THE RESCUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RESCUE.

(Winning entry by Olga Hill, 47, Bond Street, Grey Lynn, age 14.) Bob Waters turned over in bed and listened to the school clock chiming midnight. He was. about to snuggle under the clothes again when a lurid glow on the window pane caught hi* eye. With beating heart he jumped out of bed and dashed to the window. What he saw filled liim with dread. There, just over the lawn, stood the sanatorium, built apart from the school, so as to enable sick boys to have quiet. But it was not that that alarmed Bob; it was the long red flames leaping oat of the windows at the left side of the little two-storey building, and the dense smoke shrouding the house. Dashing into the passage he pulled vigorously at the fire-bell, and as boys and masters came pouring out of their bedrooms, he gasped: "San. On lire," and dashed out of the schoolhouse and raced across the lawn. For Bob had just remembered something. Was not his dear chum, Dick, in the Blue Room on the right side of the house upstairs, with a slight attack of the 'flu? As Dr. Willis, the Head, was phoning for the flre brigade, and as unruly boys flocked out to watch the burning building, Bob reached the door of the san. and dashed inside.

It was hot. Smoke filled his throat and he felt as though he were choking. The stairs looked like a burning mass to Bob, but he forced his way up them, with long flames darting at him from each side. Never mind if they burnt him, he couldn't leave dear old Dick up there by himself. With a sob of relief he reached the last stair and dashed to the Blue Room. The flames had not yet reached it, but the air was thick with smoke. He stumbled against something on the floor, and, bending down, felt the still form of Dick, lie went back to the door and looked out. The stairs were gone! With a little cry ho flew to Dick, and running his hand through the curly brown hair, whispered] "Dick, don't be frightened. I'm—l'm here. You knew I wouldn't leave you here, didn't you, old fellow?" He picked Dick up, and staggered to the window. There belOw were the boys and masters, and matron (having escaped and forgotten Dick) gesticulating wildly, and pointing to the window. Men in shining helmets were stretching out a big white tiling. What was it? What were they? Oh! Firemen, of course. Really he must shake off this queer feeling that was coming over him. Through a kind of mist he saw the firemen point to the white thing. Of course, they meant him to jump. He felt as though he could lie down and sleep forever, but the fire was not going to have old Dick. Never! With an almost superhuman effort Bob dragged himself and Dick to the window-sill, and with one final clutch at Dick, jumped into the white space below.

A week of rest soon put Bob and the ever-grateful Dick to rights, and one fine day the Head came into the room ■where the invalids lay back in arm-chairs, and said: "Bob, on behalf of the school I would like to tell you that everyone thinks you. a very brave boy. Now, just a moment." He went to the window and nodded his head. Then from below came the strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," eung low so as not to disturb them, but with a wealth of meaning.