“Higher! Higher!” called some one in the wings of the improvised stage. “Higher!”
The voice was loud enough to be heard out in the audience, but was intended to be audible only to the person in charge of pulling up the curtain.
It was an unfortunate thing that “Higher” sounded so much like “Fire!” In fact that is what a number of persons thought the cry was, and, taking it with the smoke, which few knew was a part of the picture, they believed some accident had happened.
“Higher! Higher!” called the stage manager again, not seeing the alarmed look on the faces of the audience. He wanted the curtain to go up, but it was caught on something.
Then the panic-wave, which is always ready to sweep over a big gathering at the slightest provocation, started. A few women screamed. Some girls started to leave their seats and a number of boys made ready to follow.
“It’s a fire!” yelled some thoughtless one.
That was enough. In an instant the entire audience had arisen and was about to make a maddened rush for the exits, of which there were none too many.
The four chums, with their girl friends, were seated in the first row. They were near enough to know what the matter was and to see there was no danger. Others near them could also see, but the vast majority was in ignorance.
“If they rush for the doors a lot will be killed!” cried Bart.
“Sit down! Sit down!” yelled Frank, and Fenn joined with him in trying to calm those around him. Several girls near them had fainted.