"I'm all right,
come along, Bob!"

With that he rushed into the burning house, and in a few seconds was
seen to take the branch from a fireman on one of the upper floors, and
drag it out on a charred beam that overhung the fire. The spot on which
they stood was brilliantly illuminated, and it was seen that the fireman
remonstrated with Ned, but the latter thrust him away, and stepped out
on the beam. He stood there black as ebony, with a glowing background
of red walls and fire, and the crowd cheered him for his unwonted
courage; but the cheer was changed abruptly into a cry of alarm as the
beam gave way, and Ned fell head foremost into the burning ruins.

The chief of the brigade--distinguishable everywhere by his tall
figure--observed the accident, and sprang towards the place.

"If he's not killed by the fall, he's safe from the fire, for it is
burnt out there," he remarked to David Clazie, who accompanied him.
Before they reached the place, Joe Dashwood and two other men had rushed
in. They found Ned lying on his back in a mixture of charcoal and
water, almost buried in a mass of rubbish which the falling beam had
dragged down along with it. In a few seconds this was removed, and Ned
was carried out and laid on the pavement, with a coat under his head.

"There's no cut anywhere that I can see," said Joe Dashwood examining
him.

"His fall must have been broke by goin' through the lath and plaster o'
the ceilin' below," suggested Bob Clazie.

At that moment, there was a great crash, followed by a loud cry, and a
cheer from the multitude, as the roof fell in, sending up a magnificent
burst of sparks and flame, in the midst of which Ned Crashington was
borne from the field of battle.

While this scene was going on, Mrs Crashington and her brother were
still seated quietly enjoying their tea--at least, enjoying it as much
as such characters can be said to enjoy anything.

When Ned had gone out, as before mentioned, Phil remarked:--

"I wouldn't rouse him like that, Mag, if I was you."

"But he's so aggravatin'," pleaded Mrs Crashington.

"He ain't half so aggravatin' as _you_ are," replied Phil, gruffly. "I
don't understand your temper at all. You take all the hard words _I_
give you as meek as a lamb, but if _he_ only offers to open his mouth
you fly at him like a turkey-cock. However, it's no business o' mine,
and now," he added, rising, "I must be off."

"So, you won't tell me before you go, what