"That ain't no answer," said the Bloater, with a knowing smile, the knowingness of which consisted chiefly in the corners of the mouth being turned down instead of up. This peculiarity, be it carefully observed, was natural to the Bloater, who scorned every species of affectation. Many of his young friends and admirers were wont to imitate this smile. If they could have seen the inconceivably idiotic expressions of their countenances when they tried it, they would never have made a second effort! "Wot a jolly lark!" said Little Jim, prefacing the remark with another "sk." "Ha!" replied the Bloater, with a frown that implied the pressure of weighty matters on his mind. After a few minutes' silence, during which the cherubic face of Little Jim underwent various contortions, the Bloater said-- "If I ain't mistaken, Jim, you and I are sound of wind and limb?" Jim looked up in surprise, and nodded assent. "Besides which," continued the Bloater, "we're rayther fleet than otherwise." Again Jim nodded and grinned. "No Bobby as ever stuck 'is hignorant hinsolent 'ead into a 'elmet ever could catch us." "Sk!" ejaculated Jim, expanding from ear to ear. "Well, then," continued the Bloater, becoming more grave and confidential, "it's my opinion, Jim, that you and I shall 'ave a run for it to-night. It's quite plain that our hamiable friend who seems so fond o' fire-raisin' is goin' to pay 'is respects to Number 5. 'Avin' got it well alight it is just within the bounds o' the possible--not to say prob'ble--that 'e'll give 'em leg-bail--make tracks, as the Yankees say--cut and run for it. Well, in course it would never do to let 'im go off alone, or with only a 'eavy stoopid, conceited slow-coach of a Bobby at 'is tail." "No, no," responded Little Jim; "that would never do. Quite out of the question. 'Ighly himproper." "Therefore," said the Bloater, with emphasis, "you and I shall 'ave to keep our heyes on 'im, shan't we?" He put this concluding question with a wink of such astounding significance, that Little Jim could only reply with another "sk!" as he stopped for a few moments to hug himself. At the fire-station "close to Number 5," the firemen lounged about that evening with the air of men who, although they chanced to be idle at the moment, were nevertheless on the alert and ready for action at a moment's notice. Their large folding-doors stood open with an air of off-hand hospitality. A couple of engines stood within, glittering from excessive polish and cleanliness. Coils of hose and buckets, etcetera, were seen here and there in readiness, while in an interior room a glimpse might be had of gleaming brass helmets, which hung in a row on the wall, each with an axe pendant below it; and, opposite to these, a row of dry boots arranged on pegs with their soles to the ceiling.