Both Bluff and Will had suffered tortures while their chums were
inside the doomed structure. Their voices had led all the rest as the
sheet-rope fell from the upper window, with the form of the professor
dangling at the end, for they knew the daring plan of their mates had
been a brilliant success.

The fire did not jump to any of the nearby dwellings or stores, thanks to
the efficient labors of the department, the members of which worked like
Trojans in order to confine it to its original field.

When it had died down the boys separated once more, and the hearty grip
that passed between them was evidence of the sincere affection that bound
this quartette of clean, manly fellows in common.

Neither Frank nor Jerry said a word to their parents about the heroic
part they had played in the rescue of Professor Smythe. Imagine the
astonishment of Frank's father when that gentleman, in company with his
brother, a respected business man of Centerville, called at the house,
the next morning after breakfast, and related the whole circumstance.

And when Frank and Jerry were called down from the den, where, in company
with the others, they were doing some packing, they blushed under the
hearty words of praise heaped upon them by the two gentlemen.

"Why, I'm going South myself, boys," declared the balloonist, when he
heard of their contemplated trip, "and wouldn't it be a queer thing now
if we happened to come across one another down in Dixieland? I'm heading
for Atlanta, to steer my big balloon to the eastward at the first
favorable chance, in order to settle some questions about air currents
that have long been baffling us all. Depend on it, if I could do you any