Frank was the one true and faithful friend who had always stood by him--the one friend who always understood him--the one friend who was every ready to defend him.

And Hodge would have laid down his life for Merriwell! He saw that if he dashed through the fire with Merriwell, that face, so strong and manly and true, would be horribly disfigured.

He did not think of his own so much as of Merriwell's.

Yet he felt that if he got out of the building with his burden he would have to make haste.

There were doors along the corridor, and he knew that they opened into rooms.
He put Merriwell down, and finding the first door locked, kicked it in with his foot.
The room was full of smoke, but the fire had not yet entered it.