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Updated: June 17, 2025
"Get up to the windows now; use the escape," said Mr Braidwood; and as he said this he passed through the doorway of the burning house. Some of the men rushed up the escape and let down a line, to which one of the branches was made fast. "Avast pumpin', number two!" shouted Baxmore from the midst of clouds of smoke that were bursting out from the window. Number two engine was stopped.
"Sure, my peepers is out entirely!" gasped Corney, rushing to the window for air; while showers of water fell on his head, for the engine was already in full play. Just then there was a noise outside, as if men were disputing violently. Dale guessed at once what it was, and ran down the staircase, calling out as he passed: "Here, Willders, Corney, Baxmore, lend a hand, will you?"
It turned out to be the best midcine ever was. `Musha! says I, `here's the top o' the marnin' to ye, boys! Baxmore he smacks his lips when he tastes it, opens his eyes, tosses off the glass, and holds it out for another. `Howld on; fair play! cried Jack Williams, so we all had a glass round. It was just like lemonade or ginger-beer, it was.
The wooden stair, or flight of open steps, which they had to descend first, was burnt to charcoal, and looked as if it would fall to pieces with a touch. "I hope it'll bear," said Frank to Baxmore, who went first. "Bear or not bear, we must go down," said Baxmore. He went unhesitatingly upon it, and although the steps bent ominously, there was enough of sound wood to sustain him.
At the corner of Wells Street, the crowd of cabs and other vehicles was so great that the driver of the engine began to tighten his reins, and Jim Baxmore and Joe Corney raised their voices to a fierce shout. Cabs, 'busses, and pedestrians scattered right and left in a marvellous manner; the driver slackened his reins, cracked his whip, and the horses stretched out again.
Nothing but smoke had yet reached the room into which young Auberly entered, so that he instantly found himself in impenetrable darkness, and was almost choked as well as blinded. "Have a care, Frank; the floor must be about gone by this time," said Baxmore, as he ran after his tall comrade. The man whom he called Frank knew this.
"Fasten the rope to your belt," he said. Frank obeyed without speaking and then sprang forward, while Dale himself followed, ordering Corney, Baxmore, and one or two others, to hold on to the ropes. Willie Willders also ran in, but was met by such a dense cloud of smoke that he was almost choked. Rushing back, he shouted, "Haul on the ropes!"
"Ah! only smoke, I suppose," said Dale. "That was all," said Baxmore, "but there was sitch a lot of it that some fellows thought it was a fire, an' came tearin' down here wi' the news, so we had a ride for nothing." "If I'm not mistaken you'll have a ride for something ere long," observed Dale, turning his head aside, while he listened attentively. "Hold on, lads, a minute!"
Dale sprang at this man, who was none other than the half-nautical individual already introduced to the reader by the name of Gorman, and launched a left-hander at his head; but Gorman stepped aside, and one of his comrades was felled instead. At this, the others made a rush in a body at Dale; but Frank, Corney, and Baxmore come up at the moment, and each knocked down a man.
At that moment, Baxmore, having carried young Auberly down in safety, again ascended and appeared at the window. He seized Frank by the hair of the head. "Let go my hair, and catch the girl!" shouted Frank. "All right," said Baxmore, seizing Loo and lifting her over the window sill.
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