In the house Professor Porter and Mr. Philander were immersed
in an absorbing discussion of some weighty scientific problem.
Esmeralda dozed in the kitchen, and Clayton, heavy-eyed after
a sleepless night, threw himself down upon the couch in the
living room and soon dropped into a fitful slumber.
To the east the black smoke clouds rose higher into the
heavens, suddenly they eddied, and then commenced to drift
rapidly toward the west.
On and on they came. The inmates of the tenant house
were gone, for it was market day, and none was there to
see the rapid approach of the fiery demon.
Soon the flames had spanned the road to the south and cut
off Canler's return. A little fluctuation of the wind now
carried the path of the forest fire to the north, then blew back
and the flames nearly stood still as though held in leash by
some master hand.
Suddenly, out of the northeast, a great black car came
careening down the road.
With a jolt it stopped before the cottage, and a black-haired
giant leaped out to run up onto the porch. Without a
pause he rushed into the house. On the couch lay Clayton.
The man started in surprise, but with a bound was at the side
of the sleeping man.
Shaking him roughly by the shoulder, he cried:
"My God, Clayton, are you all mad here? Don't you know
you are nearly surrounded by fire? Where is Miss Porter?"
Clayton sprang to his feet.
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