then the Chief of the brigade came up.

"It's of no use, sir," said Dale; "we can't save these."

"True, Dale, true," said Mr Braidwood, in a quick, but quiet tone;
"this block is doomed. Take your lads round to the nor'-east corner; we
must try to prevent it spreading."

As he surveyed the progress of the fire, with a cool, practical eye, and
hurried off to another part of the battle-field to post his men to best
advantage, little did the leader of the forces think that he was to be
the first to fall that day!

Engines were now playing on the buildings in all directions; but the
flames were so fierce that they made no visible impression on them, and
even in the efforts made to check their spreading, little success
appeared to attend them at first. Warehouse after warehouse ignited.

To make matters worse, a fresh breeze sprang up, and fanned the flames
into redoubled fury; so that they quickly caught hold of vast portions
of the premises occupied by the firm of Scovell and Company.

"There's not a chance," said Frank to Dale, while he wiped the
perspiration from his forehead, and sat down for a few seconds to
recover breath; for he had just issued from a burning building, driven
back by heat and smoke--

"There's not a chance of saving that block; all the iron doors that were
meant to keep the fire from spreading have been left open by the
workmen!"

"Chance or no chance, we must do our best," said Dale. "Come, lad, with
me; I think we may get at a door inside the next warehouse, through
which we might bring the branch to bear. Are you able?"

"All right," exclaimed Frank, leaping up, and following his leader
through the smoke.

"Have a care!" cried Frank, pausing as a tremendous explosion caused the
ground to tremble under their feet.

"It's sulphur or saltpetre," said Dale, pushing on; "there are tons upon
tons of that stuff in the cellars all round."

This was indeed the case. It was said that upwards of 2,000 tons of
saltpetre were in the vaults at the time; and several explosions had
already taken place, though fortunately, without doing injury to any
one.

Dale had already partially examined the warehouse, into which he now led
Frank; and, therefore, although it was full of smoke, he moved rapidly
along the narrow and intricate passages between the bales of goods,
until he reached an iron door.

"Here it is; we'll open this and have a look," he said, grasping the
handle and swinging the he