on, following the last triumphal car. Here
were semi-darkness, great noise and confusion--weight, too, pressing
upon ground that long ago had been honeycombed; where the crypt of a
three-hundred-year-old church touched through an archway old priest
paths beneath a vanished temple, that in turn gave into a mixed ruin
of dungeons and cellars opening at last to day or night upon a
hillside at some distance from the place of raised benches. Now, the
crowd pressing thickly, the earth crust at one point trembled,
cracked, gave way. Scaffolding and throng came with groans and cries
into a very cavern. Those that were left above, high on narrow,
overswaying platforms, with shouts of terror pushed back from the pit
mouth, managed with accidents, injuries enough, to get to firmer
earth. Then began, among the braver sort, rescue of those who had gone
down with soil and timbers. What with the darkness and the confused
and sunken ruin, this was difficult enough.

Ian and Alexander, unhurt, clambered down the standing part and by the
light of congregated and improvised torches helped in that rescue, and
helped strongly. Many were pinned beneath wood, smothered by the
caving earth. The rent was wide and in places the ruin afire. Groans,
cries, appeals shook the hearts of the carnival crowd. All would now
have helped, but it was not possible for many. There must be strength
to descend into the pit and work there.

A beam pinned a man more than near a creeping flame. The two Scots
beat out that fire. Glenfernie heaved away the beam, Ian drew out the
man, badly hurt, moaning of wife and child. Glenfernie lifted him,
mounted with him, over heaped debris, by uncertain ledge and step,
until other arms, outstretched, could take him. Turning back, he took
from Ian a woman's form, lifted it forth. Down again, the two worked
on. Others were with them, there was made a one-minded ring, folly
forgot.

At last it seemed that all were rescued. A few men only moved now in
the hollow, peering here and there. The fire had taken headway; the
gulf, it was evident, would presently be filled with flame. The heat
beat back those at the rim. "Come out! Come out, every one!" The
rescuers began to clamber forth.

Came down a roaring pile of red-lit timbers, with smoke and sparks. It
blocked the way for Alexander and Ian. Turning, here threatened a
pillar of choking murk, red-tongued. Behind them was a gaping, narrow
archway. Involuntary recoil before tha