of his mirth he began to cough with a dry, harsh sound
like the rending of wood. He pushed his chair back from the table,
and bent himself double, seeming to grope upon the floor. It was
the most terrible paroxysm that Sylvia had ever witnessed, and she
thought it would never end.

Several times he tried to straighten himself, but each effort
seemed to renew the anguish that tore him, and in the end he
subsided limply against Burke who supported him till at last the
convulsive choking ceased.

He was completely exhausted by that time and offered no
remonstrance when Burke and Kelly between them bore him to the
former's room and laid him on the bed he had occupied for so long.
Burke administered brandy again; there was no help for it. And
then at Guy's whispered request he left him for a space to recover.

He drew Sylvia out of the room, and Kelly followed. "I'll go back
to him later, and help him undress," he said. "But he will
probably get on better alone for the present."

"What has been happening?" Sylvia asked him. "Tell me what has
been happening!"

A fevered desire to know everything was upon her. She felt she
must know.

Burke looked at her as if something in her eagerness struck him as
unusual. But he made no comment upon it. He merely with his
customary brevity proceeded to enlighten her.

"We went to Vreiboom's, and had a pretty hot time. Kieff was there
too, by the way. The fire got a strong hold, and if the wind, had
held, we should probably have been driven out of it, and our own
land would have gone too. As it was," he paused momentarily,
"well, we have Guy to thank that it didn't."

"Guy!" said Sylvia quickly.

"Yes. He worked like a nigger--better. He's been among hot ashes
and that infernal sand for hours. I couldn't get him out. He did
the impossible." A curious tremor sounded in Burke's voice--"The
impossible!" he said again.

"Sure, I always said there was grit in the boy," said Kelly.
"You'll be making a man of him yet, Burke. You'll have to have a
good try after this."

Burke was silent. His eyes, bloodshot but keen, were upon Sylvia's
face.

It was some moments before with an effort she lifted her own to
meet them. "So Guy is a hero!" she said, with a faint uncertain
smile. "I'm glad of that."

"Let's drink to him," said Kelly, "now he isn't here to see!
Burke, fill up! Mrs. Ranger!"

"No--no!" Sylvia said. "I am going to get the tea."

Yet she paused