se.
"Look, the whole wood is now on fire, close down to the clearing. The
house must be burnt, and we shall save nothing."

"It is the will of God, my dear wife; and if we are to be deprived of
what little wealth we have, we must not murmur, but submit with
resignation. Let us thank Heaven that our lives are preserved."

Another pause ensued; at last the silence was broken by Emma.

"There is the cow-house on fire--I see the flames bursting from the
roof."

Mrs Campbell, whose hand was on that of her husband, squeezed it in
silence. It was the commencement of the destruction of their whole
property--all their labours and efforts had been thrown away. The
winter was coming on, and they would be houseless--what would become of
them!

All this passed in her mind, but she did not speak.

At this moment the flames of the fire rose up straight to the sky.
Martin perceived it, and jumped up on his feet.

"There is a lull in the wind," said Alfred.

"Yes," replied Martin, and continued holding up his hand, "I felt a drop
of rain. Yes, it's coming; another quarter of an hour and we may be
safe."

Martin was correct in his observation; the wind had lulled for a moment,
and he had felt the drops of rain. This pause continued for about three
or four minutes, during which the cow-house burnt furiously, but the
ashes and sparks were no longer hurled down on the prairie; then
suddenly the wind shifted to the south-east, with such torrents of rain
as almost to blind them. So violent was the gust, that even the punt
careened to it; but Alfred pulled its head round smartly, and put it
before the wind. The gale was now equally strong from the quarter to
which it had changed; the lake became agitated and covered with white
foam, and before the punt reached the shore again, which it did in a few
minutes, the water washed over its two sides, and they were in danger of
swamping. Alfred directed them all to sit still, and raising the blades
of the oars up into the air, the punt was dashed furiously through the
waves, till it grounded on the beach.

Martin and Alfred jumped out into the water and hauled the punt further
before they disembarked; the rain still poured down in torrents, and
they were wet to the skin; as they landed, they were met by Malachi and
John.

"It's all over, and all is safe!" exclaimed Malachi. "It was touch and
go, that's sartain; but all's safe, except the cow-house, and that's
easily put to rig