"I'm going with you, fellows, as far as the corner, anyway, and see if it
is a real fire, or a fake," he remarked.

Accordingly the quartette rushed out of the door and down the street.
There was snow on the ground, and the air was pretty keen.

"It's a fire all right; look, you can see the light, and the smoke!" said
Will.

"Say, fellows, isn't that the square, and doesn't it look like it might
be the Sherman House?" asked Frank.

"As sure as you live," replied Bluff. "That would be a tough thing, for
the people there to climb out near midnight, and the mercury hovering
half way down to zero!"

"Hurry! Perhaps we can help some!" exclaimed good-hearted Jerry, and they
increased their pace.

It was the hotel, beyond all doubt. As the boys came into the open square
they saw a scene of confusion that thrilled them. Smoke was pouring out
of the lower windows of the big frame building, and in some places it was
accompanied by red tongues of flame, licking up the dry wood.

"She's a goner!" announced Jerry grimly.

They saw people come hastily out of the doorway, some scantily clad, and
with blankets around their shoulders. Luckily there were only a few
guests in the hotel, since the best trade came in summer.