“Wait for me here,” Dick went on to tell him. “I’ll take a look, and see if we dare risk the stairs again.”
Dick had not forgotten those creeping flames that were already attacking the banisters when they ascended. He had a fear that even in so short a time they might have attained such headway as to make a further use of the stairs impossible.
No sooner had he pushed out into the upper hall than he discovered that his worst fears were realized, for the fire had made such headway that the stairs seemed to be a mass of flames, through which any descent might be reckoned impossible.
Back into the room Dick hurried. The little fellow whom he had swathed in the blanket, moved uneasily in his arms, but seemed fairly content to allow himself to be taken care of. Perhaps he had recognized Dick’s voice when the boy spoke in his ear, and felt the utmost confidence in his protector.
Once in the room, Dick found to his extreme satisfaction, that Leslie had succeeded in arousing the young woman. Tilly was able to walk by now, though still in a half stupor, and hardly comprehending what it all meant.
“How about it?” shouted Leslie, as he discovered the presence of his chum; and it must be confessed that there was considerable anxiety in his tone, for the situation looked most desperate.
“No use trying the stairs again,” Dick sent back at him. “They’re all afire. We must escape through a window, I reckon!”
This was not the most comforting news Leslie could have received, for when he had thrust his head out of the said window it was to see forked flames shooting from below, and twisting upwards menacingly.
Dick himself did not like the looks of things it seemed, for after a hurried examination, he drew back again.
“Cut off there, it looks like!” he called. “Along at the other window there’s a better chance. Come after me, and fetch Mrs. Nocker.”