The Two Vanrevels

ct, brought an illuminative simplicity to bear upon the problem of the force-pump; and a multitudinous

izzily fighting the sparks that covered him, yet still clutching the nozzle of the hose-line they had passed to him. When the stream at last leaped forth, makin

with his wet sleeve, and peered intently down from under the shading arm. His roving glance crossed the smoke and flame to rest upon a tall, white figure that stood, full-length above the heads of the people, upo

es, and the voice belonging to it said, angrily: "Why didn't

ly, "I'll bring it up." "You can't; I'll com

ng the second rung, one knee crooked over the lowest, leaned head down and took the nozzle from Marsh. It was a heavy weight, and though Marsh supported the line beneath it, the great stream hurtling forth made it a difficult thing to manage, for it wriggled, recoiled

nrevel called from overhead, not daring the

rung with his left hand, and, once more hanging head downward, seized the nozzle; then, with his knee hooked tight, as the gushing water described a huge semicircle upon the smoke and hot vapor, he made a mad lurch through the air, while women shrieked; but he landed upright, half-sitting on the lowest rung. He climbed the grapp

the ladder, and they received the command at the moment Tom lifted the nozzle, so that the stream dried up in his hands. This

hose eyes Tom had looked; nor did he rage because he believed that Crailey's life and his were in the greater hazard for the lack of every drop of water that should have issued from the empty nozzle. Their lungs were burdened with smoke, while the intolerable smarting of throat, eyes, and nostrils was like the incision of a thousand needles in the membranes; their clothes were luminous with glowing circles

our side of the conversation is a trifle loud, Tom," he said. "M

ed toward the street, and, shielding his inflamed eyes with his hand, gazed downward in a stricken silence. From that moment M

enable; for the flames, reaching all along the wall, were licking at the ladder itself, between Marsh and

ummings from beneath M

rateful cascade upon Crailey and himself, three manly voices were heard singing,

housand men; He marched them up the side

o join their comrades. They were a gallant band, those young gentlemen of Rouen, and they came with the ironical

a less dangerous point, when old General Trumble and young Jefferson Bareaud made a rush to mount it, and were well upon their upward way before the ladder, weakened at the middle,

Department, but every soul in Rouen, knew that; and there rose the thick, low sigh of a multitude,

ortions of the roof, covered them-selves with voluminous mantles of flame, which increased so hugely and with

turmoil as was the crowd, while women covered their eyes. Young Frank Chenoweth was sobbing curses upon the bruised

or she, of all that throng, had an idea in her head, and, after screaming it to every man within reach, only to discover the impossibility of making herself understood in that Babel, she was struggling to make her way toward the second warehouse, through the swaying jam of people. It was a difficult task, as the farther in she managed to go, the denser became the press and the more tightly she found the p

dy, watching its work. And in truth it was not long before they understood which would conquer. The southern and western portions of the building had flung out great flames that fluttered and flared on the breeze like Titanic flags; and steadily, slowly, at first, then faster as the seconds

get a rope up

his speech struck the sullen heart of the chief with remorse. H

eft the group and went to the eastern edge of the roof and looked out upon the crowd. Cummings dropped the line and sat down, burying his hot face in his arms, for t

e men, their characters, and conditions of life vary. Nevertheless, pursuant with the traditions of minstrelsy and romance, it is conceivable that young, unmarried men, called upon to face

rsh's gasping: "At least it will be on her father's roof!" and from other things later overheard, an inevitable deduction has been reached that four of the five gent

that empty' pedestal with the grotesque carvings? Did he seek Fanchon there, or was Mi

seemed the more miraculous, when, wan and hopeless, staggering desperately

wn now?" it said.-"The stairwa

he five than that there should be a sixth person on the roof,

chopfallen with astonishme

ttle pink fan in her hand, the smoke-wreaths partly obscuring her and curling

f the lost Volunteers? Was it a Valkyrie assuming that lovely likeness to perch upon t

was Crailey who answered, while Tom could only stare, and stand w

gasped Crailey. "How

uns all the way down-old Nelson showed me through these buildings yesterday-and that side isn't on fire yet. I'm so sorry I didn't t