Later in the day Rush returned to the hospital. Jarvis was permitted to go with Steve, with the understanding that the injured boy return on the following morning to have his burns dressed. Then the two went home. Jarvis was weak and staggered a little, but he would not let Rush take his arm. He laughed at the suggestion. When they got home they found Ignatz at their boarding house. The Polish boy was delighted to see them. "Bob, if it hadn't been for Ignatz, we should have been in a worse mess than we are. He's one of the white men in this smoky part of the country." "I'll shake with you when my hands get well," laughed Jarvis. "I can't even shake my head now. I couldn't shake if I had an attack of chills." "I suppose you know that we have lost our positions, don't you, Ignatz?" asked Steve. Brodsky nodded moodily. "I hear men say you no work in open-hearth place any more." "Well, it does look as if we shouldn't." "Why?" "I'll tell you all about it." Rush told the story fully, and without reserve, to their faithful friend, Brodsky listening attentively with emotionless face. "Huh!" he grunted after the recital had come to an end. "Watski say you blow up pit?" "Yes." "Huh! Watski much liar! Foley, him liar, too. All liars. You see superintendent?" "We saw Superintendent McNaughton. It was he who sent for us and discharged us." "No, I mean Superintendent Keating?" "No, Ignatz; we can't go to him with our troubles. That would be too much like whining, and we are not the kind of boys who go about crying because we have been whipped." "You lick Kalinski?" "To tell the truth, nothing would give me greater pleasure. But we are not going to do anything of the sort--that is, if he keeps away and lets us alone." "I'd like to catch him on the hot metal bridge some fine night when there wasn't anybody near," growled Bob, shaking his padded fist. "What I sent for you for, Ignatz, was to ask you about some of the other mills. I have not been here long enough to know about them. Will you tell me what the other mills are, and whom to see? I am going to try to get a job." Brodsky named the independent mills. There were ten of them in all. He knew the names of some of the foremen, and said he would get the names that he did not know. "You want me more?" demanded the Pole, rising abruptly. "No, but we should like to have you spend the evening with us, if you have no other place to go," said Steve. Brodsky shook his head. "Must go home split the wood for my mother. She take a club to me if I don't. I see you bimeby, mebby to-night, mebby the day after to-morrow." The boy turned and left the room at a trot. Bob laughed heartily after he had gone. "There's an odd lad," he said.