him in his work of rescue.
He would fain have got others and not have tarried so long. But all
men seem distraught by fear, and would not listen to his promises
of reward, nor face the perils either of the journey by water or of
an approach to the flaming city."

"Indeed it hath a fearful aspect!" said Dinah thoughtfully, as she
turned her eyes upon the blazing mass that had been teeming with
life but a few short hours ago. "Hast heard, sister, whether many
poor creatures have perished in the flames? Oh, my heart has been
sad for them, thinking of all the homeless and all the dead!"

"They say that wondrous few have fallen victims to the fire," said
Rachel, "and those that have perished are, for the most part, poor,
distraught creatures, whom terror caused to fling away their lives,
or like my Lady Scrope, who would not leave her home and preferred
to perish with it. It is sad enough to think of the thousands who
have lost home and goods in the fire. But had it come before the
plague had ravaged the city so fearfully, it must have been tenfold
worse. Methinks if the lanes and courts of the city had been
crowded as they were then, the loss of life must needs have been
far greater."

"But to proceed with thy tale," said Dinah after a pause. "How was
it that thou didst adventure thyself with the rescuing party in the
boat?"

"Methought that, as there were helpless women to be saved, a woman
might find work to do suited more to her than to the men folks.
Moreover, I may not deny that I felt a great and mighty desire to
see this wonderful fire more nigh. Custom has used us to so much
since it commenced that the terror of it has somewhat faded. They
were saying that St. Paul's was blazing or like to blaze. I desired
to see that awful sight; and see it I did right well, as we pushed
the boat into mid-water after landing Lord Desborough and his
assistants at Baynard's Castle. They were some half hour gone, and
we sat and watched the fire, in some fear truly for them, for the
flames seemed devouring everything, but with confidence that they
would act with all prudence, and in the full belief that the fire
had not yet attacked my lord's house."

"Ah, but it had!" said Dinah with a little shiver. "I would not
have believed that flames could sweep on at such a fearful pace.
One minute we seemed safe, the next it was seething round us!"

"That is what they all say of this fire. It travels with such an
awful rapidity, and w