"He was trying to get Lew Veazie down the stairs when he fell.

Veazie had been drinking a little, and couldn't help himself." "And where is Veazie ?" "He is down on the street somewhere." "And you ran away and left Ready, after he had injured himself while trying to aid you!" Paulding dropped his head.
"The fire was right on us, and we----" "Where did he fall ?" "On the center stairway leading from the third story," said Paulding, shivering under Merry's rebuke.
"Fellows, I am going up there after Jack Ready," said Frank calmly.
"You'll go at the risk of your life!" shouted Browning.
But Frank was already half-way across the street.

The fire had spread with astonishing rapidity.

Some combustible material in the second story had exploded with great force, and this had seemed to scatter the fire.
The entire second story was on fire now, as well as the one above it.
Frank vanished in the crowd, which was retreating through fear that the walls were about to fall.

Other fire-engines had come up.