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Rh simply must!" But Nuggy did not hear him, for he had fainted.

Leaving the young man on the floor, Gilbert ran toward the corridor. A glance told him that escape at the further end was cut off completely. He looked at the ward opposite, a door of which stood wide open. Beyond was a window opening upon a narrow court-yard, a spot the fire had not yet touched. Gilbert ran to the window, to find a number of the bars gone. In the court-yard he saw several firemen.

"Get a ladder!" he called out. "A ladder, quick! There are two of us up here!"

His words were not understood by the natives, but they were understood by a German in the crowd; and he quickly translated them, and a rush was made for a bamboo ladder.

In the mean time Gilbert had crawled back to where he had left Nuggy. He could scarcely breathe, and was afraid that each moment might prove his last.

"Come!" he said to the young man, who had opened his eyes in a dazed way. "Be quick! It is our only chance."

"We are doomed," moaned Nuggy. "Oh, why