The goal was made, and less than thirty seconds later the whistle blew. Fardale had won in the last minute of the game by this goal from the field, the score being 11 to 10.
The diagram on the opposite page shows how the plays of the second half were made:
In the midst of the cheering came a sudden cry:
"Fire! fire! Gideon’s barn is afire!"
Smoke was seen issuing from one of the broken, upper windows of the old barn.
"Our clothes are in there, boys!" shouted Steve Nunn, as he started on a run for the barn. Others followed him, and one ran faster, soon overtaking and passing Steve. It was Dick Merriwell.
As Dick approached the barn, a screaming, smoking figure came rushing from the door, waving its arms in the air and shrieking for help. It was Zeb Fletcher, who had retired to the haymow of the old barn to have a smoke and fallen asleep while puffing at a cigarette. He awoke to find himself and the haymow in flames.
Dick Merriwell ran to the fellow, caught him, flung him down, and rolled him over and over, beating the fire with his bare hands, at the same time shouting to Nunn:
"Bring a blanket from the barn! Quick! The poor fellow is burning to death!"