d. It was to see
Mayhew the two friends had come, and, lo, Mayhew had met them on the
way, himself in trouble and perplexity.

"Where did you say she was now?" Ennis heard the doctor ask, as they
rejoined him.

"She went to speak with Mrs. Stannard, but said ladies were there, so
she came back a while ago. I could hear her crying in her room before
she went the second time;" and poor Mayhew's head was drooping.

"And you wish me to see her to-night?"

"If you'd be so good, doctor. She'll soon be home. I was going over in
search of her now."

"Wait," said Ennis. "Listen!"

There was a flurry among the revellers a few rods away. Two men had run
toward the corner of the nearest barrack, looming black against the
northward sky. Others could be seen hurrying after them. Then, _could_
it be? Yes, sharp and clear came the sound of a shot from away over
toward the hospital. Another nearer; another still nearer, and distant
shouts, and then the blare of the trumpet.

"Come on! It's fire!" said Ennis, and sprang in pursuit of the leaders,
"Shoe," and Mayhew following. "It's fire!" went up the cry along the
hillside. "Fire!" echoed the nearest sentry, letting fly the load in his
rifle. "Fire!" shouted the few wakeful fellows in barracks, tumbling
instantly every man from his bunk to his boots and into his ready
clothes. "Fire!" yelled the sergeant-of-the-guard, as he tore in among
his sleeping comrades. "Fire!" echoed the cry from barrack to barrack,
as the men poured forth into the night, and then, as Ennis rounded the
corner and came in full view of the wide open parade with the long line
of quarters beyond, his heart leaped for his throat in wild dismay. "My
God, lieutenant, it's _your_ house!" panted a racing trooper. "My God,
and Bob's all alone!" sobbed Ennis, as he sped through the snow, for
already from the front dormer and from the lower windows the flames were
mounting high in the trail of a black volume of smoke, and over the
crackle and roar of the fire, the rush and clamor of men, the thrilling
alarum of echoing bugle and trumpet, there rose on the night air the
scream of a girl, imploring instant aid, and this time at least there
could be no doubt, for the cry was, "Save him! Save him!"

Of the minutes that followed no man could give collected account. All
Ennis saw as he came staggering round to the rear of the flaming furnace
that once was a house, was a wild-eyed girl being led away by a group of
sympath