"Haven't they got a ladder handy?" asked Tom.
"Sure, we've got a ladder—half a dozen of 'em," responded one of the men who worked around the place.
"Where is it? Show it to us, quick!" put in Sam.
"All right, this way," returned the man, and started off with Sam at his heels.
"Don't jump! don't jump! We'll help you!" cried a dozen voices to the teacher.
"We are going to get a ladder!" yelled Tom. "Stay where you are!"
And then he followed the others. The ladders were kept in a wagon shed, and it took but a few moments to bring them out. They were four in number, and of various sizes.
"I'm afraid none of 'em is long enough to reach that winder," said the man who had led the way.
"You are right," replied Tom. "But what's the matter with lashing a couple of them together? Here's a rope." And he pointed to a washline that hung on a nearby hook.
In frantic haste a dozen persons carried the ladders to the burning building. Tom followed with the rope, which he unwound on the way. Then the washline was cut, and with it two of the longest ladders were lashed together as quickly as possible. Then the combination ladder was raised against the building and set close to the window, to the sill of which Miss Harrow clung.