“It’s no use,” acknowledged Plum at last. “I believe mine grow tighter and tighter. Hark! I should think that soldier on guard in the hall would get tired of that everlasting tramping back and forth. I’ve a mind to tell him to stop.”
“Better not do it. I wonder if by standing on my shoulder you could look out of that window up there?”
“I have been thinking that same thing. Let’s try it.”
Naturally their attention had been attracted to a small window, which afforded light and ventilation for the room, but which was about ten feet from the floor.
Tied hands and feet, as they were, the boys tried many times to carry out their plan without avail, until it must have been near midnight when Plum said:
“It’s mighty aggravating. There must be lights on the streets, for I’ve seen their flash.”
“Let’s try once more. If I lie down perhaps you can get on my neck, after which I believe I can raise you to the window.”
This proved a most difficult feat, but after repeated attempts Plum succeeded in gaining the desired position, when Jack slowly straightened up, until he had brought his companion’s head on a level with the window, where by leaning against the wall he was enabled to hold him for a hasty look over the scene without.
Plum had barely gained his unsteady perch before he exclaimed in a tone of excitement:
“Oh, Jack! the town is on fire! Everything is burning up!”