"How long did you stay in there?" asked Halsey. "I'm told you were among the first to bolt down-stairs--before school was dismissed." "A minute or two, anyhow," declared Briggs. "I thought school was dismissed or I wouldn't 'a' run." "Did the whole class follow? Did any remain?" he asked, searching the anxious features before him. He and Beach had already talked this over among themselves. John, too, had been examined, but further testimony was needed. Briggs reflected. "Hoover was there, sir, and Shorty Prime." "When you came out, do you mean?" "Ye-ye-yes, sir. 't least Prime was. I didn't see Hoover." "Where was Prime? Are you sure he was there?" "Right up at the Doctor's desk, sir, where you were sitting." "He was there still when you came out?" "Ye-yes, sir. Wasn't he, Brodrick?" Brodrick thought so, but couldn't be sure. He had "grabbed his cap and run." "They were all rushing down from the English department up-stairs." Halsey's dark face was very dark now. His eyes were full of doubt and dread. "I want you to be very careful of what you say, Briggs, and to say nothing to anybody of what you have said." And while they were still in conference steps were heard upon the stairs, and presently in came the two pony members of the First Latin, Prime and Beekman, and Prime was a sight to behold. "What on earth have you been doing with yourself?" queried Halsey, as he half turned and looked the youngster over from head to foot. Shorty's clothes were wet and bedraggled, his face smudged with soot, but his eyes sparkling with life and animation. He had not looked so much like his old self since Lawton's disappearance. "Had 28's pipe, sir, the last hour," said the boy, with a grin of pride. "They were only pumping easy to soak down the ruins, and their fellows were tired out and let me and Julian have it." "Where's Julian?" "Gone home, sir. He's wet through." "So are you, but--don't go just yet. That's all, you others," said Halsey, whereat the three slowly vanished, leaving only the janitor staring at the door. "Go out and shut that door, and keep it shut," said Halsey, shortly, to the open-mouthed servitor, and then he turned on the boy, now warming his hands at the big stove. "Prime," said he, "you were with me at the desk when that alarm came. What became of you? What did you do?" "I, sir? I went like a streak for 61." "At once, do you mean?--right after the class ran after me into Mr. Meeker's room?" "_Before_ the class ran after you," said Shorty, with an injured air. No fireman would waste so many valuable seconds. "I was down-stairs and out of the school before they were fairly off the benches." "How could you get your cap, sir?" "Didn't take it, sir! I ran bare-headed to Twenty-sixth Street, hoping to be the first to give 'em a still before I saw 'em coming." "Give them a still! What's that?"