162 DANGER. 



and his other friends, taking hold of 

 his arm, implored him not to rush into 

 such imminent peril. He shook us off, 

 and, followed by the soldier, he was 

 seen to enter the house by the private 

 door, and heard ascending the stair- 

 case. A breathless silence pervaded the 

 crowd, which now amounted to between 

 two and three thousand. Those who were 

 at work at the engines stopped, and stood 

 in the attitude of fearful expectation 

 all waiting the result with the most in- 

 tense anxiety. Those who anticipated 

 the explosion held their breath with 

 fear, while some few whispered a 

 prayer for the safety of the two who had 

 so hopelessly rushed into danger. As for 

 me, I looked round to the house we had 

 just left, where dwelt his wife and two 

 sweet children, and could think of no- 

 thing but the mournful fate that awaited 

 them; when suddenly, after a fearful 

 absence, a loud hurrah announced that 



