"Little missy, I done feared yo'd went up in de flames," cried Gustus,
and added, "but I had dat dar grain of mustard seed dat made me b'lieve
de Lo'd would somehow save yo'."

"Somehow, even when I'm awfully scared, I don't think I'm going to be
killed," said Beth.

"I jes' reckon yo' has dat grain of mustard seed I'se tellin' 'bout."

"I reckon it's a good thing to have, Gustus," put in Harvey. "But
instead of letting the mustard seed do everything by itself, I believe
we'd better rouse the servants. Unless care is taken their quarters
and the barn may burn."

[Illustration: The darkies' quarters.]

This proved a happy suggestion; for while these buildings were far
distant from the house, it was found the sparks had already set the
barn afire. However, the servants managed to put the fire out.

The glare from the fire illuminated the sky, and attracted the
attention of the Davenports and the Gordons returning in a merry mood
from the party.

"It looks like a house burning," said Mrs. Davenport. "Supposing it
were ours," she added forebodingly.

Mr. Davenport had experienced a like fear for some moments, but had
refrained from letting any of the party know. They had remarked that
he was driving the spirited span to their full speed, but supposed he
was hurrying because of the lateness of the hour.

"It is a fire," cried Mrs. Gordon. "Our daughters--God keep them."

Moments seemed hours to the anxious parents. As dread became
certainty, they felt as if the horses were almost standing still,
whereas they were going as fast over the hard shell road as was
possible. Ambulance or fire horses could not have passed the ones Mr.
Davenport drove, urged both by his voice and by the whip.

"Beth--Julia," cried two mothers the same second, as they rushed from
the carriage and gathered two blanketed figures to their hearts. Tears
of relief and thankfulness flowed thick and fast.

"It's terrible that our lovely home is gone," cried Beth.

"In evil there is good. You are safe, my darling," her mother murmured.

The fathers felt no less keenly the escape of their beloved children,
but expressed themselves less emotionally. Marian could get hardly any
one to notice her, but finally managed to say so as to be heard:

"I don't think they ought to be standing around with bare feet, and
blankets wrapped around them."

"You must all come home with us," cried Mrs. Gordon. "I will not
accept a refusal. We have