e how poor a refuge the houseboat offered her. It
seemed to her that, if she could only get into one of the cabin
bedrooms and conceal herself in her berth, she might escape. Poor
Mollie had no better idea to aid her. She came running down the
outside steps and ran toward the cabin door.

The man rose quickly. He did not move toward Mollie. Outside the
cabin kitchen was a big box filled with chips and bits of kindling,
used to light the kitchen stove. The man gathered up a handful of
these pieces of wood and ran back to his old position. He glanced at
Mollie. But it was easy to see that she was trying to get away, not to
hinder him in what he was doing. He picked up the oil can again. This
time he poured the few remaining drops on a little pile of chips and
lit another match. The tinder blazed up. The man fanned the tiny
flames with the brim of a torn hat. The flare of light grew brighter;
a great flame leapt up and then a snake-like curve of fire followed the
oil-soaked wood.

When the man did not move toward Mollie she stopped in the cabin door.
She was afraid of him. She was not like other girls. Ever since she
had been able to know anything she had felt a curious, confused feeling
in her head. She did not know who the man was on the deck of the boat.
But she did know that he was trying to set their houseboat afire.

Mollie paid no further attention to the man. She did not scream at
him, nor try to stop what he was doing. She rushed forward and began
stamping on the pile of blazing sticks.

The man did not attempt to prevent her. He was watching the increasing
length of flame spread over the deck. A second later he sprang up, ran
across the deck, slipped over the side of "The Merry Maid," dropped
into his rowboat, and rowed swiftly out of sight.

Mollie flew for the big bucket of water, which they always kept in a
certain spot. She flung the water on the flames, but water will not
quench the flames made from oil. The rail began to crackle, the sparks
to fly. The "Merry Maid" was afire, with only one, feeble girl to save
it!

Mollie knew that there were steamer blankets in the bedrooms of the
cabin. She often had one to cover her when she took her afternoon
rest. Remember, Mollie had had little education, but she had been
brought up to work and to do practical tasks. It was but the work of a
moment to drag out two blankets and spread them over the flames. The
fire died down for a mome