"Then we'll begin to-night, but I don't want the fellers to know about it, 'cause they'd set up sich a terrible howl."
Dan did not waste any more time in conversation, but hurried away to take advantage of the early demand for papers, and 'Lish Davis said sagely when Seth had repeated the conversation to him:
"Now you can see the result of a good example, Amateur. If you had kicked against going to school, your roommates never'd thought of trying the same game, and so by helping yourself you've gone a long way towards helping others. Contrariwise, if you'd been cutting 'round town, raising rows and getting into all kinds of trouble, you'd find them as would follow in your track, so it's a pretty sure thing that a boy is bound to walk straight because of the effect it'll have on others, even if for no other reason."
Seth made no reply to this brief lecture; he was learning very much of life through his intercourse with Ninety-four's men, and it seemed to him as if each day some new idea regarding a boy's work was to be gained.
"Your firebug has his chance this forenoon, eh?" 'Lish asked after a short pause.
"Yes, sir, an' I'm hopin' mighty hard that he'll get off this time."
"I reckon a good deal depends on you and your partner."
"How do you mean?"
"If the firebug pleads guilty as his lawyer has advised him to, the judge will only call on you two witnesses to tell how it happened, so's he can get an idea of about how hard Jip ought'er be punished."
"Then if we talk smooth he stands a better chance, eh?"