us streams on the flames;
while, every few minutes, another and another of the land-engines came
rattling up, until all the available force of the Red Brigade was on the
spot, each man straining, like the hero of a forlorn hope, regardless of
life and limb, to conquer the terrible foe. The Brompton and Chelsea
volunteer fire-brigade, and several private engines, also came up to
lend a helping hand. But all these engines, brave hearts, and vigorous
proceedings, appeared at first of no avail, for the greedy flames shot
out their tongues, hissed through water and steam, and licked up the
rich fuel with a deep continuous roar, as if they gloated over their
unusually splendid banquet, and meant to enjoy it to the full, despite
man's utmost efforts to oppose them.

The excitement at this time was tremendous. Every available spot of
ground or building from which the most limited view of the fire could be
obtained, was crowded to excess by human beings, whose upturned faces
were lighted more or less ruddily according to their distance from the
fire.

No doubt the greater proportion of the vast multitude beheld the waste
of so much property with anxiety and regret. Doubtless, also, many
thoughtless ones were there who merely enjoyed the excitement, and
looked on it as a pyrotechnic display of unwonted splendour. But there
was yet another class of men, aye, and women, whose view of the matter
was fitted to cause anxiety in the breasts of those who talk of
"elevating the masses," and this was by far the largest class. The
greater part of them belonged to the lowest class of labourers, men
willing to work for their living, but who got little to do. Amongst
these not one expression of regret was to be heard, though the women
sometimes asked anxiously whether any one was likely to be hurt. But
let a few of these speak for themselves.

"Ah," said an old woman, with an unintellectual style of countenance,
"now there will be plenty of work for poor men."

"Yes," responded a rough, with a black eye, "that's true. My blissin',
as Paddy says, on a fire; it warms the cockles o' yer heart an' kapes
yer hands busy."

"They've much need to be kep' busy, sure enough," remarked another man,
"for mine have been pretty idle for more than a week."

"I wish," exclaimed another, with a bitter curse on mankind in general,
"that the whole Thames would go a-fire, from Westminster to Gravesend."

The energy with which this was said cause