a
gorgeous bawl, which resembled the expression of a calf's deepest
terror. As Johnson, bearing him, reeled into the smoke of the hall, he
flung his arms about his neck and buried his face in the blanket. He
called twice in muffled tones: "Mam-ma! Mam-ma!" When Johnson came to
the top of the stairs with his burden, he took a quick step backward.
Through the smoke that rolled to him he could see that the lower hall
was all ablaze. He cried out then in a howl that resembled Jimmie's
former achievement. His legs gained a frightful faculty of bending
sideways. Swinging about precariously on these reedy legs, he made his
way back slowly, back along the upper hall. From the way of him then,
he had given up almost all idea of escaping from the burning house,
and with it the desire. He was submitting, submitting because of his
fathers, bending his mind in a most perfect slavery to this
conflagration.

He now clutched Jimmie as unconsciously as when, running toward the
house, he had clutched the hat with the bright silk band.

Suddenly he remembered a little private staircase which led from a
bedroom to an apartment which the doctor had fitted up as a laboratory
and work-house, where he used some of his leisure, and also hours when
he might have been sleeping, in devoting himself to experiments which
came in the way of his study and interest.

When Johnson recalled this stairway the submission to the blaze
departed instantly. He had been perfectly familiar with it, but his
confusion had destroyed the memory of it.

In his sudden momentary apathy there had been little that resembled
fear, but now, as a way of safety came to him, the old frantic terror
caught him. He was no longer creature to the flames, and he was afraid
of the battle with them. It was a singular and swift set of
alternations in which he feared twice without submission, and
submitted once without fear.

"Jimmie!" he wailed, as he staggered on his way. He wished this little
inanimate body at his breast to participate in his tremblings. But the
child had lain limp and still during these headlong charges and
countercharges, and no sign came from him.

Johnson passed through two rooms and came to the head of the stairs.
As he opened the door great billows of smoke poured out, but gripping
Jimmie closer, he plunged down through them. All manner of odors
assailed him during this flight. They seemed to be alive with envy,
hatred, and malice. At the entrance to t