him down, because the distance
was short. As for themselves, the other two boys scorned to make use of
such means. Clambering out of the window, when Tubby reported himself
safe below, they hung down as far as they were able, and then just let
go. There was a little jar as they struck solid ground, and it was all
over.

"Beautifully done, fellows," Tubby was saying, as he dug his fat
knuckles into his still smarting eyes. "We'd pass muster for fire
laddies, I tell you. After all, it takes scouts to know what ought to be
done. But I think some of these people must have gone out of their minds
to whoop it up so. What's that poor woman shouting now, Rob? Can you
make it out? And look how they're holding her back, would you? It must
be the wife of the inn keeper; the loss of her home has unsettled her
reason, I'm afraid, poor thing!"

But Rob, who had been listening, knew better, as he immediately proved.

"It's a whole lot worse than that, I'm afraid," he told the others. "She
keeps calling out for her baby; and I think the child's been left in the
burning building!"

CHAPTER X.

THE DUTY OF A SCOUT.

Tubby was dreadfully shocked when he heard the news.

"The poor thing!" he cried, "to be forgotten in all the row, and left to
be smothered by the smoke, perhaps burned up in the bargain. Oh! Rob, I
hope you're mistaken!"

"I wish I could believe so myself, Tubby, but if you look you can see
them all staring up there at that window next to the one we jumped from.
Some even point at it, and you notice more than a few of the women are
crying like everything."

"But my stars! why doesn't somebody run up and get the child out, if
that's so?" Tubby demanded,--forgetting that his eyes still
smarted,--because this discovery, and the distress of the parents
overwhelmed him.

"Because the lower floor is all afire, and the stairs can't be used,"
Merritt told him.

"If only we'd known about the child before we came out, we might have
saved it," Tubby wailed. "If I could climb like some fellows I know, who
can even go up a greased pole in the contests, I'd be for making my way
up there right now. Hey! what are you going to do, Rob, Merritt? Let me
help any way I can. Stand on my back if you want to; it's broad enough
to do for a foundation! The poor little thing! We mustn't let it be
burned if we can help it!"

Neither Rob nor Merritt had waited to give Tubby any answer when he made
that really generous offer. T