ur. Bring Barry safe out of the barn. Bring
him out even if you got to bring the damned hoss with him. Bring him out
and save him for Mac Strann to meet. And, God A'mighty, let me be around
somewhere's when they meet!"

This strange exhibition Mac Strann watched with a glowering eye.

"But it ain't possible," he said positively. "I been in fires. Barry
can't live through the fire; an' if he does, the hoss will finish him.
It ain't possible for him to come out!"

From half the roof of the shed flames now poured, but presently a great
shower of sparks rose at the farther end of the barn, and then Haw-Haw
heard the sound of a beating and crashing.

"Hei!" he screamed, "Barry's reached the black hoss and the black hoss
is beating him into the floor!"

"You fool!" answered Mac Strann calmly, "Barry has got a beam or
something and he's smashing down the burning partition of the box stall.
That's what he's doing; listen!"

High over the fire, once again rose the neighing of the black horse, a
sound of unspeakable triumph.

"You're right," groaned Haw-Haw, downcast. "He's reached the hoss!"

He had hardly finished speaking when Mac Strann said: "Anyway, he'll
never get out. This end wall of the barn is fallin' in."

Indeed, the outer wall of the barn, nearest the door, was wavering in a
great section and slowly tottering in. Another moment or two it would
crash to the floor and block the way of Dan Barry, coming out, with a
flaming ruin. Next the watchers saw a struggle among the group which
watched. Three men were struggling with Buck Daniels, but presently he
wrenched his arms free, struck down two men before him with swinging
blows of his fists, and leaped into the smoke.

"He's gone nutty, like a crazy hoss with the sight of the fire," said
Mac Strann quietly.

"He ain't! He ain't!" cried Haw-Haw Langley, wild with excitement. "He's
holdin' back the burnin' wall to keep the way clear, damn him!"

Indeed, the tottering wall, not having leaned to a great angle, was now
pushed back by some power from the inside of the barn and kept erect.
Though now and again it swayed in, as though the strength which held it
was faltering under the strain.

Now the eyes of the watchers were called to the other end of the barn by
a tremendous crashing. The entire section of that part of the roof fell
in, and a shower of sparks leaped up into the heart of the sky, lighting
the distant hills and drawing them near like watchers of