“Ay,” said the big man who held me, “he is a brave lad, and no mistake.”

“And now,” said master, “when you have got your breath, James, we’ll get out of this place as quickly as we can,” and we were moving toward the entry, when from the marketplace there came a sound of galloping feet and loud rumbling wheels.

“ ’Tis the fire-engine! the fire-engine!” shouted two or three voices, “stand back, make way!” and clattering and thundering over the stones two horses dashed into the yard with a heavy engine behind them. The firemen leaped to the ground; there was no need to ask where the fire was⁠—it was rolling up in a great blaze from the roof.