"Now, what shall we do that we have got here?" she asked, as, after
walking a few steps, he came to a stop.
"Wait, and see how things are coming out," he answered. "I begin to
feel tired, so suppose we sit down and rest ourselves."
The moment this was done, both uttered an exclamation of pleasure; for
the relief from the distressing smoke was so great that it was as if
they had emerged into the open country, where there was none of it at
all.
"Why did we not think of this before?" said Nick; "we ought to have
known that smoke doesn't keep close to the ground."
The atmosphere was not clear by any means, but the change was so marked
that it appeared more than pure, and they sat several minutes gratefully
inhaling that from which it seemed they had been shut off for many
hours.
But their rejoicing was too soon; for, though it may be true that in a
burning building the surest place in which to gain enough air to support
life is close to the floor, yet there can be so much of the strangling
vapor that it will penetrate everywhere.
Less than five minutes had passed, when a volume of smoke swept over and
enveloped them, so dense that it was like the darkness of Egypt, that
could be felt, and the suffering of the brother and sister was pitiful.
"Put your face close to the water," called out Nick, as well as he could
do from coughing and strangling.
At the same moment, their fevered cheeks touched the cold, refreshing
surface, and something of relief was experienced.
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