Hodge and Browning crowded into the small room. A struggle followed, in the midst of which there was a crash and a flare of fire.
The oil lamp had been overturned. Burning oil was flung all over the room, and the flames leaped up eagerly.
In the midst of this excitement Bantry Hagan managed to get out of the room. He saw policemen coming up the stairs, and he ran along the hall, intending to flee up another flight. In the hall he struck against Merriwell, who had Lazaro pinned to the floor.
Frank was knocked aside and his hold on the villain broken.
At the same moment he heard a cry of distress from Browning.
"Great heavens! Hodge is afire! He'll be burned to death!"
Hodge, Frank's dearest friend, was in frightful peril. That cry caused Merry to leave Lazaro, thinking there could be no escape for the man. Browning had torn some of the bedding from the bed, and this he wrapped about Bart, assisted by Frank. Thus the flames were quickly smothered and Hodge was saved.
"That's a bad fire in this coop!" cried one of the police. "The old trap will go."
"Get the people out!" shouted Frank. "Save the people, even though Lazaro escapes!"
"He'll not get out without being nabbed," declared Sam Bronson.