bewildering, suffocating smoke, Will and his companion bore the trophies
they had snatched from the flames.

"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" went up heartily from the dense, black crowd
below. The rescued boys were laid upon the grass at a safe distance from
the burning mill. The people began to gather about them.

"Ah, poor Tim, poor Tim!" said a woman, bending over one of the boys.

"That's Ann there with Tim Tyler," said Charlie to Sid Waters, these two
enterprising knights having made good use of their legs and quickly
reached the spot.

"Who's Ann?"

"It is Tim's mother."

"I recognize the other boy. It's Bob Landers."

"Will Somers, this you?" asked Charlie.

"It will be when my face is washed. Dirty work at fires."

"Why, Mr. Walton, is this you? What a 'ero! Did you save one of them
boys?" squeaked Miss Persnips to Will's companion.

The minister's face was not very clean after his fight with the sooty
enemy, but as Will thought, "Love sees through all disguises."

"Yes, here I am, and if some of you good people will carry these boys