isty brain, relieving it of the effort of thinking. Then Shorts'
voice rang in his ear.

"For the love of God, Spud, get up! The house is on fire, and we're
boxed in this cupola like rats in a trap."

Spuddy sprang out of bed. The thunder he had dreamed of was the roar of
the fire in the walls of the great house. The rain descending on the
roof was the water being thrown from the long fire-hose. A strong stream
of ice-cold water suddenly broke the window, driving Swipes against the
wall. He whimpered drunkenly.

"Plagued fire! 'Course the house had to burn down on a night like this!"

Screams and cries from the crazed mob below came up to the boys through
the broken pane. The water ceased its flow, and Shorts, the most sober
of the three, crept to the opening. Spuddy had crawled back to bed. Far
beneath him, Shorts could see his fraternity brothers running wildly to
and fro, frantically waving their arms to him. He could hear orders
given in loud tones, and recognized the voices of Frederick Graves and
Dan Jordan. It all flashed upon Shorts in a moment how greatly he and
his chums were to blame for the disaster, for the fire must have started
in the dining-room. He thrust his head through the lurid gleam to
attract attention, and saw the men and boys in the yard bringing ladders
to rescue them. Now they were splicing them together, to make it
possible to reach the great height. Shorts made quick resolves.... If he
lived.... He turned with a groan, and dragged Spuddy from the bed to the
open window.

"Stay there, and be ready, if you don't want to die," he commanded
curtly.

Shorts saw the ladder rear upward, and a form dart from the shadows. Dan
Jordan was coming, hand over hand, toward him, the long ladder creaking
under his weight. Jordan's face appeared at the opening.

"Come out here," he commanded Shorts.

Shorts pushed Spuddy forward.

"Take him first, Captain," he said, with a twist in his voice. "He's
drunk."

Spuddy hung limp on the window-sill for an instant, and was then
gathered into Dan's long arms. Shorts' bleared eyes saw the little chap
handed safely to the earth, and the ladder again creaked under the
upward steps of the big freshman. Shorts pushed Swipes toward the window
as Dan called his name.... Now he was alone, and he leaned as far out as
he could.

"God! God!" he groaned. "The Captain's face is scorched brown.... God!
dear God, bless him!"

The crowds below were sending up cheer a