"Oswald," cried Edward to him, "let the people pass the water up to me
as fast as possible. They can do no good looking on."
Oswald set the men to work, and Edward was now supplied with water so
fast that the fire began to diminish. The window was now approachable,
and a few more buckets enabled him to put one foot into the room, and
then every moment the flames and smoke decreased.
Meanwhile it would be impossible to describe the agony of the
intendant, who would have rushed up the ladder into the flames, had he
not been held by some of the men. "My daughter! my child!--burned--
burned to death!" exclaimed he, clasping his hands.
At that moment a voice in the crowd called out, "There were four
burned at Arnwood!"
"God of Heaven!" exclaimed Mr. Heatherstone, falling down in a swoon,
in which state he was carried to a neighboring cottage.
Meanwhile the supply of water enabled Edward to put out the fire
altogether: the furniture of the room was burned, but the fire had
extended no farther; and when Edward was satisfied that there was no
more danger, he descended the ladder, and left it to others to see
that all was safe. He then called Oswald to him, and desired that he
would accompany him to the stable.
"Oh, sir," replied Oswald, "this is dreadful! and such a sweet young
lady too.
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