"Fellows, I'm glad I wasn't in there then! Had the greatest time you ever saw--narrow escape and all that; but here I am again, with my stomach filled with cake and my head intoxicated with tea.

All right side up, you see!" The speaker was Jack Ready! "Where is Merriwell ?" Bart asked.
"Merriwell ?" and Ready looked round.

"Refuse me, but I supposed he was the center of this intellectual group! Yes, where is Merriwell ?" "He went up there after you--to get you out of the fire!" exclaimed Bink, in great excitement.
"You haven't sus-sus-seen him ?" demanded Gamp.
Some firemen planted a ladder against the swaying wall, as if to brace it, and a group came round the corner dragging a huge muddy hose, which they intended to train on another part of the hotel.

But, so far, the fire had baffled all their efforts.
"Did he go up there ?" Ready gasped.
"Sure!" said Danny.

"He is up there now." Ready's round, red-apple cheeks grew white.
"If he is up there now, he'll never come out!" Bart stared at the shaking wall and the flaming windows--at the smoke clouds rolling from the doorways.