"We had better get out as soon as we can!" exclaimed Dick, as he
slipped into his trousers. "Come, Tom! come, Sam!"

He ran for the hallway, to find it so thick with smoke that
escape in that direction seemed cut off.

"We can't go down that way!" came from Frank. "We'd be smothered
to death."

"Let's jump from the windows," put in Larry, who was more
frightened than any of the others.

"No, no; don't jump yet!" cried Tom "You'll break a leg, and
maybe your neck."

"But I don't want to be burnt up," returned Larry, his teeth
chattering.

"Hold on, we have that rope we used when we had the feast last
summer," said Sam. "Let us tie that to the window and get down
on it."

Sam ran to the closet and found the rope just where it had been
left, on a hook in the corner. Soon they had it out and fastened
to a bed-slat braced across the window frame.

"Down you go, Larry!" said Dick. "Be careful; I reckon we have
plenty of time."