He looked at the clock, and then at his own watch. In one minute the
next whistle would blow, and then the engine must be started.

The door leading to the boiler-room had been left open by Croly, and it
had glass panels, through which Joe Cuttle could be seen hard at work,
feeding the hungry furnaces.

Larry dared not wait another moment. He stepped quickly to the door and
called out:

"Joe, come here a moment!"

"Yes, my lad."

The furnace door closed with a clang. The fireman paused to pull at an
iron rod that was suspended against the wall, and the short, quick roar
of the five-minute whistle sounded.

Larry had wheeled about the instant he saw Joe start in obedience to his
call, and he was in time to see Croly again in the act of seizing the
valve-gear.

Without an instant's hesitation, he took hold of the wheel, and held it
firmly, at the same time calling:

"Quick, Joe!"

The big fireman appeared, and his single eye looked from the face of the
boy to that of Croly.