at the warmth of his reception.

  For a moment it seemed as if the officials at headquarters were takingas deep an interest in him as did Ninety-four's company, and there wereso many who thus had a kindly word that it was nearly an hour from thetime he arrived before it was possible to present himself at thegymnasium.

  There Mr. Fernald showed him marked attention before those of the classwho were assembled, and, as Seth confidentially told 'Lish Davis thatevening, "he was afraid he'd get a big head if folks didn't let up onhis saving the baby."

  At noon Josh Fernald held a long conversation with Seth, the substanceof which was that permission had been received to put him underinstruction precisely as if he had been appointed a member of theDepartment on probation, and he would be taught the entire drill fromthat day forth.

  "Next spring, when the Bennett, Stephenson, and Pulitzer medals areawarded, the Life-Saving Corps will give an exhibition drill at somepublic place, and I've decided that you shall be among them. Work hard,my lad, and on that day when the citizens of New York turn out to seethose of the force who have distinguished themselves in the way ofsaving life, you can make your appearance in a manner that will givegreat pleasure to your comrades of Ninety-four."

  Mr. Fernald did not give Seth an opportunity of thanking him, butsuddenly walked away as if bent on important business at the other endof the room, and the boy said to himself with pride and delight:

  "He called Ninety-four's men my _comrades_! That's a big step-up for abootblack to make, an' I wonder how 'Lish Davis will like it?"