He let himself slide down the rear slope, and,
holding by the end of the chimney brickwork, looked into the
yards. At the same instant a face appeared to him--that of a man
who was trying to obtain a glimpse of this roof from that of the
next house by thrusting out his head beyond the block of
chimneys.
'Hollo!' cried the stranger. 'What are you doing there?'
'Trying to escape, of course. Help me to get on to your roof.'
'By God! I expected to see the fire coming through already. Are
you the-- as upset his lamp an' fired the bloomin' 'ouse?'
'Not I! He's lying drunk on the stairs; dead by this time.'
'By God! I wouldn't have helped you if you'd been him. How are
you coming round? Blest if I see! You'll break your bloomin' neck
if you try this corner. You'll have to come over the chimneys;
wait till I get a ladder.'
'And a rope,' shouted Biffen.
The man disappeared for five minutes. To Biffen it seemed half an
hour; he felt, or imagined he felt, the slates getting hot
beneath him, and the smoke was again catching his breath. But at
length there was a shout from the top of the chimney-stack.
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