As he
raised the body, the fire, which had been smothered from want of air
when all the windows and doors were closed, now burst out, and he was
scorched before he could get on the ladder again, with the body in his
arms; but he succeeded in getting it down safe. Perceiving that the
clothes were on fire, he held them till they were extinguished, and
then for the first time discovered that he had brought down the
daughter of the intendant of the forest. There was no time to be lost,
so Edward carried her into the stable and left her there, still
insensible, upon the straw, in a spare stall, while he hastened to
alarm the house. The watering-butt for the horses was outside the
stable; Edward caught up the pail, filled it, and hastening up the
ladder, threw it into the room, and then descended for more.
By this time Edward's continual calls of "Fire! fire!" had aroused the
people of the house, and also of the cottages adjacent. Mr.
Heatherstone came out half dressed, and with horror on his
countenance. Phoebe followed screaming, and the other people now
hastened from the cottages.
"Save her! my daughter is in the room!" exclaimed Mr. Heatherstone.
"Oh, save her, or let me do so!" cried the poor man, in agony; but the
fire burst out of the window in such force, that any attempt would
have been in vain.
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