''We shouted for help; we shrieked, till our voices were hoarse. The floor under our feet had now kindled to flame, and it was with difficulty we could prevent our clothes being entirely consumed.' ''Come, Ludovico,' said Petro, 'we can live here but a few minutes longer; let us make one more trial.' ''I can do no more; I shall die!' exclaimed I, sinking to the floor in the apathy of despair. I was suffering the most exquisite torture from my burns; and to relieve me of my insupportable agony, I attempted to hasten my death by strangulation. My brother, who was less burnt, still struggled at the door. He turned and saw me stretched out in this situation. ''Fool, fool!' he exclaimed, with angry energy; 'are you so willing to die? Up! up! and assist me!' 'I arose. The room was now filled with flame. I could not for a moment endure it. I flung myself again against the door in desperation, and sank down breathless and exhausted. It was now my brother's turn to be desperate; and for a moment, I forgot my pain in witnessing his agonies. He shrieked for aid, and cursed his hapless fate; and falling upon his knees, he invoked alternately the powers of heaven and hell, weeping and sobbing like a child. 'We once more arose, and resolved to make a final attempt to save our lives. ''Here, Ludovico,' said Petro, 'we can get out of that trap-door overhead. Why did we not think of it before?' ''There is a box on the other side,' said I, 'but I have not strength to get it.' 'Petro rushed across the room, through the blaze, and bounded back with a box which, on a less exciting occasion, he could not have moved. ''You have burnt your face Petro, terribly,' said I. ''Curse the face! What care I for a scar! It will be better for a disguise, should we be in danger of detection. Jump on to the box, and support me!' ''It is vain, Petro; I have scarcely strength to stand.' 'Nevertheless, we exerted ourselves to the utmost, but after almost superhuman efforts, we dropped again to the floor. ''We must die, Petro!' I exclaimed, in hopeless resignation; 'yet it is hard to die, while there may still be a possibility of escape.' 'But my brother's courage revived, and we made one more concentrated effort upon the door, and shook it a little. We strained harder; it seemed to yield; yet harder; it was illusion! The door was firmer than ever. ''Hell-fire! exclaimed Petro, in frenzy, 'I will balk these infernal flames yet!' 'Saying this, he darted to the front window, but as rapidly rushed back, scorched and miserably burned on his face and hands, and with his hair and clothes on fire.