as we turned, after finishing a long furrow, we
confronted the gentleman, tree and all, standing before us in a weak and
fainting condition. He had struggled until he had uprooted the whole
business, and was so used up in consequence, that he could hardly
stagger, much less go into his usual hysterics over Nell. She looked as
amazed as we did, and I've no doubt gave him a sound curtain lecture on
his folly that night.

"One day father and Ned took Prince down into the field. Steve and I
stayed up near the house, working around the vineyard. Nelly was in the
stable.

"The morning was half gone, when all at once Steve happened to turn
around, and look down the hill.

"'Gosh, Jack!' he exclaimed, 'the barn's afire.'

"I gave one startled look, and then ran for the hose.

"'Get Nelly out!' I cried to Steve; but after a second look, I called,
'No, don't you do it! Let her go! it's too late!'

"'I won't let her go!' he shouted; 'do you think I'll stand by and see
Nelly burned to death!'

"'You'd be a fool to go in now! Look at that stable! Here! Stand back!
Have you lost your wits?'

"'Let me go!' he cried; 'Jack, get out of the way!'

"But I threw him down and held him. I was bigger than he; older, and
cooler-headed too.

"'There, I give in,' he said in a moment; 'it's wicked to lose time this
way. Let me up, Jack, and we'll get the hose. I promise you I won't go
in.'

"We ran for the hose, and turned on all the water we could command, and
by this time mother and the servant girl had come from the house, and
were helping us.

"We could hear Nelly struggling in her stall, and I tell you it made us
sick! Unluckily we had chained her, in anticipation of her trying to get
loose, and go after Prince. She'd never been left at home this way
before, and we'd taken extra pains to secure her.

"The stable doors were fastened by a heavy bolt; again and again I tried
to push it back, but it was so fiery hot I couldn't touch it, and when I
tried to hammer it, the flames drove me off.

"There was nothing for it but to leave poor Nelly to her fate. It seemed
as if she divined our intent, for, as we turned away, she uttered a
piercing scream. Mother burst into tears.

"'I can't stand it,' she said, covering her ears.

"Again and again Nelly's voice rang out. Steve stood there, his face
drawn and white. All at once he took out his watch.

"'It's twelve o'clock!' he cried; 'father'll be home in a moment, and
if Prince