"You'll take care of him I know," she said to Polly as she moved away. "I'm going down to see if there is anything to be done in the village. I'm afraid several cottages must be in danger." Then as she left the room she looked back once more at her sleeping boy, saying, "I'm so glad, Polly, that I can trust you implicitly. I know you would never leave the house under any circumstances, whatever Emma may do." Polly looked at her with the brightest of smiles. She knew there was no need for words. Pat was her one thought. Arrived at the bottom of the hill Rachel found herself in the midst of an excited crowd, and was dismayed to see that the flames had not only reached Mrs. Simpson's cottage but were approaching the one next to it, belonging to Mrs. Grot. "The Rector has sent a boy off on his bicycle for the fire engines," explained a woman to Rachel in answer to her questions. "But I doubt if they'll come in time." "Is Mrs. Grot here?" "No Ma'am, she's half a mile away at the 'Three Swans' and has the key with her. Her baby is still in the cottage." Rachel was horror struck. "But somebody must save the baby," she cried. "There's time yet. Where's the Rector?" Before the woman could answer a cry rang through the crowd, and Mrs. Grot rushed in among them shrieking, "My baby! my baby!" "You just follow me," said the woman to Rachel, "and I'll find the Rector for you. It's no good that woman 'holloring' like that. It won't mend matters; the Rector is the one to help." As she pushed her way through the crowd Rachel caught sight of Luke placing a ladder against the cottage wall. "There he is Ma'am," said the woman. "He knows what to do, for the poor mite is in that front upstairs room with the small window." "Here's Mrs. Grot with the key," shouted a man near by. "Hold on, sir, for a moment, and I'll unlock the door, we may be able to get in this way." But alas it was too late. A thick cloud of smoke issued from the door and drove the man back. A groan came from the crowd. Rachel caught sight of Gwen rushing towards Luke and catching hold of his arm. "You mustn't go Luke," she cried. "You'll be killed. Think of Rachel." At that moment Rachel saw her husband was on the first step of the ladder. He was going to save the baby! Her heart gave an exultant leap, and then almost stood still. At Gwen's words Luke took a hurried glance at the crowd beneath and his eyes rested for one moment on his wife's face. Though it was deadly white there was something in its expression that nerved his steps. She was helping him, not for the first time by any means, to do what was his duty, and this time he knew it was at the risk of his life. He looked down at Gwen as he mounted, with a smile, saying: "I am thinking of Rachel. That is why I am going to save the baby." In another moment he was forcing the window out, which gave way easily, and disappeared within the room.