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de and a mother's unheeded scream； a helmeted figure； rope in hand； and alighted erect and commanding on the floor amidst a shower of splinters and tinkling glass。 〃Up； men； for your lives；〃 roared this fire…warrior； clutching them hard； and dragged them both up to their feet by one prodigious gesture： all three faces came together and shone in the lurid light； and he knew his father and 〃the Wretch；〃 and 〃the Wretch〃 knew him。 〃Oh！〃 〃Ah！〃 passed like pistol shots； but not a word： even this strange meeting went for little； so awful was the moment； so great are Death and Fire。 Edward clawed his rope to the bed； up to the window by it； dropped his line to fireman Jackson planted express below； and in another moment was hauling up a rope ladder： this he attached； and getting on it and holding his own rope by way of banister； cried； 〃Now； men； quick； for your lives。〃 But poor David called that deserting the ship； and demurred； till Alfred assured him the captain had ordered it。 He then submitted directly； touched his forelock to Edward； whom he took for that officer； and went down the ladder； Alfred followed。
Now the moment those two figures emerged from the burning pile； Mrs。 Dodd； already half dead with terror for her son； saw and knew her husband： for all about him it was as light as day。
What terror！ what joy！ what gratitude！ what pride！ what a tempest of emotions！
But her fears were not ended： Edward； not to overweight the ladder； went dangling by his hands along the rope towards the tree。 And his mother's eyes stared fearfully from him to the other； and her heart hung trembling on her husband descending cautiously； and then on his preserver； her son； who was dangling along by the hands on that frail support。 The mob cheered him royally； but she screamed and hid her face again。 At last both her darlings were safe； and then the lusty cheers made her thrill with pride and joy； till all of a sudden they seemed to die away； and the terrible fire to go out； and the sore…tried wife and mother drooped her head and swooned away； wedged in and kept from falling by the crowd。
Inside； the mob parted and made two rushes； one at the rescued men； one at the gallant fireman。 Alfred and David were overpowered with curiosity and sympathy。 They had to shake a hundred honest hands； and others still pressing on hurried them nearly off their feet。
〃Gently； good friends； don't part us；〃 said Alfred。
〃He is the keeper；〃 said one of the crowd。
〃Yes； I'm his keeper： and I want to get him quietly away。 This excitement will do him harm else； good friends； help me out by that door。〃
〃All right；〃 was the cry； and they rushed with him to the back door。 Rooke； who was about twenty yards off saw and suspected this movement。 He fought his way and struggled after Alfred in silence。 Presently； to his surprise； Alfred unlocked the door and whipped out with David； leaving the door open。 Rooke shouted and halloaed： 〃Stop him！ he is escaping；〃 and struggled madly to the door。 Now another crowd had been waiting in the meadows； seeing the door open they rushed in and the doorway was jammed directly。 In the confusion Alfred drew David along the side of the wall； told him to stay quiet； bolted behind an outhouse； and then ran across country for the bare life。
To his horror David followed him； and with a madman's agility soon caught him。
He snorted like a spirited horse； and shouted cheerily； 〃Go ahead； messmate； I smell blue water。〃
〃Come on； then；〃 cried Alfred； half mad himself with excitement； and the pair ran furiously； and dashed through hedges and ditches； torn； bleeding； splashed； triumphant； behind them the burning madhouse； above them the spangled sky； the fresh free air of liberty blowing in their nostrils； and rushing past their ears。
Alfred's chest expanded； he laughed for joy； he sang for joy； he leaped as he went； nor did he care where he went。 David took the command； and kept snuffing the air； and shaping his course for blue water。 And so they rushed along the livelong night。
Free。
CHAPTER XLIV
A REPORT came round that the asylum was open in the rear。 A rush was made thither from the front： and this thinned the crowd considerably； so then Mrs。 Dodd was got out by the help of some humane persons； and carried into the nearest house； more dead than alive。 There she found Mrs。 Archbold in a pitiable state。 That lady had been looking on the fire； with the key in her pocket； by taking which she was like to be a murderess： her terror and remorse were distracting； and the revulsion had thrown her into violent hysterics。 Mrs。 Dodd plucked up a little strength； and characteristically enough tottered to her assistance； and called for the best remedies； and then took her hand and pressed it； and whispered soothingly that both were now safe； meaning David and Edward。 Mrs。 Archbold thought she meant Alfred and David： this new shock was as good for her as cold water： she became quieter； and presently gulped out； 〃You saw them？ You knew them （ump） all that way off？〃
〃Knew them？〃 said Mrs。 Dodd； 〃why one was my husband； and the other my son。〃 Mrs。 Archbold gave a sigh of relief。 〃Yes； madam；〃 continued Mrs。 Dodd； 〃the young fireman； who went and saved my husband； was my own son； my Edward； my hero； oh； I am a happy wife； a proud mother。〃 She could say no more for tears of joy； and while she wept deliciously； Mrs。 Archbold cried too； and so invigorated and refreshed her cunning； and presently she perked up and told Mrs。 Dodd boldly that Edward had been seeking her； and was gone home； she had better follow him； or he would be anxious。 〃But my poor husband！〃 objected Mrs。 Dodd。
〃He is safe；〃 said the other； 〃I saw him （ump） with an attendant。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd； with meaning； 〃that other my son rescued was an attendant； was he？〃
〃Yes。〃 （Ump。）
She then promised to take David under her especial care； and Mrs。 Dodd consented； though reluctantly； to go home。
To her surprise Edward had not yet arrived； and Julia was sitting up； very anxious； and flew at her with a gurgle； and kissed her eagerly； and then； drawing back her head； searched the maternal eyes for what was the matter。 〃Ah； you may well look；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd。 〃Oh； my child！ what a night this has been；〃 and she sank into a chair； and held up her arms。 Julia settled down in them directly； and in that position Mrs。 Dodd told all the night's work； told it under a running accompaniment of sighs and kisses； and ejaculations； and 〃dear mammas and 〃poor mammas；〃 and bursts of sympathy； astonishment； pity and wonder。 Thus embellished and interrupted； the strange tale was hardly ended； when a manly step came up the stairs； and both ladies pinched each other； and were still as mice； and in walked a fireman with a wet livery； and a face smirched with smoke。 Julia flew at him with a gurgle of the first degree； and threw her arms round his neck； and kissed both his blackened cheeks again and again； crying； 〃Oh my own； my precious； my sweet； brave darling； kiss me； kiss me； kiss me； you are a hero； a Christian hero； that saves life； not takes it〃 Mrs。 Dodd checked her impetuous career by asking piteously if his mother was not to have him。 On this； Julia drew him along