Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/305

Rh “I don’t know,” said Rob anxiously. “Something bad, I’m afraid. I do hope he won’t have us arrested or anything.”

“How could we be such dummies as not to look out for all this hay!” said Ted. “Hark! What’s that?”

“What’s what?” asked Phil.

“That noise. It sounded as if some one was calling. Listen!” said Ted excitedly.

The boys did listen. In a moment the cry was repeated,—

“Help! Boys! Rob!”

The boys looked at each other in consternation, while the color faded from their cheeks and lips, leaving them ashy white.

“Boys,” said Sam, “that’s Fred! He’s in there!”

“What shall we do?”

This exclamation burst from Ted and Phil, as another shriek came ringing from the barn,  above the rush and roar of the flames. Rob had dropped on the ground with his face in his  hands, unable to look, or even to think of anything but Bessie’s charge, “Take care of him.”

“Do!” answered Sam calmly. “There ain’t