w and moving on the wall. I
thought of northern lights, then saw that it was on the north wall
and not on the south. I leaped to the window and peeped out a crack
and saw that there was a great fire somewhere; the snow was lit up
like day almost, and I could see black cinders floating above the
barn.

I got into such of my clothes as I had taken off and rushed to the
side window. Here the light did not come much, but I could see Kaiser
standing with his feet on the hotel windowsill and his head and
shoulders out the window. He had smashed through the glass, as he had
that day when the wolves came. Not once did he stop his terrific
barking.

I pushed up my window and seized the drawbridge. I started to put it
across, as I had done so many times before, but I was so excited and
in such a foolish fright that it slipped out of my hands and fell
between the buildings. I stood a full minute unable to move. The lower
part of the hotel window was divided into two panes, and Kaiser had
broken one of them. I could see that he had cut himself, and I was
afraid of doing likewise. But there was no other way to get out. I put
on my mittens and got out of my window, clinging to the upper sash
and standing on the outside sill. Then, with a prodigious step, I
landed on the other sill, seized the opening regardless of the jagged
glass, crouched down and plunged into the room head first. Kaiser had
drawn back as he saw me coming, but as I shot into the room he bounded
in front of me, and we rolled over together there on the floor in the
darkness. I was half dazed, but knew I smelled smoke, and heard the
crackling of a great fire.

CHAPTER XV

The mysterious Fire, and Something further about my wretched State of
Terror: with an Account of my great System of Tunnels and famous Fire
Stronghold.

Once I said, when I told of how I found myself helpless at Bill
Mountain's, that I thought Kaiser the best dog that ever lived; here I
may say I know it. Though he got in my way and made me turn a few
somersets in the dark, he may have saved Track's End from
destruction.

When I got to my feet I felt my way across the room and through the
hall to a room in the southeast corner of the hotel, where there was a
loophole in the boards over the window. Through this I saw that the
livery stable was a pillar of fire.

How long I stood there at the loophole staring I know not; I think I
did not move or scarcely breathe. It was a large buil