but hastily closed it
again, for smoke and flame rushed in, almost suffocating her.

"O, God, save me!" she murmured, huskily, flying to the window, only to
gaze upon a scene which sent dismay to her heart. Clouds of flame and
smoke enveloped everything. For a moment the bursting mass of fire was
stayed by a huge stream of water, and she caught a glimpse of the crowd
below.

There were men, boys, engines, ladders, furniture, all heaped together
in confusion; but the smoke and flame rolled forth with renewed anger
after their momentary check, and all was blank again. She cried for
help, but her voice was lost in the universal din. The heat became
intense, the flame knocked at her very door to demand admittance; she
heard its fiery tongue flap against the panels, a few moments more and
its scorching arms would clasp her in their embrace of death. She knelt
one moment, her soul was in that prayer; she rushed again with almost
hopeless agony to the window. O, joy! and yet how terrible! That moment
when the flame relaxed to gain new energy, a fireman had discovered her
frail form in the glare of the light. He did not hesitate an instant;
his soul was made of such stern stuff as common minds cannot appreciate.
He raised the first ladder within his reach against the wall--a
miserable thing, already half-burned,--and springing on it, ascended
amid the flames.

He had scarcely reached the top of the third story, when he felt it bend
beneath him; he heard the shriek above, the cries below, and turning,
sprang to the ground unharmed, as his treacherous support fell crackling
in the blaze. A shout of joy arose at his wonderful escape, and now they
poured a constant, steady stream beneath the window at which May's face
was discovered by all. A moment, and another ladder, much stouter than
the first, was raised. The undismayed fireman ran up its trembling
rounds, amid the stifling smoke, the eager flames wrapping themselves
around him as he passed; a moment more, and he had reached the terrified
May, caught her hand and lifted her to his side. She gazed a second on
his speaking face--there was a world of meaning in it; she asked no
question--he uttered not a word, but by his eye and hand guided her down
that fiery, dizzy path, so full of danger and of death. A fresh burst of
flame defied the stream of water; it flashed around them while all below
was as silent as the grave, naught heard but the hissing of the blaze
and the crackli