Here was where his gym. training and all his football practice came in splendidly. Every muscle was strong, every nerve true to its duty!
Not once did Prescott fear that he would lose his grip and fall to the street below.
Up above, at the roof"s edge, stood Darrin, directing as though from quarter-deck or military-top. Dave had to lean rather far out, at that great height, but it did not make him dizzy.
"There! The grand old chap has landed on the window-sill!
He has gone inside!" cried Dave, turning to his comrades. "Now we can wait until we feel a signal-pull on the rope."
As he turned away from the smoke that was coming up through the air Darrin realized how much smoke he had inhaled. He thumped his chest lightly, taking deep breaths.
d.i.c.k was in the studio now.
Close to the window, where the draught was strongest, Prescott found the smoke so thick that he had to grope his way through it; but bending low, he quickly came to where Grace Dodge lay unconscious on the floor.
She looked lifeless, as she lay there.
"Whew! I"m afraid she"s a goner, already!" thought d.i.c.k, with a great surge of compa.s.sion.
However, seizing the unconscious girl by the shoulders he dragged her swiftly over the floor to the window through which he had come.
The rope still dangled there.
Seizing it, d.i.c.k gave it a gentle pull---not too hard, for fear the jerk might catch good old Dave of his guard and yank him over the roof"s edge.
In another instant Darrin was "back on the job," peering down.
d.i.c.k made a signal that Dave understood perfectly.
Prescott"s next care was to knot his end of the rope swiftly around Grace"s body, above the waist, adjusting the coils so that considerable of the strain would come under the shoulders, where it could best be borne.
Once more d.i.c.k leaned out of the window, making motions. Dave Darrin nodded. The fascinated crowd in the street looked up, breathless. Few now even thought to wonder why the fire department did not appear.
At Dave"s command the others on the roof with him began to hoist.
Slowly, d.i.c.k aided Grace"s body through the window. Then the girl, motionless, so far as she herself was concerned, swung in the air, slowly ascending.
Now groans of horror went up from the street. It seemed to the onlookers below as though a dead body were being hoisted.
d.i.c.k had made a loose hitch of the end of the rope so that it bound the girl"s skirt about her ankles.
As he watched, he saw the swinging body steady at the roof edge.
Then Grace disappeared from his sight as Dave and the others hauled her to momentary safety.
"Ugh!" gasped young Prescott. The smoke and the hot air, filling his lungs, drove him back from the open window to a spot where the draught was less intense.
After a few moments he heard something clattering against the window frame.
"What is it?" wondered d.i.c.k, dreamily, for his senses were leaving him.
Rousing himself, by a supreme effort of the will, the young football player staggered toward the window. It was the rope, which Dave had lowered for him. And thoughtful Darrin had swiftly knotted a strong slip-noose at the end.
d.i.c.k had just strength and consciousness enough left to slip this noose over his head and down under his armpits, drawing the noose tight. Then---so fast was the hot air and smoke overcoming him that he had to fight for it!---d.i.c.k forced his way to the sill and gave a hard tug at the rope. Then he reeled, falling back senseless upon the floor.
In that same instant, not far behind him, the flames burst through the flooring.
There must be some quick work, now, or d.i.c.k Prescott would meet a hero"s death at seventeen!
CHAPTER XXI
THE PRICE OF BRAVERY
Dave Darrin did not falter in his duty for an instant.
He had been waiting for that tug on the rope.
Now he leaned out, and as far over as was possible without pitching himself headlong into the street below.
"d.i.c.k! Oh, d.i.c.k!" he roared.
There was, of course, no answer, for young Prescott day senseless on the floor, smoke and hot air filling his lungs, the creeping flames threatening to pounce upon and devour him.
Wondering, Dave gave a slight signal tug himself at the rope.
From below there was no answer.
"Something uncanny has happened, down there!" muttered Darrin.
"What"s wrong?" called Reade.
"I wish I knew," muttered Dave. "There is no further signaling."
"Then-----"
That was as far as Tom got with his hint at an explanation.
"Cut it," retorted Darrin briskly. "Keep the rope steady. I"m going down there."
"Can you-----"
"Yes!" blazed Dave recklessly. "Watch me. Here goes nothing!"
As the last three words left his lips Darrin swung free over the roof edge.
He was going down the straining, smooth rope now, hand under hand.
The dense crowd in the street below was quick to realize that something new and tragic was on the cards.