"It's a dandy!" Ikey replied, enthusiastically, "an' I wouldn't ask anythin' better'n to stay here all the time."
"If trade keeps on as it's begun, I reckon we can 'ford to hire you right along, eh, Teddy?"
Before Master Thurston could reply, the clang and rattle of a fire-engine broke upon the stillness, and all three rushed out of the stand in the shortest possible time.
"It's down near where I used to live!" Carrots cried, as he saw the engine turning the corner. "Do you s'pose Skip has really dared to do what he threatened?"
"Ikey, you'll have to stay here 'cause you can't run," Teddy said, hurriedly. "Keep the door locked, an' Carrots and I'll come right back."
Then the partners started at full speed; and, although they had been warned that such might be the case, both were astonished almost beyond the power of speech, at finding that the blaze actually proceeded from the backyard where Carrots had spent so many nights.
"'HOW DID YOU KNOW CARROTS LIVED HERE?' TEDDY ASKED, STERNLY."
"He's really gone an' done it!" Master Williams exclaimed in a tone of awe, and just at that moment Reddy Jackson stepped from among the network of hose, whence he had evidently been trying to peer into the yard.