ntil she
received involuntary aid from the firemen. In turning their second
stream to play ineffectually upon the lower strata of flame, they
accidentally deflected it toward the crowd, who separated wildly,
leaving a big gap, of which Miss Betty took instant advantage. She
darted across, and the next moment, unnoticed, had entered the building
through the door which Crailey Gray had opened.

The five young men on the roof were well aware that there was little to
do but to wait, and soon they would see which was to win, they or the
fire; so they shifted their line of hose to the eastern front of the
building--out of harm's way, for a little time, at least--and held the
muzzle steady, watching its work. And in truth it was not long before
they understood which would conquer. The southern and western portions
of the building had flung out great flames that fluttered and flared
on the breeze like Titanic flags; and steadily, slowly, at first, then
faster as the seconds flew, the five were driven backward, up the low
slope of the roof toward the gable-ridge. Tom Vanrevel held the first
joint of the nozzle, and he retreated with a sulky face, lifting his
foot grudgingly at each step. They were all silent, now, and no one
spoke until Will Cummings faltered:

"Surely they'll get a rope up to us some way?"

Will knew as well as did the others that there was no way; but his
speech struck the sullen heart of the chief with remorse. He turned. "I
hope you'll all forgive me for getting you up here."

A sound, half sob, half giggle, came from the parched lips of Eugene
Madrillon, as he patted Tom on the shoulder without speaking, and
Crailey nodded quietly, then left the group and went to the eastern edge
of the roof and looked out upon the crowd. Cummings dropped the line
and sat down, burying his hot face in his arms, for they all saw that
Vanrevel thought "it was no use," but a question of a few minutes, and
they would retreat across the gable and either jump or go down with the
roof.

Since the world began, idle and industrious philosophers have speculated
much upon the thoughts of men about to die; yet it cannot be too
ingenuous to believe that such thoughts vary as the men, their
characters, and conditions of life vary. Nevertheless, pursuant with
the traditions of minstrelsy and romance, it is conceivable that young,
unmarried men, called upon to face desperate situations, might, at the
crucial moment, rush to a common