"Quick! We must get a ladder up there!" shouted Jack, turning back to
the truck. "We can't let a human being be burned before our eyes."
But there were no firemen at hand. They had followed their chief.
Hundreds of citizens stood about, but they needed a leader.
"Come on, men!" roared Jack. "Help me off with this longest ladder."
A dozen pair of hands reached for it at once. Off came the ladder with
a bound, while other men pressed up to aid.
"Right up to the sill of the window where that woman is!" shouted young
Captain Benson. Up went the ladder, exactly in place, while a score
of voices shouted:
"Get out on the ladder and come down, young lady! Can you?"
As if in answer, Mlle. Nadiboff was seen suddenly to reel backward as
though overcome by the smoke that poured up at her from the floor below.
"Where are you going?" shouted Jacob Farnum, hoarsely, as the submarine
captain threw off his jacket like a flash.
"Up there--of course--to help her!" Jack shouted back at him, as he
leaped at the rungs.
"It's the only thing a man can do," admitted Farnum, hoarsely. "Good
luck to you, Jack!"
CHAPTER XXIII
"GOOD-BYE, MY CAPTAIN!"
The first part of the climb was easy.
Unmindful of the cheers that followed the submarine boy raced up the
ladder.
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