However, there was still more to be done if they would escape from the trap arranged between the rival elements, the wind and the fire.  To return over the same route by which they had come was now impossible, since the fire had cut off escape by that course.

This was a possibility foreseen by Hugh when he concluded to take that long and serviceable rope aloft with him.  By this means the girl could first be lowered to the ground at a point where the flames had not yet reached; and afterwards it would be little trouble for, himself and chums to also slide down to safety.  Hugh always paid much attention to details.

Accordingly this was what they hastily set about doing.  They were fortunate in having to deal with a plucky little woman.  She understood just what was expected of her, and indeed, to see the way she assisted them secure the rope about her body under the arms, and then bade them swing her free, from the parapet of the tower, one might suspect that she had long since practiced for just this sort of thrilling picture.

All went well, and one by one the three scouts came sliding down the rope later on, none of them so much as having an eyelash singed, though the flames roared as if angry at having lost a victim.

“And,” Billy was heard to remark when the boys could break away from the excited players, all of whom wanted to squeeze their hands, and say what they thought of the clever work, “Don’t forget every minute of the time that camera man was turning his crank like fury.  He got it all down pat, too, boys, as maybe we’ll see for ourselves one of these fine days.”

CHAPTER XIV

OAKVALE GETS A THRILL

“What’s the news, Alec?” demanded Billy Worth, some weeks after the events narrated in the foregoing chapters took place.

They were just entering the town hall of Oakvale, where there was about to be given a select entertainment consisting of the most part of educational motion pictures.  It was intended for the benefit of the local orphan asylum, so that every seat in the big building was being rapidly filled.

A number of the other members of the scout organization were gathered near by, as a special section of the chairs had been reserved for the troupe, for certain reasons which no one seemed exactly to understand.  It was only known that Hugh and Lieutenant Denmead, the regular scout master, had made some arrangement with those who were, responsible for getting up the benefit performance.

“Oh!  I had a letter from my Aunt Susan in this afternoon’s mail,” replied Alec, as he nodded to several acquaintances near by, girls belonging to Oakvale High School.

“About that place up in the country where we spent our last week-end outing, and had such a lively time—–­eh, Alec?” suggested Billy, with a wide grin.

“Yes, and the meanness of you fellows keeping the whole business to yourselves all this time,” commented Blake Merton, severely.