"No Ma'am, she's half a mile away at the 'Three Swans' and has the key with her. Her baby is still in the cottage."
Rachel was horror struck.
"But somebody must save the baby," she cried. "There's time yet. Where's the Rector?"
Before the woman could answer a cry rang through the crowd, and Mrs. Grot rushed in among them shrieking, "My baby! my baby!"
"You just follow me," said the woman to Rachel, "and I'll find the Rector for you. It's no good that woman 'holloring' like that. It won't mend matters; the Rector is the one to help." As she pushed her way through the crowd Rachel caught sight of Luke placing a ladder against the cottage wall.
"There he is Ma'am," said the woman. "He knows what to do, for the poor mite is in that front upstairs room with the small window."
"Here's Mrs. Grot with the key," shouted a man near by. "Hold on, sir, for a moment, and I'll unlock the door, we may be able to get in this way."
But alas it was too late. A thick cloud of smoke issued from the door and drove the man back. A groan came from the crowd.
Rachel caught sight of Gwen rushing towards Luke and catching hold of his arm.
"You mustn't go Luke," she cried. "You'll be killed. Think of Rachel."