Quest drew up the rope quickly, warned by a roar of anxious voices.
The walls of the room were crumbling.

Volumes of smoke were now pouring in underneath the door, and through the yawning fissures of the wall.

Little tongues of flame were leaping out dangerously close to the spot where he must pass.

He let fall the slack of the rope and leaned from the window to watch it anxiously.

Then he commenced to descend, letting himself down hand over hand, always with one eye upon that length of rope that swung below.