Having finished his lunch he followed the crowd that was surging along the street and presently came in sight of the burning building, which was a large cotton warehouse. He soon was in the midst of a pushing, noisy mass of people, with eyes only for the fire, the rolling smoke, and the puffing engines. Suddenly he felt a touch upon his person, which, though light as thistle down, almost thrilled him with an indefinite sense of alarm. Reaching quickly downward he grasped a wrist that was not his own. CHAPTER VIII. Captain Shard's Proposal. The arm Ralph seized was violently jerked and twisted, but the mountain boy was strong for his age, and held on tight. Turning at the same instant he found himself facing the same negro boy, who had probably saved him from arrest that morning by warning him regarding the bill posting. "What did you want in my pocket?" demanded Ralph, feeling with his free hand to assure himself that his money was safe. "Hush!" half whispered the darky. "I didn't see hit was yo'. Deed I didn't, suh." Ralph regarded the negro steadily, as it dawned upon his crude conceptions that the other was a thief. Then he thought of the service the fellow had unwittingly done him, and at once released his grip. "Go," said he contemptuously. "Don't let me see you round here any more." The negro disappeared in the crowd, one of whom said to the mountain boy: "Why didn't you hand him over to yonder policeman?" "Well--because I sort of felt sorry for the fool," was the explanation Ralph would vouchsafe as he, too, turned away and extricated himself from the throng. After that he wandered about the city, finding something to excite his wonder or admiration at every turn, until the lowness of the western sun admonished him that he had better begin to look out for supper and bed. First he stepped into an area way, and placed his money in an inside pocket. "Best to be on the safe side," thought he, as he returned to the street. "Looks like in these towns they'd steal a man's britches if they could pull 'em off without his knowing it. Hullo! That must be the captain's livery stable." Directly across the street was a large wooden building, on the front of which, in enormous letters, were these words: SHARD'S LIVERY STABLE. While Ralph was debating whether he should again make himself known, the captain drove forth from the stable in a buggy. His quick eye lighted upon Ralph at once. "Come here," he called, beckoning also with his finger. "I see you are still about," he added as Ralph crossed over. "Yes, but I ain't posting bills any more." "Then your job didn't last long?" Ralph frankly related the cause and manner of his discharge by Mr. Quigg, whereat the captain laughed heartily. "Well," said he, "I don't think you missed much, if that is the sort of a man he is. I'm city auditor, and I will see that Quigg, or whatever his name is, don't cheat the city. What are you going to do?"