Part 22 (1/2)

”Fire! Fire! Fire!” came from all parts of the building.

One after another the cadets roused up. Some were completely bewildered and did not know what to do.

”We had better get out as soon as we can!” exclaimed d.i.c.k, as he slipped into his trousers. ”Come, Tom! come, Sam!”

He ran for the hallway, to find it so thick with smoke that escape in that direction seemed cut off.

”We can't go down that way!” came from Frank. ”We'd be smothered to death.”

”Let's jump from the windows,” put in Larry, who was more frightened than any of the others.

”No, no; don't jump yet!” cried Tom ”You'll break a leg, and maybe your neck.”

”But I don't want to be burnt up,” returned Larry, his teeth chattering.

”Hold on, we have that rope we used when we had the feast last summer,” said Sam. ”Let us tie that to the window and get down on it.”

Sam ran to the closet and found the rope just where it had been left, on a hook in the corner. Soon they had it out and fastened to a bed-slat braced across the window frame.

”Down you go, Larry!” said d.i.c.k. ”Be careful; I reckon we have plenty of time.”

Larry slid down in a jiffy, and one after another the others came after him, d.i.c.k being the last. As the youth turned around on the window sill he saw the fire creeping in at the door. Their escape had taken place none too soon.

Down on the parade ground they found a motley collection of half-dressed cadets, instructors, servants, and others who had been sleeping in the burning Hall.

In the midst of the group was Captain Putnam, pale but comparatively cool, considering the excitement under which he was laboring.

”Are all the boys out?” he asked of George Strong. ”Line them up and call the roll.”

The roll-call was put through in double-quick order. Only two lads were missing, a boy named Harrison and another named Leeks.

”Here comes Harrison!” cried Harry Blossom, and the boy limped forth from the opposite side of the burning building.

”I sprang from the east wing,” he explained. ”I guess my ankle is sprained.” And then he dropped down and was carried away from the scene to a place of safety.

”Where can Leeks be?” questioned Captain Putnam. ”Leeks! Leeks!

Where are you?” he cried with all the power of his lungs.

At first the only reply that came back was the roaring of the flames, as they mounted from one section of the Hall to another.

Then, however, came a shriek from the rear end of the western wing.

”Help me! Save me! I don't want to be burnt up!”

”It is Leeks!” cried Tom. ”See, he is on the gutter of the roof!”

He pointed in the direction, and all saw the cadet, dressed in nothing but his white gown, clinging desperately to the slates of the roof above the gutter. He had run from the second floor to the third and sought safety by crawling out of a dormer window.

”Don't jump!” cried a dozen in concert. ”Don't jump, Leeks!”