Long and strenuously the firemen fought the hungry flames.  The wind was in the wrong direction, and helped to fan the blaze.  One of the gymnasium walls fell in with a terrific crash, almost carrying with it two firemen who had been playing a stream from the rung of a ladder that leaned against it.  There was a cry of horror from the assembled crowd that changed to a sigh of relief when it was discovered that the two men had saved themselves by leaping.

“Oh, if only I were a man,” breathed Grace, as she watched the firemen’s efforts to gain control of the situation.  “I wouldn’t stay here a moment.  I’d be in the thick of the fight.”

“Hold her girls, or she’ll dash straight over the ropes,” said Nora.

“I’d like to,” retorted Grace.  “It’s dreadful to stand here unable to help and see our dear old gym. go, and perhaps our school, too.”

“Well, you turned in the alarm, and that’s a whole lot,” declared Jessica stoutly.  “If you hadn’t seen the blaze when you did things might be a good deal worse.  As it is, I believe they are getting the fire under control.”

“It does look that way;” exclaimed Anne.  “See, the flames are dying out over on that side.  Oh, if it would only rain and help things along.”

“I believe it will rain before night.  The clouds look heavy and threatening,” declared Nora, squinting at the sky.

“The weather prophet has come to town,” smiled Anne.

For the next hour the girls stood eagerly watching the gallant work of the firemen.  A dense crowd, composed largely of High School boys and girls, packed the campus, while people blocked the streets outside the gates.  Intense excitement prevailed, and when it became evident that the main building was safe a mighty cheer went up from the crowd.

“Bless their hearts!” exclaimed Grace.  “They are just as fond as we are of Oakdale High School.  But, oh, girls, where are we going to play basketball!”

The girls looked at each other in dismay.

“What is life without basketball?” said Nora sadly.

“True enough,” said Anne, “but even though the gym. is gone we still have our school.  It would be simply terrible to have had it go in our senior year.”

“No doubt the gym. will be rebuilt at once,” remarked Jessica.

“I am not so sure of that,” replied Grace.  “My father belongs to the common council, and I heard him tell mother the other day that the High School had been refused an appropriation that they had asked for.”

“Oh, well, then, we High School pupils will raise the money ourselves,” said Nora lightly.

“That idea is worth looking into,” said Grace eagerly.  “We might help a great deal.”

“Grace has the ‘Busy Little Helper’ stunt on the brain,” jeered Jessica.

“Anything to keep matters moving,” laughed Grace.  “I’m an advocate of the strenuous life.  But seriously, girls, how splendid it would be to feel that we had been instrumental in rebuilding the gymnasium.”