th his feet, in
case the object he sought should prove to be on the floor, Rob passed
away from the vicinity of the open window. The smoke was pouring from
the aperture now, as though it were in the nature of a funnel. This
turned out to be of considerable help to the boy, for the draught served
to thin the smoke that had filled the room to suffocation.

Now he had reached the farther wall, and, turning sharply to one side,
started to comb this, every second expecting to come upon a bed of some
sort.

It was about this time that Rob thought he heard a low, gasping cry just
ahead of him. Though unable to use his eyes with any measure of success
in locating the source of the sound, he was encouraged, and persisted in
pushing forward. In this way he found himself bending over a cot.

His groping hand came in contact with something warm--something that
moved ever so slightly at his touch. It was the forgotten child. Rob
found that it was a mere baby, possibly not much more than a year old.

The smoke had not yet choked the little thing, though a short time
longer would have certainly finished it.

Rob had no sooner clutched it in his arms than he tried to set himself
right for the window by means of which he had reached the room. In this
he was assisted by the light that came through the opening, and which
served as his guide. By the time he reached it, he could no longer see a
single thing, and, when he leaned out of the window, his first thought
was to shout:

"Merritt, are you down below? I can't see a thing! The smoke has blinded
me!"

To his great satisfaction there came an immediate response, and never
had words from the lips of his chum sounded sweeter than they did then.

"Yes, we're both here, Rob. Let the child drop straight down! We'll take
good care of it!"

"But you might miss it," objected Rob, still unable to see a thing.

"We can't! We've got a sheet spread out to catch it in!" Merritt sent
back. "You're all right just there! Let go! Leave the rest to us!"

So Rob did as he was told. Accustomed to giving orders himself, he at
the same time could obey when the necessity arose. Perhaps it was with
considerable fear that he allowed the child to leave his grip; but the
joyful shout arising from his chums below assured him that all was well.

Then he heard a feminine shriek, and judged that the frantic mother had
darted to where the boys were standing, to clasp her rescued offspring
to her breast.