"He did not say a word about what we did at the fire," said Hop Cabright.
"He has just been to see the foreman of the engine, too," said Syl Peckman.
"I don't know that it had any thing to do with the Goldwing or the Topovers," said Sam Spottwood.
"Perhaps not, but we did a good piece of work; and, if we had not come along just as we did, the little girl would have been burned to death, and the house destroyed," argued Hop, who seemed to think that the two events of the day had some connection.
"Do you expect that putting out the fire at the Widow Sankland's will atone for the wrong we did in taking the Goldwing for a sail?" asked Ash, turning to Hop.
"Well, I think it will prove that we are not the worst fellows in the world," replied Hop.
"Do you think if a fireman should kill a man, it would save him from punishment because he had saved a woman from being burned to death?"
"I don't know that I think that, but I think he ought to have the credit of his good deed," answered Hop, stoutly.
"I don't believe it would save his neck from being stretched," persisted Ash, who was assuredly a very good fellow—when he was not led away by some temptation like the desire to sail a boat. "I don't believe that it will make a particle of difference to Captain Gildrock that we put out that fire, and saved the little girl. He is not a milk-and-water man."
This conversation was continued till they reached the grounds of the Industrial School. The boys had been assured of the intention of the principal to prosecute if he could make out a good case. It appeared that Tom Topover had invented some story which failed to explain the manner in which they had first gone on board of the sloop.