hard cash-第127节
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raced her steps； and made timid inquiries； but could gain no clear information。 Presently she heard galloping behind her； and the fireman's wild sharp cry of fire。 An engine drawn by two powerful brown horses came furiously； all on fire itself with red paint and polished steel gleaming in the lights； helmeted men clustered on it； and out of one of these helmets looked a face like a fighting lion's； the eyes so dilated； the countenance in such towering excitement； the figure half rising from his seat as though galloping was too slow and he wanted to fly。 It was Edward。 Mother and son caught sight of one another as the engine thundered by； and he gave her a solemn ardent look； and pointed towards the fire； by that burning look and eloquent gesture she knew it was something more than a common fire。 She trembled and could not move。 But this temporary weakness was followed by an influx of wild vigour； she forgot her forty…two years； and flew to hover round the fire as the hen round water。 Unfortunately she was too late to get any nearer than the road outside the gates； the crowd was so dense。 And； while her pale face and anxious eyes； the eyes of a wife and a mother； were bent on that awful fire； the human tide flowed swiftly up behind her； and there she was wedged in。 She was allowed her foot of ground to stand and look like the restno more。 Mere unit in that mass of panting humanity； hers was one of the thousands of upturned faces lurid in the light of the now blazing roof。 She saw with thousands the hand break the window and clutch the frame； she gasped with the crowd at that terrible and piteous sight； and her bosom panted for her fellow…creature in sore peril。 But what is this？ The mob inside utter a great roar of hope； the crowd outside strain every eye。
A gleaming helmet overtops the outer wall。 It is a fireman mounting the great elm…tree in the madhouse yard。 The crowd inside burst in a cheer。 He had a rope round his loins； his face was to the tree。 He mounted and mounted like a cat； higher； and higher； and higher； till he reached a branch about twelve feet above the window and as many distant from it laterally； the crowd cheered him lustily。 But Mrs。 Dodd； half distracted with terror； implored them not to encourage him。 〃It is my child！〃 she cried despairingly； 〃my poor reckless darling！ Come down； Edward； for your poor mother's sake； come down。〃
〃Dear heart；〃 said a woman； 〃it is the lady's son。 Poor thing！〃
〃Stand on my knee； ma'am；〃 said a coal…heaver。
〃Oh no； sir； no。 I could not look at him for the world。 I can only pray for him。 Good people； pray for us！〃 And she covered her face； and prayed and trembled and sobbed hysterically。 A few yards behind was another woman； who had arrived later； yet like her was wedged immovable。 This woman was more terror…stricken than Mrs。 Dodd； and well she might； for _she_ knew who was behind that fatal window： the woman's name was Edith Archbold。 The flames were now leaping through the roof； and surging up towards heaven in waves of fire six feet high。 Edward； scorched and half blinded； managed to fasten his rope to the bough； and； calculating the distances vertical and lateral he had to deal with； took up rope accordingly； and launched himself into the air。
The crowd drew their breath so hard it sounded like a murmur。 To their horror he missed the window； and went swinging back。
There was a cry of dismay。 But Edward had never hoped to leap into the window； he went swinging by the rope back to the main stem of the tree； gave it a fierce spang with his feet； and by this means and a powerful gesture of his herculean loins got an inch nearer the window： back again； and then the same game； and so he went swinging to and fro over a wider and wider space； and； by letting out an inch of cord each swing； his flying feet came above the window…ledge； then a little higher； then higher still； and now； oh sight strange and gloriousas this helmeted hero； with lips clenched and great eyes that stared unflinchingly at the surging flames； and gleamed supernaturally with inward and outward fire； swang to and fro on his frail support still making for the window the heads of all the hoping； fearing； admiring； panting crowd went surging and waving to and fro beneath； so did not their hearts only but their agitated bodies follow the course of his body； as it rushed to and fro faster and faster through the hot air starred with snow…flakes； and hail； of fire。 And those his fellow…men for whom the brave fireman made this supernatural effort； did they know their desperate condition？ Were they still alive？ One little hour ago Alfred sat on the bed； full of hope。 Every minute he expected to hear the Robin put a key into the door。 He was all ready； and his money in his pocket。 Alas！ his liberator came not； some screw loose again。 Presently he was conscious of a great commotion in the house。 Feet ran up and down。 Then came a smell of burning。 The elm…tree outside was illuminated。 He was glad at first； he had a spite against the place。 But soon he became alarmed； and hammered at the door and tried to force it。 Impossible。 〃Fire！〃 rang from men's voices。 Fire crackled above his head； he ran about the room like a wild creature； he sprang up at the window and dashed his hand through； but fell back。 He sprang again and got his hand on some of the lighter woodwork； he drew himself up nearly to the window； and then the wood gave way and he fell to the ground； and striking the back of his head； nearly stunned himself； the flames roared fearfully now； and at this David； who had hitherto sat unconcerned； started up； and in a stentorian voice issued order upon order to furl every rag of sail and bring the ship to the wind。 He thought it was a tempest。 〃Oh hush！ hush！〃 cried Alfred in vain。。 A beam fell from the roof to the floor； precursor of the rest。 On this David thought the ship was ashore； and shouted a fresh set of orders proper to the occasion； so terribly alike are the angry voices of the sister…elements。 But Alfred implored him； and got him to kneel down with him； and held his hand； and prayed。
And； even while they kneeled and Alfred prayed； Death and Life met and fought for them。 Under the door； tight as it was； and through the keyhole； struggled a hot stifling smoke； merciful destroyer running before fire； and the shadow of a gigantic figure began to flicker in from the outside； and to come and go upon the wall。 Alfred did not know what that was； but it gave him a vague hope： he prayed aloud as men pray only for their bodies。 （The crowd heard him and hushed itself breathless。）
The smoke penetrated faster； blinding and stifling； the giant shadow came and went。 But now the greater part of the roof fell in with an awful report； the blazing timbers thundered down to the basement with endless clatter of red…hot tiles； the walls quivered； and the building belched skyward a thousand jets of fire like a bouquet of rockets： and then a cloud of smoke。 Alfred gave up all hope； and prepared to die。 Crash！ as if discharged from a cannon； came bursting through the window； with the roar of an applauding multitude 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
