"Are all the boys out?" he asked of George Strong. "Line them up and call the roll." The roll-call was put through in double-quick order. Only two lads were missing, a boy named Harrison and another named Leeks. "Here comes Harrison!" cried Harry Blossom, and the boy limped forth from the opposite side of the burning building. "I sprang from the east wing," he explained. "I guess my ankle is sprained." And then he dropped down and was carried away from the scene to a place of safety. "Where can Leeks be?" questioned Captain Putnam. "Leeks! Leeks! Where are you?" he cried with all the power of his lungs. At first the only reply that came back was the roaring of the flames, as they mounted from one section of the Hall to another. Then, however, came a shriek from the rear end of the western wing. "Help me! Save me! I don't want to be burnt up!" "It is Leeks!" cried Tom. "See, he is on the gutter of the roof!" He pointed in the direction, and all saw the cadet, dressed in nothing but his white gown, clinging desperately to the slates of the roof above the gutter. He had run from the second floor to the third and sought safety by crawling out of a dormer window. "Don't jump!" cried a dozen in concert. "Don't jump, Leeks!" "What shall I do? The flames are coming up here as fast as they can!" groaned the cadet. "Oh, save me, somebody!" "Let's get the ladder," said Dick, and started for the barn, with a score of cadets at his heels and George Strong with them. In the meantime Captain Putnam again urged Leeks to remain where he was. "We will save you, don't fear," he added. The fire below now made the scene as bright as day, and already the neighbors were rushing to the scene, followed by the Cedarville volunteer fire department, with their hose cart and old style hand-pump engine. Soon the ladder was brought out of the barn and rushed to the spot directly below where Leeks stood. Willing hands raised it against the building. And then a loud groan went up. The ladder was too short by ten feet--and it was the only ladder to be had! CHAPTER XIV THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DORA STANHOPE "We can't reach him with that! He'll be burnt up before we can get to him. See, the flames are already coming out of the window beside him!" "Save me! Push the ladder up higher!" shrieked Leeks. "I can't get down to it!" "Wait, I've got an idea," put in Dick, and ran behind the barn to the garden patch. Soon he came back armed with a long and knotty beanpole. George Strong was already on the ladder, and the beanpole was shoved up to him. "That's all right!" came the cry. "Leeks, can't you get hold?" "I'll try," said the terrorized boy. As quickly as he could George Strong mounted to the very top of the ladder. Then the teacher raised the beanpole, heavy end upward, until Leeks managed to grasp it. "Can you steady it against the gutter?" asked the teacher. "I--I don't know. If I had a cord--"