ellin's at the
other end of the town," the old sailor replied. "Unless I'm way out of
my reckonin', you'll see more fire before there's less."

The barns of the tavern were now burning; but the wind drew in with
greater force, a draft having been formed by the flames, I suppose,
and while our refuge was as hot as it well could be, the more intense
heat was carried in the opposite direction.

"I reckon this 'ere smoke-house will stand while many a better
buildin' goes down," Darius announced. "We're gettin' the biggest part
of the heat from the stables now, an' I don't see any signs of fire on
these logs. You lads stay here with our invalid, an' I'll sneak 'round
outside a bit. There may be a chance to get somethin' in the way of
rations if the men break into more shops, as is likely."

Then the old man slipped down from his uncomfortable perch, stopped at
the door to warn Jim and Dody that they must not stray far away, and
disappeared behind the ruins of the tavern.

It gave me a certain sensation of loneliness to have Darius go at that
time. Although it was late in the day to make such a discovery, I had
come to understand of how much assistance he was to us lads, and how
helpless we would be without him; but, as a matter of course, I could
not presume to dictate as to his movements.

The one singular thing to me in this wanton work of destruction, was
the fact that not all the buildings in this portion of the city had
been given over to the flames. It seemed as if the British commander
had singled out certain dwellings to be burned, while the others were
unmolested, save in two cases where I saw soldiers bringing out
plunder which was valueless to them, and had been taken only in a
spirit of cruelty.

Perhaps an hour was spent by the enemy in our immediate vicinity, and
then that quarter of the city was deserted by all save the homeless
ones, or those who mourned over the loss of property.

The conflagration was still sufficient to light up the streets and
fields near by, therefore we could not venture out save at the risk of
being seen; but I question if any especial attention would have been
given us, except in the case of my father, had we gone boldly forth.

Had he not been with us I should have proposed that the moment was
come when we might be able to slip down the river unobserved, for who
would give heed to a party of lads when the capital city of the United
States was in flames? With my father, howev