The Girl from Hong-Kong: A Story of Adventure Under Five Suns — page 290: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

284 THE GIRL FROM HONG-KONG. so thoroughly- upon the field of battle as when at -the risk of his life he aided the escape of those helpless high- ‘born dames from the sea of flames. Terry is soon among those who are inside the. police lines. He is a witness to many a ghastly spectacle as burden after burden is borne out and over to the half dismantled Palais de I’Industrie. Night has fallen, but Paris forgets to dine. Never since the memorable September 4, 1870, has ' such a crowd been seen—it even exceeds that of the Place | de la Concorde in intensity of emotion, surrounding the quarters where the bodies are being placed-in long rows next the Avenue Danton. At a late hour the scene here is extremely weird—a Dante. could only have done it justice. Light is wanting, so policemen parade_with torches that spread the smoke and smell of rosin, giving the interior the appearance of a huge cavern. _ In the centre is a caldron of pitch ablaze, hung like a gypsy kettle. From time to time a link-bearer dips his torch into the caldron, making it smoke with renewed energy. Ghostly figures are moving around among the poor burned bodies, and sobs and cries from those who find a beloved form are echoed by the shrieks and male- dictions of the throng outside, unable to force an entrance and almost.crazed with suspense. Reporters are there, of course, taking notes. In the centre of the floor is a pile of coffins. As fast as the visitors, moving from form to form with lighted candles, identify one of the bodies, it is placed in the box and taken away. There will be enough to later on, God knows! Terry can render no aid—willing hands there are in plenty, for at such a time men forget rank and station and only remember that they are human, with a capacity © for suffering and sympathy. | The solemn, muffled bells will soon toll in every part of Paris—prayers arise from churches in the name of those upon whom the summons has so suddenly fallen while in the midst of a charitable work; for the city on comicbooks.com