hs, and had
then died of a broken heart. But nobody had cared to live in the
house since. It was averred that it was haunted by the restless
spirit of the poor man, and strange noises were said to issue from
it at night. Others declared that the ghost of the wife was seen
flitting past the windows, and that she always carried a sick
moaning child in her arms. So ill a name had the house got by
reason of these many stories that none would take it, and there was
therefore none to interfere when, with a loud report and showers of
dust and sparks, the whole place and the workshop at the side were
blown up at the command of the Master Builder, and reduced to a
pile of ruins.

In spite of all the excitement and fear caused by the spreading
fire, the neighbours looked upon the Master Builder as an
enthusiast and a madman, and upon James Harmer as a poor dupe, to
allow such destruction of property. No sooner were both sets of
buildings destroyed than men were set to work with buckets and
chains to drench the dusty heaps of the ruins with water, nor would
the Master Builder permit the workers to slacken their efforts
until the whole mass of demolished ruin was reduced to the
condition of a soppy pulp.

By this time the day had broken; but the sun was partially obscured
by the thick pall of smoke which hung in the air, whilst the
ceaseless roar of the flames was becoming terrible in its monotony.
Backwards and forwards ran excited men and boys, always bringing
fresh reports as to the alarming spread of the fire. Even upon the
bridge the heat could plainly be felt. The workers who were called
within doors to be refreshed by food and drink were almost too
anxious to eat. Never had such a fire been seen before.

Whilst the Master Builder and his friend were snatching a hasty
meal, Reuben came hurrying back with a smoke-blackened face. He too
showed signs of grave anxiety.

"Well, lad, hast thou seen the Lord Mayor?" was the eager question.

"Ay, verily, I have seen him," answered Reuben, with a bent brow,
and a look of severity on his young face, "but I might as well have
spoken to Fido there for all the good I did."

"Why, how so?" asked his father quickly and sternly; "is the man
lost to all sense of his duties? Where was he? what said he? Come
sit thee down, lad, and eat thy fill, and tell us all the tale."

Reuben was hungry enough, and his wife hung over him supplying his
needs; but he was thinking more of the perils