His eyes rested on the iron end of a cot; and as quickly as possible he smashed the bed apart, and caught up one of the side pieces. Using this as a lever, he pried upon one of the bars of the window, and after great effort succeeded in bending it several inches. “Now try to pull in your head, Polk,” he said, and helped the young man. Even yet it was a tight squeeze, but the deed was accomplished with no further harm to the young man than a badly scratched ear. But just as Nuggy was freed there came a strong rush of wind and a cloud of smoke which enveloped both like a sheet. The fire was coming up the corridor, and had already reached the stairway by which Gilbert had ascended to the ward. “Wha--what shall we do next?” groaned Nuggy. “We are lost! Oh, Heaven help us!” And, too weak to stand longer, he sank on his knees, and then went into a heap on the floor. “Come, this won’t do!” cried Gilbert, and caught the young man by the arm. “We must get out--we simply must!” But Nuggy did not hear him, for he had fainted. Leaving the young man on the floor, Gilbert ran toward the corridor. A glance told him that escape at the further end was cut off completely. He looked at the ward opposite, a door of which stood wide open. Beyond was a window opening upon a narrow court-yard, a spot the fire had not yet touched. Gilbert ran to the window, to find a number of the bars gone. In the court-yard he saw several firemen. “Get a ladder!” he called out. “A ladder, quick! There are two of us up here!” His words were not understood by the natives, but they were understood by a German in the crowd; and he quickly translated them, and a rush was made for a bamboo ladder. In the mean time Gilbert had crawled back to where he had left Nuggy. He could scarcely breathe, and was afraid that each moment might prove his last. “Come!” he said to the young man, who had opened his eyes in a dazed way. “Be quick! It is our only chance.” “We are doomed,” moaned Nuggy. “Oh, why did I ever come to China! This comes of doing wrong. Heaven forgive me!” And again he sank back, too weak and terror-stricken to do anything for himself. The position was so full of peril Gilbert hardly knew what to do. The flames were close at hand, and in a minute more escape would be impossible. For one brief instant he thought to leave Nuggy Polk to his fate. Then he grated his teeth. “I’ll save him, anyway,” he thought grimly; and, unable to lift the limp form, he caught Nuggy by the collar, and literally dragged him over the floor and into the corridor. Here a hot blast came up, and made him stagger. The sparks, flying in all directions, burnt his neck and hands. But still he did not let go; and the next moment he was at the window of the opposite ward with Nuggy in his arms. [Illustration: “I’LL SAVE HIM ANYWAY,” HE THOUGHT.]