with numerous
other things which the company had thought to fetch along with them,
having an eye to possible need.

"Lay hold of that ax, Alec!" he told the other, who had managed to
leave his beloved camera back of a tree, under the impression that it
would hinder him in the execution of the work Hugh had laid out for
himself and churns to perform.

Some of the players had by this time begun to notice the little bunch
of khaki-clad lads running toward the burning wing of the castle.
They commenced to shout out to them, perhaps encouragingly, or it may
be intending to warn them not to attempt anything rash.

Little Hugh cared what their cries might mean. He had his plan arranged,
and believed it could be carried to success if only speedy action
were taken.

"We've got to get to the roof of that tower!" he told the others, as
they drew near the fire, and could begin to feel the heat it was
beginning to throw out as it crept upward, whipped by the rising wind.
"Billy, I want you and Arthur to stay down under the walls and be
ready to receive the girl, if we manage to, get things going. Understand
that, both of you?"

"All right, if you say so, Hugh!" replied Arthur, though it could be
noticed that he looked greatly disappointed because he had not been
selected to accompany the rescuing party.

Billy did not make any reply. Perhaps he was, secretly, as well pleased
to be assigned to that task, because Billy, being a heavy-weight,
never made a success of climbing; and from all appearance there was
bound to be more or less of that style of work ahead of those who were
chosen to go aloft.

Having thus divided his party, Hugh hurried toward a window of the
main building close by. He remembered that it was possible to gain,
the roof of the castle---and unless the flames became too menacing---by
creeping along this they would be able to reach the top of the turret
tower. If no other means were found available for gaining access
to the room of the prisoner, Hugh expected to make good use of that
axe, and force an entrance through the roof itself, as he had seen
the Oakvale volunteer firemen do on more than one occasion.

Billy and Arthur watched their chums climbing hastily through that
window. Doubtless their hearts were throbbing with excitement, and
deep down those two were hoping and praying that not only would Hugh,
Alec and Monkey Stallings be able to come back alive and unharmed,
but that they might also