A groan and a scream of terror went up as it was seen that this was all too true, and already great waves of flame seemed to be rushing onwards as if driven from the mouth of some vast blasting furnace; and the Master Builder returned to his friends with a very grave face.
"Heaven send the whole city be not destroyed!" he exclaimed; "never have I seen fire like unto this fire! "Reuben, lad, make thy way with all speed to the Lord Mayor, and tell him of the peril in which we stand.

He is the man to find means to check this fearful conflagration.

Would to Heaven it were good Sir John Lawrence who were Mayor, as he was in the days of the plague! He was a man of spirit, and courage, and resource.

But I much fear me that poor Bludworth has little of any of these qualities.

Nevertheless go to him, Reuben.