Even upon the bridge the heat could plainly be felt.

The workers who were called within doors to be refreshed by food and drink were almost too anxious to eat.

Never had such a fire been seen before.
Whilst the Master Builder and his friend were snatching a hasty meal, Reuben came hurrying back with a smoke-blackened face.

He too showed signs of grave anxiety.
"Well, lad, hast thou seen the Lord Mayor ?" was the eager question.
"Ay, verily, I have seen him," answered Reuben, with a bent brow, and a look of severity on his young face, "but I might as well have spoken to Fido there for all the good I did." "Why, how so ?" asked his father quickly and sternly; "is the man lost to all sense of his duties?
Where was he?
what said he?
Come sit thee down, lad, and eat thy fill, and tell us all the tale." Reuben was hungry enough, and his wife hung over him supplying his needs; but he was thinking more of the perils of his fellow citizens, and of the supine conduct of the Mayor, than of anything else.
"I found the worshipful fellow in bed," he answered.

"Other messengers had arrived with the news, but his servant had not ventured to disturb him.