Who will lend a hand ?" He did not pause for an answer, but, seizing an ax, rushed through the smoke and began to cut down the door-posts.

The whole party there assembled, numbering about fifty, rushed forward, as one man, to aid in the effort.

The attempt was a wild one.

Had Henry considered for a moment, he would have seen that, in the event of their succeeding in pulling down the blazing pile, they would in all probability smother the child in the ruins.
"The shell is in the outhouse," said Corrie, eagerly, to the giant who held him.
"Wot shell ?" inquired Bumpus.
"The shell that they blow like a horn to call the people to work with." "Ah! you're sane again," said the sailor releasing him; "go, find it, lad, and blow till yer cheeks crack." Corrie was gone long before Jo had concluded even that short remark.

In another second the harsh but loud sound of the shell rang over the hillside.