ey had charged upon the solid triple line of rifles,
many had fallen. Less than half the original troop now remained, and of
these at least half were wounded, though none seriously.

During the fight the flames that had enveloped the barn had gained great
headway and were now raging fiercely. Hal looked quickly about for some
sign of the man whom he knew had been within. He believed that the man
must have come forth, when he was aware that assistance was at hand, for
he realized that to remain in the burning structure would have probably
meant death.

But in the troop he saw no sign of a stranger; nor had Chester nor any of
the men seen anyone leave the barn.

"Great Scott! He'll burn to death in there!" Hal cried.

"Well, why didn't the big chump come out?" said Chester.

"Maybe he was hit by a bullet and killed," said Hal.

"Yes; or perhaps he is wounded, and unable to drag himself out,"
said Chester.

"By Jove!" said Hal. "I never thought of that!"

Quickly he unstrapped his sword belt and drew off his coat.

"What are you going to do?" cried Chester in alarm.

"I'm going in after him," replied Hal grimly.

"But you'll be killed!" expostulated Chester. "You couldn't live in that
seething mass of flame!"

"Nevertheless, I am going to try and bring him out," said Hal quietly.

He drew his handkerchief from his pocket, and quickly wetting it from his
canteen, tied it over his mouth and nose. Then, brushing aside the
protests of Chester and the men, he plunged through the door of the
burning building.

Inside he could dimly make out his surroundings. Quickly he scanned the
floor for a sight of the occupant, but saw no sign of him. Then, at one
side of the barn he made out a ladder, leading to a loft. He ran to it
quickly, and as quickly mounted it to the floor above. Once more he
turned his eyes upon the floor and peered about.

The heat was intense, and the lad now got his breath with difficulty, so
dense was the smoke. He likewise realized that the floor, already
blazing, must give way in a few moments, in which event he would be
buried in the fiery ruins.

Glancing quickly about he saw there was no window nor opening from which
he could jump. He must go out by the way he had come in.

Suddenly his eye lighted upon an object on the floor at the far end of
the barn. Quickly he ran toward it and stooped over. The object was a
figure of a man, lying upon his face, apparently unconscious. The lad
waste