you _are_ a daisy, after all, Tubby!" cried Merritt, in sincere
admiration. "That's as clever a scheme as anyone could think up. Here,
give us a grip of an end, and we'll get ready for business!"

Quickly they clutched the four corners of the sheet. Fortunately, it
appeared to be a fairly new bed-covering, and might be trusted to bear a
certain weight without tearing.

Having reached the point where nothing more could be done in order to
assist Rob, the other two scouts had to stand there and wait, as the
precious seconds crept by, each seeming like an age to their anxious
hearts.

Meanwhile, what of Rob, who had, without the least hesitation, risked
his life in order to save the child forgotten in the excitement of the
Uhlans' coming, and the strange events that had so soon followed?

When he reached that window, he found it closed, but, on his pressing
against the sash, it had swung inward, allowing him free access to the
room.

It was rather an appalling prospect that confronted Rob. The smoke
seemed to be thick, and he could not see three feet away. For all he
knew the fire that was raging in the lower part of the inn might by this
time have eaten partly through the floor boards, so that, if he put his
weight on them, he stood a chance of being precipitated into the midst
of the flames.

Rob never hesitated a second. He had taken all these matters into
consideration when making up his mind as to what he meant to attempt.
More than this, he did not believe anything partaking of such a disaster
threatened him in case he entered that apartment.

The most he feared was that he might be unable to discover where the
child lay, for it was manifestly impossible to use one's eyes to any
advantage, with all that veil of smoke interfering.

Over the window-sill he climbed, just as the two boys below witnessed.
And, no sooner did Rob find himself in the room, than he started to
cross it. He expected to find a bed somewhere, and toward this purpose
he at once set himself.

He could hear the crackling of the flames below. Besides this, there
came to him with painful distinctness the wails of the poor woman who
was being restrained from trying to rush into the burning inn.

Rob was listening for something more. He had strong hopes that he might
catch another sound, perhaps feeble, but enough to guide him to where
the imperiled one lay in the bed or on the floor.

Groping as he advanced, and at the same time feeling wi