Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/391

 "This crazy old hole has been waiting for this," said Hutton. "It burns like tinder. If there are any poor devils who keep there, I pity them."

"I'm one," said Northcote quietly.

"Well, I call that really bad luck," said his old schoolfellow fervently. "Upon my word, it will take the whole place."

"Job's comforter," said Northcote.

"I say though, it is a blaze! By Jove, it has got into the hotel! It will take half Fleet Street if they don't look out."

"More engines," said Northcote with satisfaction, as their hideous rattles pierced the air. "Well, they will all be wanted."

"I say, though," said his companion, with the growing excitement of his surroundings communicating itself to him, "this is going to be really awful. It has got down another story, and it is certainly in the hotel, and if they don't look out it will be in the bank."

Although half a dozen engines had arrived by this time and the supply of water was copious, the fire had spread on all sides with such alarming rapidity that the liquid sheets that were flung upon it seemed only to increase the virulence of the flames. The surrounding buildings were all more or less decrepit, while the old inn itself had not the slightest resistance to offer to the flames. The whole of its quadrangular roof, most of which lay behind, appeared, as far as the onlookers could discern, by now to be involved.

"There is something strange, fascinating, exhilarating," said Northcote with a thrill of exaltation in his voice, "in witnessing a really great fire. The