shaken it
already, the hinges must give if the lock won't. Another run with the
beam! One, two, three--and off. It's loose! the stealthy fire darts at
us through the crevice all round it. Another, and a last rush! The
door falls in with a crash. A great hush of awe, a stillness of
breathless expectation, possesses every living soul of us. We look for
the body. The scorching heat on our faces drives us back: we see
nothing--above, below, all through the room, we see nothing but a sheet
of living fire.

"Where is he?" whispered the servant, staring vacantly at the flames.

"He's dust and ashes," said the clerk. "And the books are dust and
ashes--and oh, sirs! the church will be dust and ashes soon."

Those were the only two who spoke. When they were silent again,
nothing stirred in the stillness but the bubble and the crackle of the
flames.

Hark!

A harsh rattling sound in the distance--then the hollow beat of horses'
hoofs at full gallop--then the low roar, the all-predominant tumult of
hundreds of human voices clamouring and shouting together. The engine
at last.

The people about me all turned from the fire, and ran eagerly to the
brow of the hill. The old clerk tried to go with the rest, but his
strength was exhausted. I saw him holding by one of the tombstones.
"Save the church!" he cried out faintly, as if the firemen could hear
him already.

Save the church!

The only man who never moved was the servant. There he stood, his eyes
still fastened on the flames in a changeless, vacant stare. I spoke to
him, I shook him by the arm. He was past rousing. He only whispered
once more, "Where is he?"

In ten minutes the engine was in position, the well at the back of the
church was feeding it, and the hose was carried to the doorway of the
vestry. If help had been wanted from me I could not have afforded it
now. My energy of will was gone--my strength was exhausted--the
turmoil of my thoughts was fearfully and suddenly stilled, now I knew
that he was dead.

I stood useless and helpless--looking, looking, looking into the
burning room.

I saw the fire slowly conquered. The brightness of the glare
faded--the steam rose in white clouds, and the smouldering heaps of
embers showed red and black through it on the floor. There was a
pause--then an advance all together of the firemen and the police which
blocked up the doorway--then a consultation in low voices--and then two
men were detached fr