In the shortest possible time the Sea Scouts threw on some clothes, thrust their feet into their sea-boots and jumped into the dinghy. A few strokes of the oars brought them to the opposite bank. Through the smoke they dashed across the lawn and up to the house, where they stumbled over the senseless form of one of the men-servants. It was a moment's work to drag him clear of the falling embers. There appeared to be no one else about on their side of the buildings. The late inmates were on the opposite end, vainly striving to quench the flames with buckets of water. Already the whole of the ground floor was ablaze, while in one corner the flames were bursting through the roof. "Everyone's out, I think," spluttered Peter, half choked with the fumes. "Let's release the horses and poultry. There's nothing more that we can do." It was as well, he thought, that Carline and he had already paid a visit to the outbuildings. Up to the present the livestock were in no great danger, although the neighing horses and loudly cackling fowls were terrified by the roaring of the flames and the billowing clouds of smoke. "There is someone, though!" exclaimed Peter, pointing to an upper window. "Your imagination," declared Carline. "No--look!" A hand was fumbling with the casement. Then a face appeared, horror-stricken, gasping. "It's old Snodburry!" exclaimed Carline. "They've forgotten all about him." "Quick--bring a ladder!" shouted Peter. "There's one in the stable-yard." "Stand by to steady it," said Peter resolutely, as the ladder was reared against the wall. "I'm going up--not you." Waiting only to tie his scarf over his mouth and nose Craddock ascended the ladder. One smart blow demolished the pane of glass that enabled him to get to the casement fastening. The next instant the window was wide open, a rush of smoke well nigh forcing the Sea Scout from his precarious perch. The room was full of smoke and in darkness. Leaning over the sill Peter groped but found nothing. Then a spurt of reddish flame darting through a charred portion of the floor revealed a huddled figure lying half way between the window and the door. Craddock hesitated no longer. With a diving-like movement he leapt through the window on to the floor, that gave ominously as it felt his weight. With smarting eyes and painfully drawn breath he crawled over the hot floor-boards until he was able to seize the unconscious form of Mr. Snodburry, and dragged him to the window. Then came the critical time. The senseless man was too heavy. Peter, in spite of his strength, was handicapped by the fumes, while the window sill was waist-high from the floor.