Jack turned over, and was soon breathing heavily, and Tom, too, was not long in getting to sleep.

It was Bert who awakened them some hours later.

“Hello fellows!” he called.  “There’s a fire somewhere.  I can see the reflection of it on the windows.”

They all jumped up, and Jack, going to the casement, exclaimed: 

“It isn’t here.  None of the school buildings are ablaze.”

“No, it’s over that hill,” said Bert.  “I have it!” he cried.  “Some of Farmer Appleby’s hay ricks are on fire, or maybe a barn.  Come on fellows, let’s help put ’em out!”

“Oh, what’s the use?” asked Tom.  “It serves him right.  He gouged us enough to pay for a ton of hay anyhow.  Let it burn!”

CHAPTER XI

HOT WORK

Tom’s chums looked at him for a moment in the reflected light of the blaze, as it shone in the windows of their room.  Then Jack exclaimed: 

“Oh, quit your kidding, Tom.  Get on your clothes and we’ll go over and play firemen.  You’re not going to stay here.”

“No, I meant it!” insisted Tom.  “I don’t see why we fellows should go to a lot of trouble, and get all smoked up, to save the hay stacks of a grouchy old codger who raised a row just because we trampled down a few hills of his corn.”

“Oh, forget it and come along,” urged Bert.  “There are some of our fellows going now,” and he pointed down to the campus, across which several figures could be seen hurrying.

“Sure, come ahead,” added Jack, beginning to dress.  “It will be something new, anyhow.  It isn’t like you, Tom, to hold back, even though you have been gouged.”

“All right I’ll come along,” assented our hero, with a short laugh, “though if I get a chance I’ll tell Jed Appleby what I think of him, the old skinflint!”

“Better not have a row,” suggested Jack calmly.

In a short tune the three chums, followed by George Abbot, were hurrying out of the school dormitory.  Some of the monitors began a remonstrance, but when a Senior or two pointed out to Doctor Meredith, who had been hastily aroused, that it was the duty of the students to help prevent the spread of the conflagration, so near the Hall, the head of the school allowed as many as cared to go to the blaze.

“Say, it’s a big one all right!” exclaimed Jack, as they hurried on.

“Yes, I shouldn’t wonder but what more than one stack is going,” added Bert, for they were below the hill now, and could see only the increased reflection of the flames on the sky.

“How did it start?  Who set it on fire?  Is it hay or straw?” asked George excitedly.

“Stow that!” commanded Tom sharply.  “How do we know; and how do you know it was set on fire, George?”

“I don’t know.  But hay stacks don’t generally set themselves ablaze; do they?”

“How about spontaneous combustion?” asked Tom, quickly.