In this surmise 'Lish Davis was correct.
Within ten minutes after Ninety-four was ready for work word came to "shut off," and the men set about disconnecting the hose.
So slight had been the fire that only two members of the company were detailed to do the overhauling—that, is to thoroughly go through the building from top to bottom to make certain no spark had been left which might be fanned into a flame—and the remainder of the men were ordered back to the house.
"It's what we may call a howling success, this first run of yours, Amateur," 'Lish Davis said as he drove leisurely homeward. "We've beat 'em all out, had little work to do, and it wasn't much more than good practice, with a precious fine record at the bottom of it. But don't you get puffed up thinking everything is going your way just 'cause you've started in easy and slick."
"There's no reason why I should be puffed up, Mr. Davis, except that I've had a chance to do what I've been longin' for—and that is to go out with Ninety-four as if I belonged to her."
"As if you belonged to her! That's what we allow you do, Amateur. From this out, unless it so be you turn about wonderfully and go crooked, you're one of us—an honorary member, so to speak."
"Put down on the roll as the official mascot," Jerry Walters cried, whereat the remainder of the company laughed heartily, and in this jovial mood was Ninety-four returned to her quarters; but Seth was not allowed to take part in the washing-up lest he should soil his fine feathers.
"I'm counting on your striking in at headquarters lookin' just as fine as silk, which you couldn't do if we let you hang 'round here helping with the dirty work," 'Lish Davis said when Seth would have claimed it as his right to be allowed to assist in the labor. "You're to toddle straight home now, for you've hung 'round this house long enough; stay there till morning, come over here for a bit about your usual time, and then take a spell at swelling down-town until nigh on to twelve o'clock, when I'll be ready to go with you. Well, why don't you start?"
"I wanted to thank you for lettin' me run with Ninety-four the first night I had my uniform on."
"You needn't do anything of the kind. The captain happened to be soft just as the alarm struck, else you wouldn't have got away with us. Now clear out, and take care you don't get into mischief."