CHAPTER IX
AN ALARM OF FIRE
There was a moment's pause after Jack's announcement, then, as one, theassembled lads bowed to Will, or, as he was to be more affectionatelycalled, Bill. He blushed with pleasure at the new sensation of havingfriends.
"New member of the Irrepressibles, we, who are about to dine, salutethee!" exclaimed Sam.
"We sure do, and now, if the salutin' ceremony is over, let's eat,"suggested Bob Movel.
"Wait until Fred gives us a tune," came from Nat. "Jumping gewhillikins,but they always have music at a banquet!"
"Then don't let Fred play--if you want music," said Sam, dodging behindJack to be out of the musical student's reach.
"I'll punch your head!" exclaimed Fred.
"No, go on and play," said Jack. "It will liven things up a bit."
So Fred got out his mouth-organ, and rendered a lively march, the boysparading around the table, each one clapping on the back the new memberof the informal club.
"Now I guess we can eat," announced Jack. "Bill, pass that plate ofsandwiches at your elbow. Fred, juggle the doughnuts down this way. Sam,don't let those pies go to sleep. Bob, you open some of the ginger-ale,but don't let it pop too loud, or Doc. Mead may think it's the safetyvalve of the boiler going off, and send Martin to investigate."
The lads were soon actively engaged in putting away the good things, andthen, for a time, conversation languished, save for intermittentremarks.
"Are you having a good time, boys?" asked Socker, poking his head in thestoreroom, after having shoveled some coal on the fire.
"We sure are, and we're much obliged to you," replied Jack.
"Oh, that's all right. It reminds me, to see you all eating, of how Ionce was nearly starved in Andersonville prison. I was in there----"
"I'm coming out to hear that story in about five minutes, Socker,"interrupted Jack. "Have it all ready for me."
"I will," promised the janitor, as he went back to look at the boiler.
It was a merry time, and Will, or, as the boys called him, Bill, enjoyedit more than any one. It seemed as if a new world had opened before him.His face lost the downcast look, his eyes were brighter, and he evenventured to make one or two jokes. The boys seemed to like him, andJack was glad of it, for he had a genuine admiration for the new boy,and wanted to befriend him.
To some of his chums he told something of Will's story, and there wasgeneral indignation expressed against the mean guardian.
"Well, fellows, I guess we've eaten everything except the table and thecandles," said Jack after a while. "I think we'd better be getting backto our rooms, for Martin may take it into his head to pay a late visit."
The advice was timely, and as the lads had had a jolly evening, theyprepared to disperse. They cleared away the remains of the feast,leaving Socker to put aside the boards, cans and bottles. As they filedout of the boiler-room, Socker called to Jack:
"I'm all ready to tell you that story now."
"I've got to see these infants to bed," replied our hero with a wink."Then I'll be back, Socker. Think over all the points in the story. Idon't want to lose any."
"I'll do that, Mr. Ranger," and Socker sat down in a chair before thefire and began to think deeply.
The students reached their rooms without being detected, whispering toJack, on their way, their thanks for the spread.
"I've had the best time in my life!" exclaimed Will as he claspedJack's hand at his door. "I can't thank you enough."
"Then don't try," replied Jack. "Brace up, and you'll be all right."
"I will."
Whether it was the effect of the pie or doughnuts Jack never knew, butsome time during the night he began to dream that he had swallowed a bigpiece of pastry the wrong way, and it was choking him. He sat up,gasping for breath, and found to his horror that his room was full ofsmoke.
"There's a fire!" he spoke aloud. Then he called to Nat, who was in thebed across from him:
"Nat! Nat! Wake up! There's a fire!"
"No, I can't get up any higher," sleepily responded Nat, turning over inbed, and evidently thinking that his chum had asked him to climb up atree.
"It's a fire!" cried Jack, springing from bed. "There's a fire, Nat!"
This roused the sleeping lad, who also bounded out from under thecovers. There was no doubt about it. Their room was filled with smoke,which was getting thicker every minute.
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" yelled Jack, for he heard no one stirring about inthe school dormitory, and he rightly guessed that he was the first tosound the alarm.
His call was sufficient to arouse students on either side of him, andthen Martin and several of the teachers came running from theirapartments.
"Where is the fire, Ranger?" asked Mr. Gales, one of the mathematicalinstructors.
"I don't know, but my room is full of smoke."
Just then, from somewhere below stairs, sounded a cry:
"Fire! Fire! There's a fire in the boiler-room! Help!"
"That's Socker, the janitor," declared Jack. "Come on, fellows, we'llhelp him."
He rushed for the stairs, attired in his pajamas and slippers, and wasfollowed by Nat and a score of other students.
"Boys, boys! Be careful!" called Mr. Gales.
Meanwhile, the smoke was getting thicker, and every one was beginning tocough.
"Fire! Fire!" yelled Socker.
Jack, leading the rush of pupils through the smoke, soon reached theboiler-room in the basement. Through the clouds of vapor, illuminated bygasjets here and there left burning all night in case of accident, hecould see the flicker of flames.
"Come on!" he called. "There are some pails with water along the wall,and a couple of hand extinguishers!"
They reached the engine-room, to find a blaze in one corner, whereSocker kept some waste, cans of oil, old rags and brooms. The fire hadbeen eating toward the storeroom, where the midnight feast had beenheld.
"Forward the fire brigade!" yelled Jack as he grabbed up an extinguisherand began to play it on the flames, while some of his chums caught uppails of water, kept filled for just such an emergency.
The flames were beginning to crackle now, and the fire seemed likely tobe a bad one.
Suddenly Socker, who was running about doing nothing, looked at theboiler and cried out:
"Run! Everybody run! The safety valve has caught, and the boiler willblow up! Run! Run!"
The boys needed no second warning. Jack paused for a moment, for thestream from his extinguisher was beginning to quench the flames, but ashe saw Socker fleeing from the room, and as he reflected that it wouldbe dangerous to remain, he turned and fled, carrying the apparatus withhim.
"Everybody out!" cried Socker. "Get 'em all out! The boiler will blowup!"
The lads, lightly clad, fled through the basement door out into thenight. The snow, which had ceased that evening, had started in again,and the storm was howling as if in glee at the plight of the students ofWashington Hall, who were driven from their beds by fire.