“’Pends on what room they’re in, ma’am,” hastily replied the overseer, while all the others stood speechless with intense anxiety.

“Oh, they are in the front chamber there, immediately above the burning room!” cried Mrs. Middleton, wringing her hands in anguish, while those around suspended their breath in horror.

“More than a man’s life would be worth to venture, ma’am.  The ceiling of that burning room is on fire; it may fall in any minute, carrying the floor of the upper room with it!”

“Oh, Grainger! but the poor, poor lads! to perish so horribly in their early youth!”

“It’s dreadful, ma’am; but it can’t be helped!  It’s as much as certain death to any man as goes into that part of the building!”

“Grainger!  Grainger!  I cannot abandon these poor boys to their fate!  Think of their mother!  Grainger, I will give any man his freedom who will rescue those two boys!  It is said men will risk their lives for that.  Get up on the ladder where you can be seen and heard and proclaim this—­shout it forth:  ’Freedom to any slave who will save the Burghe boys!’”

The overseer climbed up the ladder, and after calling the attention of the whole mob by three loud whoops and waiting a moment until quiet was restored, he shouted: 

“Freedom to any slave who will save the Burghe boys from the burning building!”

He paused and waited a response; but the silenqe was unbroken.

“They won’t risk it, ma’am; life is sweet,” said the overseer, coming down from his post.

“I cannot give them up, Grainger!  I cannot for their poor mother’s sake!  Go up once more!  Shout forth that I offer liberty to any slave with his wife and children—­if he will save those boys!” said Mrs. Middleton.

Once more the overseer mounted his post and thundered forth the proclamation: 

“Freedom to any slave with his wife and children, who will rescue the Burghe boys!”

Again he paused for a response; and nothing but dead silence followed.

“I tell you they won’t run the risk, ma’am!  Life is sweeter than anything else in this world!” said the overseer, coming down.

“And the children will perish horribly in the fire and their mother will go raving mad; for I know I should in her place!” cried Mrs. Middleton, wildly wringing her hands, and gazing in helpless anguish upon the burning house.

“And oh! poor fellows! they are such naughty boys that they will go right from this fire to the other one!” cried Claudia Merlin, running up, burying her face in her aunt’s gown, and beginning to sob.

“Oh! oh! oh! that I should live to see such a horrible sight! to stand here and gaze at that burning building and know those boys are perishing inside and not be able to help them.  Oh! oh! oh!” And here Mrs. Middleton broke into shrieks and cries in which she was joined by all the women and children present.