"Don't leave me! I can't move, Toney! the fire—look!"
"No, no, don't look." A ringing cheer, and a man was on the sill, having run up a ladder whilst the shoot was placed in position close to the window.
"Quick," he said, "not a moment to waste—one at a time." Toney did not hesitate, never thought of hesitating, as she dragged her aunt up to the sill. Her powerlessness had returned. The long shoot was there, it would have been so easy for Toney to step into it, but Aunt Dove was utterly unnerved—no one but Toney could rouse her.
"Help her, so—Aunt Dove, you are saved, it is not difficult; you slide down. Get in—you must—think of Uncle Evas." Lady Dove had clutched Toney so tightly that she could not, or would not, leave go. The fireman had to wrench her hand away by main force, and precious minutes were lost!
For God's sake—quick! It was certainly a very undignified retreat, but it was done; Lady Dove was saved!
But Toney, what of Toney? was there time? A great flare of light seemed suddenly visible behind her. The fireman had disappeared, and Toney could not linger another minute. She jumped on the sill and stood for a few seconds clinging to the sash above. Then she saw there was but one chance for her; she must let herself drop on to a kind of parapet below, and then clutch the iron rod that was now at her feet—if she did not miss it! In the lurid light she was seen by everybody—there was a breathless moment, then she let go—and without once hesitating clutched and retained the rod. A roar of admiration and horror mingled together was heard; then suddenly, like a lightning flash, another form had run up the ladder, and though it was not in right position Jim stretched out both arms and supported her, in what was an untenable position—because—Toney's sleeve had caught fire.
"Miss Tonia, hold on one minute. Now"—with one hand he held her, with the other he crushed the fire out, then—but for Jim there would have been no then, Toney could not have held on—the next instant the shoot was moved and again placed in position for Toney, and Jim straining forward helped her to get in—alone she could not have done it.
"Miss Tonia, Miss Tonia—thank God, it's all right." Then Toney heard a great shout, a shout that permeated everywhere, and she felt herself sliding down, down, always down; but the truth was that for the first time in her life Toney had fainted, and when she came to herself she was in the big barn where the grand supper had been served, and which was situated on the side where the fire was not.
"Aunt Dove—and everybody?" she gasped. It was Maud who was beside her, and Dr. Latham was cutting off her sleeve and wrapping up her left arm in cotton wool after having soaked it in oil.
"Oh! Toney, Toney, all are saved; you did it; is the pain very bad?"