is departure, and both houses settled to rest
for the night.

It might have been two or three o'clock in the morning, none could
say exactly how time went on that memorable day, when the Master
Builder was awakened by sounds in the adjoining chamber, where
Reuben and his wife slept; and before he was fully awake, he heard
Gertrude's voice at his door crying out:

"O father, father! there is such a dreadful fire! Reuben is going
out to see where it is. Methinks it must be very nigh at hand.
Prithee go with him, and see that he comes to no hurt!"

The Master Builder was awake in an instant, and although it was an
hour at which the room should be dark, he found it quite
sufficiently light to dress without trouble, owing to the red glare
of fire somewhere in the neighbourhood.

"Pray Heaven it be not very near us!" was the cry of his heart as
he hurried into his clothes, remembering his own auguries of a
short time back respecting the spread of fire, if once it got a
hold upon a street or building.

He was dressed in a moment, and had joined Reuben as the latter was
feeling his way to the fastenings of the door. Two of the shopmen,
who slept below, were already aroused and wishful to join them; and
as they emerged into the street, which was quite light with the
palpitating glow of fire, the door of the Harmers' house opened to
admit the exit of the master of the house and his son Joseph.

"Thou hast seen it also! I fear me it is very nigh at hand. I had a
good look from my topmost window, and methought it must surely be
in Long Lane or in Pudding Lane; certainly it is in one of the
narrow thoroughfares turning off northward from Thames Street. It
must have been burning for some while. It seems to have taken firm
hold. Belike the poor creatures there are all too terrified to do
aught to check the spread of the flames. We must see what can be
done. It will not do to let the flames get a hold. This strong dry
wind will spread them west and north with terrible speed, if
something be not done to check them!"

James Harmer spoke with the air of a man who is used to offices of
authority. He had exercised one so long during the crisis of the
plague, that the habit of thinking for his fellow citizens still
clung to him. It appeared to him to be his bounden duty to do what
he could to save life and property; and all the time he spoke he
was hastening along the bridge in the direction of the smoke clouds
and flames.

The M