“They think one of the men must have been smoking and dropped a light in the hay.  Anyway, the fire started there.”

“The other fellows took the auto to help the fire engine,” broke in Sam.  “Here they come now,” he added, as the machine came up with honking horn, and dragging one of the fire engines behind it.

“I wish we could do something to put out this blaze,” came from Tom.  “Sam, we must get busy.”

“Right you are!”

“Oh, do be careful, both of you!” pleaded Nellie.

“Yes, don’t get burnt,” added Grace.

“We’ll look out, don’t you fear,” answered Sam, and then he and Tom turned to join those at the fire engines and the hose carts.

The seminary was provided with several water towers, and from these some lines of hose had already been run to the fire.  Now some additional lines of hose were laid from the fire engines, which began to take water from two cisterns.  Soon the added streams showed their effect on the flames.

“Girls! girls! have any of you see Miss Harrow?” The cry came from one of the teachers, as she made her way through the crowd.

“Why, isn’t she out?” asked a number.

“I don’t know, I can’t find her anywhere,” replied the instructor.

“Was she in the building?”

“I think so.  She said at supper time that she had a toothache, and was going to retire early.”  And thus speaking, the teacher hurried on.

“Is that the Miss Harrow who lost that four-hundred-dollar diamond ring?” asked Tom.

“Yes,” replied Nellie.

“Was her room in that addition?” questioned Sam, quickly, pointing to an end of the building which was on fire in several places.

“Yes, she has the corner window, right over there,” responded Grace, pointing to a spot close to where the building was in flames.

The words had scarcely left the lips of the girl, when, to the horror of those standing below, a third story window was suddenly thrown up, and the head of a woman appeared.

“Help!  Help!  Save me!” The cry came wildly from the woman, who was plainly terror-stricken.

“It’s Miss Harrow!” cried a score of voices.

“Look!  Look!  The fire is on both sides of her!”

“Don’t jump!  Don’t jump!” yelled Tom, at the top of his lungs, and he saw the teacher prepare to cast herself to the ground.

“Can’t you come down by the stairs?” called out Sam, as loudly as he could.

“I’m afraid to open the door!  The hall is full of smoke and fire!” screamed the teacher.  “Save me!  Save me!”

“Haven’t they got a ladder handy?” asked Tom.

“Sure, we’ve got a ladder—­ half a dozen of ’em,” responded one of the men who worked around the place.

“Where is it?  Show it to us, quick!” put in Sam.

“All right, this way,” returned the man, and started off with Sam at his heels.

“Don’t jump! don’t jump!  We’ll help you!” cried a dozen voices to the teacher.