A general laugh greeted the warning, and every one looked particularly at Bobolink, much to his confusion.
“If the shoe fits, put it on, everybody,” Bobolink 67 remarked stoutly. “As for me, I’d already made up my mind to be satisfied with one helping all around. And when a Link says a thing he always keeps his word.”
“Well,” remarked Phil Towns, wickedly, “we hope that this time we won’t have to refer to our chum as the ‘Missing Link,’ that’s all.”
That caused another mild eruption of boyish laughter, and before Bobolink could make a caustic reply a sudden loud metallic clang startled them.
“Listen, it’s the fire alarm!” exclaimed Tom Betts.
Again the sound came with startling distinctness.
Boylike, Jack and his friends forgot everything else just then in this new excitement. Stanhope had a volunteer fire department, like most small towns in that section of the country. Stanhope was proud of its fire laddies, who had, on numerous previous occasions, proved their skill at fighting the flames. Already loud shouts could be heard in various quarters, as men threw up windows and called to neighbors.
“Where can it be, do you think?” demanded Jud Elderkin, as the group of lads stood ready for flight, only waiting to catch some definite clue, so that they might not start on a wild-goose chase. 68
“Seems to me I c’n see a flickering light over yonder!” cried Spider Sexton, as he pointed toward the heart of the town.
“You’re right, Spider!” echoed Tom Betts. “That’s where the fire lies. See how it keeps on getting brighter right along, showing that the blaze has got a firm grip. Hey! wait for me, can’t you, fellows?”