re drill. We may
nip the blaze in the bud."

The fire-bell was not rung, the gate was not thrown open; for as we ran
out of the office and down the stairs it was to step into a pool of
naphtha, and in a few instants we found that a quantity had been poured
in at the lower windows--to what extent we could not tell--but it was
evident that this had been done all along the basement by the scoundrels
on the raft, and that they had contrived that some should reach one of
the furnaces, with the result that in an instant the furnace-house had
leaped into a mass of roaring flame, which the brisk gale was fanning
and making the fire run along the naphtha-soaked buildings like a wave.

"Stop, stop!" roared Uncle Jack; "we can do nothing to stay this. Back
to the offices and secure all books and papers."

So swiftly was the fire borne along by the gale that we had hardly time
to reach the staircase before it came running along, licking up the
naphtha, of which a large quantity had been spilled, and as it caught
there were dozens of little explosions.

I do not think either of us gave a thought to how we were to get away
again, for the valuable books and plans had to be saved at all hazards;
so following Uncle Jack we rushed into the big office, the safe was
opened, and as rapidly as possible a couple of tin boxes were filled
with account-books, and a number of papers were bound round with string.

"You must look sharp," said Uncle Bob.

"But we must take my books, and odds and ends, and fishing-tackle," I
cried.

"Better try and save our lives," said Uncle Bob. "Are you ready?"

"No; there are some plans we must take," said Uncle Dick.

"You must leave them," shouted Uncle Bob. "There, you are too late!" he
cried, banging to the door at the end of the workshop; "the flame's
coming up the stairs."

"We can get out of the windows," said Uncle Jack coolly.

"The place beneath is all on fire," cried Uncle Bob, flinging himself on
his knees. "The floor's quite hot."

We should have been suffocated only that there was a perfect rush of
cold air through the place, but moment by moment this was becoming hot
and poisonous with the gases of combustion. The flames were rushing out
of the grinding-shop windows beneath us, and the yard on one side, the
dam on the other, were light as day.

In one glance over the fire and smoke I saw our wall covered with
workmen and boys, some watching, some dropping over into the yard.
W