ke entered, at which poor Tubby
fell back in dismay.

"Oh! we're goners, I'm afraid!" he moaned, making his way through the
pall in the direction of the one small window that was open, so that he
might secure a breath of fresh air.

"If we can keep the smoke out a little while longer it's going to be all
right," Rob informed them. "The Uhlans are all in the saddle, and seem
to be only waiting for the order to leave. I can hear the captain in
charge of the troop telling the villagers something or other, and he is
speaking in French, too; so I reckon it must be a warning that if a
single shot is fired as they ride away, they will turn back and not
leave one stone unturned in the place."

"That seems to be the usual Uhlan way, I've heard," muttered Tubby, glad
he could say anything; for at the time he was desperately clutching his
nose with thumb and fingers, as though in hopes of keeping the pungent
smoke from entering his lungs.

He had apparently gotten beyond the seeing stage, for both his eyes were
kept tightly closed. At the same time Tubby was listening eagerly for
good tidings. He knew that his chums were constantly on the lookout.

"There they go off!" he heard Rob say presently, when the situation had
almost become unbearable.

The sound of many hoofs coming to their ears, even above the roaring of
the fire, affirmed this statement. Tubby acted as though he wanted to
cheer, and then reconsidered his intention, through fear that the sound
might be heard by the Uhlans, and work them harm.

"Now, let's get out of here," said Rob briskly. "Take hold of my coat,
Tubby. Merritt, bring up the rear. We'll find a room just below this
where we can drop out of a window easily, if the stairs are ablaze, as
I'm afraid may be the case."

Passing down from the garret in this fashion, through dense billows of
smoke that struck terror to the soul of Tubby, they presently found
themselves in one of the ordinary rooms, used perhaps for stray guests.

Looking from the window Rob saw that it would be easy for him and
Merritt to drop down on the turf below. Tubby must be taken care of
first, and so Rob snatched a sheet off a bed, and twisted it into the
shape of a rope.

This he forced Tubby to take hold of, and then climb over the window
sill.

"Keep a fast grip, and we'll lower you!" Rob told the fat scout, who had
full confidence in his comrades since they had never failed him.

After all, it was an easy thing to let