Page:The Grey Story Book (1905).pdf/27

 There wasn't any school on that floor to-day, so that's the reason we didn't hear anything until after we smelled the smoke. There wasn't anybody to give the alarm."

"Was it the second floor children who screamed so," asked Mabelle.

"Yes," said Caroline. "They got frightened and broke ranks and all rushed out together, and some of them fell and got hurt."

"I think you were ever so brave to march out and right down into all that smoke, when you didn't know what might be there," said Mabelle, "and the girls say that you didn't act a bit afraid."

"But that wasn't near so hard as to stay and play until the last one was out. You were braver than I was, and your starting 'Tramp, Tramp,' was what kept them from getting into a panic."

"And your singing! How could you ever sing in all that smoke?"

Caroline gave Mabelle's hand a little squeeze. "You know how," she said. "I knew that