“We’ve got to try,” Jerry yelled. “Bring it over!”
With the aid of his chums, he raised it against the window. Just then part of the house fell in, and the crowd surged back, thinking to get out of danger, so the boys were left comparatively to themselves in making this rescue.
“Hold the ladder at the foot, Bob,” directed Jerry; “it isn’t any too firm. Ned and I’ll go up and see if we can get him down.”
The old man, half choked from smoke, was leaning from the window now, shouting as well as he could with his feeble breath.
“Don’t jump!” yelled Ned. “We’re coming after you!”
Quickly he started up the ladder, followed by Jerry. The old man held out his arms to them imploringly.
Bob braced himself against the foot of the ladder to prevent it from slipping, and for once in his life he was glad that he was fat and heavy. He made a good anchor.
“Keep still! We’re coming! We’re coming!” yelled Jerry.
The aged man was excited and fearful, and small wonder. The smoke, pouring from the window around him, was thicker now, and the flames back of him were brighter.
Up and up went Ned and Jerry. When they came closer they could hear the old man shouting: