"I think I can be of some assistance in getting the people out. Good-by! I shall be with you again soon." And he rushed around to the front of the house, where the confusion was greater than ever. CHAPTER XXIII. AN EVENTFUL NIGHT. The Rockton police force were evidently not equal to the emergency--two or three Hibernians in blue uniform were rushing wildly about, issuing orders to which no one paid the slightest attention. Meanwhile nearly a thousand people were confined within the burning building, most of them apparently doomed to a horrible death. At the doors--of which there were only two--men were fighting like maniacs to escape, and actually retarding their own progress in their mad excitement. What could one boy hope to do against this panic-stricken throng? This is the question that Al Allston asked himself. "I'm afraid I shan't accomplish much," he said to himself; "but I'm going to try, anyhow." Assuming as cool an air as he could, he ran up to the entrance. "Gentlemen," he said, "there is no danger. Take it easy; walk out just as you would at any other time, and everything will be all right. Keep cool." Probably not more than half a dozen persons heard the words, but the few who did hear them were impressed by the calm, fearless demeanor of the boy, which was in such striking contrast to that of everyone else in the crowd. An example of this sort is contagious; word was passed from one man to another that the danger was not as great as had been supposed. The conduct of the throng changed almost immediately. "Walk out quietly," went on Al, who was now able to make himself heard. "Those on the right-hand side go in the direction of Grand Street, and those on the left in the direction of Market Street. Don't block the sidewalk. Keep cool, and everyone will get out all right. There is nothing to get excited about." These words had almost a magical effect. In reality, there was quite enough in the situation to excite anyone, but Al's apparent calmness and his assertion that the danger did not amount to anything produced just the result he desired. The crowd became more rational, and to make a long story short, within three minutes the building was emptied, even of the women and children who had fainted or been injured. Five minutes later the roof of the building fell in, but there was every reason to believe that not a single human life had been sacrificed. Al started for his hotel as quietly as if nothing unusual had happened. But he had gone only a few steps when he was overtaken by Mr. Wattles. To his astonishment, the manager folded him in his arms, exclaiming: "By Jove! I wish you were my son!" "What's the matter now?" asked the boy, disengaging himself. "Matter? Why, the matter is that you have in all probability saved the lives of several hundred people." "Nonsense!"