"There's some of us can sing chorus to Corney," observed one of the group. "I never saw such weather; and it seems to me that the worse the weather the more the fires, as if they got 'em up a purpose to kill us." "Bill Moxey!" cried another, "you're _always_ givin' out some truism with a face like Solomon." "Well, Jack Williams," retorted Moxey, "it's more than I can say of you, for you never say anything worth listenin' to, and you couldn't look like Solomon if you was to try ever so much.--You're too stoopid for that." "I say, lads," cried Frank Willders, "what d'ye say to send along to the doctor for another bottle o' cough mixture, same as the first?" This proposal was received with a general laugh. "He'll not send us more o' _that_ tipple, you may depend," said Williams. "No, not av we wos dyin'," said Corney, with a grin. "What was it?" asked Williams. "Didn't you hear about it?" inquired Moxey. "Oh, to be sure not; you were in hospital after you got run over by the Baker Street engine. Tell him about it, Corney. It was you that asked the doctor, wasn't it, for another bottle?" Corney was about to speak, when a young fireman entered the room with his helmet hanging on his arm. "Is it go on?" he inquired, looking round. "No, it's go back, young Rags," replied Baxmore, as he refilled his pipe; "it was only a chimney, so you're not wanted." "Can any o' you fellers lend me a bit o' baccy?" asked Rags. "I've forgot to fetch mine." "Here you are," said Dale, offering him a piece of twist. "Han't ye got a bit o' hard baccy for the tooth?" said Rags. "Will that do?" asked Frank Willders, cutting off a piece from a plug of cavendish. "Thank'ee. Good afternoon." Young Rags put the quid in his cheek, and went away humming a tune. In explanation of the above incident, it is necessary to tell the reader that when a fire occurred in any part of London at the time of which we write, the fire-station nearest to it at once sent out its engines and men, and telegraphed to the then head or centre station at Watling Street. London was divided into four districts, each district containing several fire stations, and being presided over by a foreman. From Watling Street the news was telegraphed to the foremen's stations, whence it was transmitted to the stations of their respective districts, so that in a few minutes after the breaking out of a fire the fact was known to the firemen _all over London_. As we have said, the stations nearest to the scene of conflagration turned out engines and men; but the other stations furnished a man each. Thus machinery was set in motion which moved, as it were, the whole metropolis; and while the engines were going to the fire at full speed, single men were setting out from every point of the compass to walk to it, with their sailors' caps on their heads and their helmets on their arms.