“Where is the fire, Ranger?” asked Mr. Gales, one of the mathematical instructors.
“I don’t know, but my room is full of smoke.”
Just then, from somewhere below stairs, sounded a cry:
“Fire! Fire! There’s a fire in the boiler-room! Help!”
“That’s Socker, the janitor,” declared Jack. “Come on, fellows, we’ll help him.”
He rushed for the stairs, attired in his pajamas and slippers, and was followed by Nat and a score of other students.
“Boys, boys! Be careful!” called Mr. Gales.
Meanwhile, the smoke was getting thicker, and every one was beginning to cough.
“Fire! Fire!” yelled Socker.
Jack, leading the rush of pupils through the smoke, soon reached the boiler-room in the basement. Through the clouds of vapor, illuminated by gasjets here and there left burning all night in case of accident, he could see the flicker of flames.