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And；　even　while　they　kneeled　and　Alfred　prayed；　Death　and　Life　met　and　fought　for　them。　Under　the　door；　tight　as　it　was；　and　through　the　keyhole；　struggled　a　hot　stifling　smoke；　merciful　destroyer　running　before　fire；　and　the　shadow　of　a　gigantic　figure　began　to　flicker　in　from　the　outside；　and　to　come　and　go　upon　the　wall。　Alfred　did　not　know　what　that　was；　but　it　gave　him　a　vague　hope：　he　prayed　aloud　as　men　pray　only　for　their　bodies。　（The　crowd　heard　him　and　hushed　itself　breathless。）

The　smoke　penetrated　faster；　blinding　and　stifling；　the　giant　shadow　came　and　went。　But　now　the　greater　part　of　the　roof　fell　in　with　an　awful　report；　the　blazing　timbers　thundered　down　to　the　basement　with　endless　clatter　of　red…hot　tiles；　the　walls　quivered；　and　the　building　belched　skyward　a　thousand　jets　of　fire　like　a　bouquet　of　rockets：　and　then　a　cloud　of　smoke。　Alfred　gave　up　all　hope；　and　prepared　to　die。　Crash！　as　if　discharged　from　a　cannon；　came　bursting　through　the　window；　with　the　roar　of　an　applauding　multitude　and　a　mother's　unheeded　scream；　a　helmeted　figure；　rope　in　hand；　and　alighted　erect　and　commanding　on　the　floor　amidst　a　shower　of　splinters　and　tinkling　glass。　〃Up；　men；　for　your　lives；〃　roared　this　fire…warrior；　clutching　them　hard；　and　dragged　them　both　up　to　their　feet　by　one　prodigious　gesture：　all　three　faces　came　together　and　shone　in　the　lurid　light；　and　he　knew　his　father　and　〃the　Wretch；〃　and　〃the　Wretch〃　knew　him。　〃Oh！〃　〃Ah！〃　passed　like　pistol　shots；　but　not　a　word：　even　this　strange　meeting　went　for　little；　so　awful　was　the　moment；　so　great　are　Death　and　Fire。　Edward　clawed　his　rope　to　the　bed；　up　to　the　window　by　it；　dropped　his　line　to　fireman　Jackson　planted　express　below；　and　in　another　moment　was　hauling　up　a　rope　ladder：　this　he　attached；　and　getting　on　it　and　holding　his　own　rope　by　way　of　banister；　cried；　〃Now；　men；　quick；　for　your　lives。〃　But　poor　David　called　that　deserting　the　ship；　and　demurred；　till　Alfred　assured　him　the　captain　had　ordered　it。　He　then　submitted　directly；　touched　his　forelock　to　Edward；　whom　he　took　for　that　officer；　and　went　down　the　ladder；　Alfred　followed。

Now　the　moment　those　two　figures　emerged　from　the　burning　pile；　Mrs。　Dodd；　already　half　dead　with　terror　for　her　son；　saw　and　knew　her　husband：　for　all　about　him　it　was　as　light　as　day。

What　terror！　what　joy！　what　gratitude！　what　pride！　what　a　tempest　of　emotions！

But　her　fears　were　not　ended：　Edward；　not　to　overweight　the　ladder；　went　dangling　by　his　hands　along　the　rope　towards　the　tree。　And　his　mother's　eyes　stared　fearfully　from　him　to　the　other；　and　her　heart　hung　trembling　on　her　husband　descending　cautiously；　and　then　on　his　preserver；　her　son；　who　was　dangling　along　by　the　hands　on　that　frail　support。　The　mob　cheered　him　royally；　but　she　screamed　and　hid　her　face　again。　At　last　both　her　darlings　were　safe；　and　then　the　lusty　cheers　made　her　thrill　with　pride　and　joy；　till　all　of　a　sudden　they　seemed　to　die　away；　and　the　terrible　fire　to　go　out；　and　the　sore…tried　wife　and　mother　drooped　her　head　and　swooned　away；　wedged　in　and　kept　from　falling　by　the　crowd。

Inside；　the　mob　parted　and　made　two　rushes；　one　at　the　rescued　men；　one　at　the　gallant　fireman。　Alfred　and　David　were　overpowered　with　curiosity　and　sympathy。　They　had　to　shake　a　hundred　honest　hands；　and　others　still　pressing　on　hurried　them　nearly　off　their　feet。

〃Gently；　good　friends；　don't　part　us；〃　said　Alfred。

〃He　is　the　keeper；〃　said　one　of　the　crowd。

〃Yes；　I'm　his　keeper：　and　I　want　to　get　him　quietly　away。　This　excitement　will　do　him　harm　else；　good　friends；　help　me　out　by　that　door。〃

〃All　right；〃　was　the　cry；　and　they　rushed　with　him　to　the　back　door。　Rooke；　who　was　about　twenty　yards　off　saw　and　suspected　this　movement。　He　fought　his　way　and　struggled　after　Alfred　in　silence。　Presently；　to　his　surprise；　Alfred　unlocked　the　door　and　whipped　out　with　David；　leaving　the　door　open。　Rooke　shouted　and　halloaed：　〃Stop　him！　he　is　escaping；〃　and　struggled　madly　to　the　door。　Now　another　crowd　had　been　waiting　in　the　meadows；　seeing　the　door　open　they　rushed　in　and　the　doorway　was　jammed　directly。　In　the　confusion　Alfred　drew　David　along　the　side　of　the　wall；　told　him　to　stay　quiet；　bolted　behind　an　outhouse；　and　then　ran　across　country　for　the　bare　life。

To　his　horror　David　followed　him；　and　with　a　madman's　agility　soon　caught　him。

He　snorted　like　a　spirited　horse；　and　shouted　cheerily；　〃Go　ahead；　messmate；　I　smell　blue　water。〃

〃Come　on；　then；〃　cried　Alfred；　half　mad　himself　with　excitement；　and　the　pair　ran　furiously；　and　dashed　through　hedges　and　ditches；　torn；　bleeding；　splashed；　triumphant；　behind　them　the　burning　madhouse；　above　them　the　spangled　sky；　the　fresh　free　air　of　liberty　blowing　in　their　nostrils；　and　rushing　past　their　ears。

Alfred's　chest　expanded；　he　laughed　for　joy；　he　sang　for　joy；　he　leaped　as　he　went；　nor　did　he　care　where　he　went。　David　took　the　command；　and　kept　snuffing　the　air；　and　shaping　his　course　for　blue　water。　And　so　they　rushed　along　the　livelong　night。

Free。



CHAPTER　XLIV

A　REPORT　came　round　that　the　asylum　was　open　in　the　rear。　A　rush　was　made　thither　from　the　front：　and　this　thinned　the　crowd　considerably；　so　then　Mrs。　Dodd　was　got　out　by　the　help　of　some　humane　persons；　and　carried　into　the　nearest　house；　more　dead　than　alive。　There　she　found　Mrs。　Archbold　in　a　pitiable　state。　That　lady　had　been　looking　on　the　fire；　with　the　key　in　her　pocket；　by　taking　which　she　was　like　to　be　a　murderess：　her　terror　and　remorse　were　distracting；　and　the　revulsion　had　thrown　her　into　violent　hysterics。　Mrs。　Dodd　plucked　up　a　little　strength；　and　characteristically　enough　tottered　to　her　assistance；　and　called　for　the　best　remedies；　and　then　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it；　and　whispered　soothingly　that　both　were　now　safe；　meaning　David　and　Edward。　Mrs。　Archbold　thought　she　meant　Alfred　and　David：　this　new　shock　was　as　good　for　her　as　cold　water：　she　became　quieter；　and　presently　gulped　out；　〃You　saw　them？　You　knew　them　（ump）　all　that　way　off？〃

〃Knew　them？〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃why　one　was　my　husband；　and　the　other　my　son。〃　Mrs。　Archbold　gave　a　sigh　of　relief。　〃Yes；　madam；〃　continued　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃the　young　fireman；　who　went　and　saved　my　husband；　was　my　own　son；　my　Edward；　my　hero；　oh；　I　am　a　happy　wife；　a　proud　mother。〃　She　could　say　no　more　for　tears　of　joy；　and　while　she　wept　deliciously；　Mrs。　Archbold　cried　too；　and　so　invigorated　and　refreshed　her　cunning；　and　presently　she　perked　up　and　told　Mrs。　Dodd　boldly　that　Edward　had　been　seeking　her；　and　was　gone　home；　she　had　better　follow　him；　or　he　would　be　anxious。　〃But　my　poor　husband！〃　objected　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃He　is　safe；〃　said　the　other；　〃I　saw　him　（ump）　with　an　attendant。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　meaning；　〃that　other　my　son　rescued　was　an　attendant；　was　he？〃

〃Yes。〃　（Ump。）

She　then　promised　to　take　David　under　her　especial　care；　and　Mrs。　Dodd　consented；　though　reluctantly；　to　go　home。

To　her　surprise　Edward　had　not　yet　arrived；　and　Julia　was　sitting　up；　very　anxious；　and　flew　at　her　with　a　gurgle；　and　kissed　her　eagerly；　and　then；　drawing　back　her　head；　searched　the　maternal　eyes　for　what　was　the　matter。　〃Ah；　you　may　well　look；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃Oh；　my　child！　what　a　night　this　has　been；〃　and　she　sank　into　a　chair；　and　held　up　her　arms。　Julia　settled　down　in　them　directly；　and　in　that　position　Mrs。　Dodd　told　all　the　night's　work；　told　it　under　a　running　accompaniment　of　sighs　and　kisses；　and　ejaculations；　and　〃dear　mammas　and　〃poor　mammas；〃　and　bursts　of　sympathy；　astonishment；　pity　and　wonder。　Thus　embellished　and　interrupted；　the　strange　tale　was　hardly　ended；　when　a　manly　step　came　up　the　stairs；　and　both　ladies　pinched　each　other；　and　were　still　as　mice；　and　in　walked　a　fireman　with　a　wet　livery；　and　a　face　smirched　with　smoke。　Julia　flew　at　him　with　a　gurgle　of　the　first　degree；　and　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　kissed　both　his　blackened　cheeks　again　and　again；　crying；　〃Oh　my　own；　my　precious；　my　sweet；　brave　darling；　kiss　me；　kiss　me；　kiss　me；　you　are　a　hero；　a　Christian　hero；　that　saves　life；　not　takes　it〃　Mrs。　Dodd　checked　her　impetuous　career　by　asking　piteously　if　his　mother　was　not　to　have　him。　On　this；　Julia　drew　him　along　by　the　hand；　and　sank　with　him　at　Mrs。　Dodd's　knees；　and　she　held　him　at　arm's　length　and　gazed　at　him；　and　then　drew　him　close　and　enfolded　him；　and　thanked　God　for　him；　and　then　they　both　embraced　him　at　once；　and　interwove　him　Heaven　knows　how；　and　poured　the　wealth　of　their　womanly　hearts　out　on　him　in　a　torrent；　and　nearly　made　him　snivel。　But　presently　something　in　his　face　struck　Mrs。　Dodd　accustomed　to　read　her　children。　〃Is　there　anything　the　matter；　love？〃　she　inquired　anxiously。　He　looked　down　and　said；　〃I　am　dead　sleepy；　mamma；　for　one　thing。〃

〃Of　course　he　is；　poor　child；〃　said　Julia；　doing　the　submaternal；　〃wait　till　I　see　everything　is　comfortable；〃　and　she　flew　off；　turned　suddenly　at　the　door　with　〃Oh；　you　darling！〃　and　up　to　his　bedroom　and　put　more　coals　on　his　fire；　and　took　a　swift　housewifely　look　all　round。

Mrs。　Dodd　seized　the　opportunity。　〃Edward；　there　is　something　amiss。〃

〃And　no　mistake；〃　said　he　drily。　〃But　I　thought　if　I　told　you　before　her　you　might　scold　me。〃

〃Scold　you；　love？　Never。　Hush！　I'll　come　to　your　room　by…and…by。〃

Soon　after　this　they　all　bade　each　other　good　night；　and　presently　Mrs。　Dodd　came　and　tapped　softly　at　her　son's　door；　and　found　him　with　his　vest　and　coat　off；　and　his　helmet　standing　on　the　table　reflecting　a　red　coal；　he　was　seated　by　the　fire　in　a　brown　study；　smoking。　He　apologised；　and　offered　to　throw　the　weed　away。　〃No；　no；〃　said　she；　suppressing　a　cough；　〃not　if　it　does　you　good。〃

〃Well；　mother；　when　you　are　in　a　fix；　smoke　is　a　soother；　you　know；　and　I'm　in　a　regular　fix。〃

〃A　fix；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Dodd　resignedly；　and　waited　patiently　all　ears。

〃Mamma；〃　said　the　fire…warrior；　becoming　speculative　under　the　dreamy　influence　of　the　weed；　〃I　wonder　whether　such　a　muddle　ever　was　before。　When　a　man　is　fighting　with　fire；　what　with　the　heat　and　what　with　the　excitement；　his　pulse　is　at　a　hundred　and　sixty；　and　his　brain　all　in　a　whirl；　and　he　scarce　knows　what　he　is　doing　till　after　it　is　done。　But　I've　been　thinking　of　it　all　since