r the girl's head and bounded towards
the window. There was a feeling of softness under his feet, as if the
floor were made of pasteboard. He felt it sinking beneath him. Down it
went, just as he laid hold of the head of the fire-escape, from which he
hung suspended in the midst of the smoke and sparks that rose from the
falling ruin.

Strong though the young fireman was, he could not raise himself by one
arm, while the other was twined round Louisa Auberly. At that moment,
Baxmore, having carried young Auberly down in safety, again ascended and
appeared at the window. He seized Frank by the hair of the head.

"Let go my hair, and catch the girl!" shouted Frank.

"All right," said Baxmore, seizing Loo and lifting her over the window
sill.

Frank being thus relieved, swung himself easily on the sill, and
grasping Loo once more, descended to the street, where he was met by Mr
Auberly, who had recovered from his state of partial suffocation, and
who seized his child and hurried with her into a neighbouring house.
Thither he was followed by Mrs Rose and Matty, who had also recovered.

During these episodes, the firemen had continued at their work with cool
and undistracted attention. And here the value of organisation was
strikingly and beautifully brought out; for, while the crowd swayed to
and fro, now breathless with anxiety lest the efforts of the bold
conductor of the fire-escape should fail; anon wild with excitement and
loud in cheers when he succeeded, each fireman paid devoted and
exclusive attention to his own prescribed piece of duty, as if nothing
else were going on around him, and did it with all his might--well
knowing that every other piece of work was done, or point of danger
guarded, by a comrade, while the eagle eyes of Mr Braidwood and his not
less watchful foremen superintended all, observed and guided, as it
were, the field of battle.

And truly, good generalship was required, for the foe was fierce and
furious. The "devouring element" rushed onward like a torrent. The
house was large and filled with rich furniture, which was luxurious food
for the flames as they swept over the walls, twined round the
balustrades, swallowed the paintings, devoured the woodwork, and melted
the metal in their dread progress. But the foe that met them was, on
this occasion, more than a match for the flames. It was a hand-to-hand
encounter. The men followed them foot by foot, inch by inch--sometimes
almost