“We must do something, and right away at that!” called Hugh.  “Come along with me, every one, I’ve got a scheme that may be made to work.”

They followed close at his heels.  Evidently it did not enter into the head of the scout master to think, of applying for permission from the stage manager before starting to try out his suddenly formed plan.  Hugh realized very well that this was an occasion where that energetic gentleman would be at a loss what to tell him.  Besides, a wideawake scout, accustomed to doing his own thinking, should be better equipped to manage such an affair as this than a man whose talents ran in quite another direction.

The first thing Hugh sought to get hold of was a long and stout rope which he had noticed lying on the ground near by, together 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.