ground. Their clothes were almost completely destroyed, while their
faces were grimed and scorched, still, nothing daunted, they looked
up to see if anything more could be done; they espied the old man at
one of the windows with a parcel in his arms. Quick as thought
Dalton mounted the ladder once more, going through the flames like a
salamander, and, taking the parcel from the old gentleman, tried to
induce him to descend the ladder. Poor old Wilson, however, could
not bear to leave so much that was valuable while a chance of saving
it remained, and so, rushing wildly back into the burning building,
he was soon lost to sight. A cry arose from the crowd as they saw
him disappear once more, and several hardy youths sprang up the
ladders, determined to bring him out by force, but, ere they could
enter the naming pile, a loud shriek met their ears as the floor
gave way, hurling the poor old notary into the dreadful pit of fire.
All efforts to do anything further were now unavailing, and the
firemen directed their energies to protecting the neighboring
buildings, and preventing the fire from spreading.

The young men were at first puzzled what to do with the two girls
whom they had rescued, and who were now orphans, without parents,
money, or even clothes, but some Sisters of Charity, who had
witnessed the heroic action, came forward and offered to take them
in charge. The good sisters took the children to the convent, and
provided them with both food and clothes, intending to educate them
and bring them up in the Catholic faith, but some Protestant ladies,
members of the congregation to which Mr. Wilson had belonged, having
heard of the affair, induced the clergyman to call and obtain
possession of the orphans, they undertaking to provide the cost of
their maintenance, or to find them homes in Protestant families.