A boy that Merritt knew was hastening by on a bicycle.
“Lend me your wheel for Scout duty, will you?” asked Merritt breathlessly.
The boy eagerly assented.
“I guess they’ll need all the help they can get,” he volunteered as Merritt sprinted off up the street, “my pop has been on the ’phone and they say it’s a mighty bad blaze.”
It seemed an eternity, but in reality it was only a few minutes before Merritt reached Andy’s home. The little bugler was just rushing out as Merritt dashed up. They almost collided.
“Sound the assembly!” panted Merritt. “The Academy’s on fire.”
“Wow! Wait a second. I knew of the fire and was going to get hold of Rob for instructions.”
Andy darted back to the house. He was out again in a flash and sounding the sharp, clear notes of the assembly call. Then came another urgent summons, the quick, imperative “fire call.”
“There go the firemen on the run,” exclaimed Andy, as several of the Vigilants dashed by the house. “Come on, Merritt; the others will all beat it to the fire-house at top speed.”
“Rob’s already there, I guess,” panted Merritt as they ran side by side, balancing the bicycle. As they proceeded, Boy Scouts came from some of the houses and joined them.