t. The hotel appeared to have emptied
itself of its occupants.

And still Jack Ready did not come. Willis Paulding stumbled across the
street, white and shaky. His hair and eyebrows were singed, his
Lunnon-made clothes were wet and limp, and he was terribly frightened.

"Merriwell," he gasped, "Jack Ready is up there!"

Merry started. A fear that such might be the case had been growing on
him.

"How do you know?" he asked.

Paulding forgot his English drawl in his fright and excitement.

"I saw him!" he admitted. "He was trying to get Lew Veazie down the
stairs when he fell. Veazie had been drinking a little, and couldn't
help himself."

"And where is Veazie?"

"He is down on the street somewhere."

"And you ran away and left Ready, after he had injured himself while
trying to aid you!"

Paulding dropped his head.

"The fire was right on us, and we----"

"Where did he fall?"

"On the center stairway leading from the third story," said Paulding,
shivering under Merry's rebuke.

"Fellows, I am going up there after Jack Ready," said Frank calmly.

"You'll go at the risk of your life!" shouted Browning.

But Frank was already half-way across the street. The fire had spread
with astonishing rapidity. Some combustible material in the second story
had exploded with great force, and this had seemed to scatter the fire.
The entire second story was on fire now, as well as the one above it.

Frank vanished in the crowd, which was retreating through fear that the
walls were about to fall. Other fire-engines had come up. The people who
fell back from the dangerous vicinity crowded on the Yale men who had
looked so anxiously after Merriwell as he hastened to the aid of the
imperiled freshman. Willis Paulding, feeling Merriwell's rebuke, and
stung by a feeling of his own cowardice, had slipped away.

"I don't like that," Hodge grumbled, looking at the spot where Frank had
vanished.

"I've seen things myself that I like better!" grunted Browning.

"You can bet your life that Merry will go wherever a friend is in
danger!" said Rattleton.

"Or a foe, either!" added Diamond.

"Fuf-fellows, I'm worried abub bub-bout this!" stuttered Joe Gamp.

"I'd feel easier a good deal if we had all stayed home to-night!" droned
Dismal.

For once, neither Danny nor Bink had any comment to offer, funny or
otherwise. A feeling that something awful was about to happen stilled
their chatter.

Then all started, leaping as if