At last, after a rapid inspection, he lit a match and surveyed critically an aperture in the side of the building.
The smoke and heat had now become well-nigh intolerable, and occasionally some timber burning in two would make the weakened structure topple and tremble.
“Oh! what shall we do?” moaned Tom, despairingly.
“Get out of this when it comes to the worst.”
“How?”
“By jumping from the window.”
“And kill ourselves by the fall!” cried Tom. “Can’t we call for help?”
“There’s no one in sight on this side of the building, and besides they couldn’t reach us from the river end. Now, listen carefully to me, Tom, for our safety depends on our own efforts.”
“What is it, Will?”
“In the corner yonder there’s an old shute leading to the river.”