and presence of mind, and the
natural fitness of some people for doing the right thing in an
emergency. He might have said more, but all were drawn to the windows
to watch the strife between the fire and the rain.

The fierce wind drove the smoke through the building, compelling the
landlord and his wife to escape as best they could, and, for the time
being, the victory seemed to be with the fire.

"Seems to me," said the blacksmith, somberly, "as if Crofield was going
to pieces. This is the worst storm we ever had. The meeting-house is
gone, and the hotel's going!"

Mary, at her window, was looking out in silence, but her face was
bright rather than gloomy. Even if she was "only a girl," she had
found an opportunity for once, and she had not proved unequal to it.

CHAPTER V.

JACK OGDEN'S RIDE.

Jack needed only a few minutes to put on the suit he had worn when
fishing.

"There, now," he said; "if there's going to be a big flood in the creek
I'm going down to see it, rain or no rain. There's no telling how high
it'll rise if this pour keeps on long enough. It rattles on the roof
like buckshot!"

"That's the end of the old tavern," said Jack to Mary, as he stood in
the front room looking out.

He was barefooted, and had come so silently that she was startled.

"Jack!" she exclaimed, turning around, "they might have all been killed
when the steeple came down. I heard what Joe Hawkins said, and I led
out the class."

"Good for Joe!" said Jack. "We need a new meeting-house, any way. I
heard the elder say so. Less steeple, next time, and more church!"

"I'd like to see a real big church," said Mary,--"a city church."

"You'd like to go to the city as much as I would," said Jack.

"Yes, I would," she replied emphatically. "Just you get there and I'll
come afterward, if I can. I've been studying twice as hard since I
left the academy, but I don't know why."

"I know it," said Jack; "but I've had no time for books."

"Jack! Molly!" the voice of Aunt Melinda came up the stairway. "Are
you ever coming down-stairs?"

"What will the elder say to my coming down barefoot?" said Jack; "but I
don't want shoes if I'm going out into the mud."

"He won't care at such a time as this," said Mary. "Let's go."

It was not yet supper-time, but it was almost dark enough to light the
lamps. Jack felt better satisfied about his appearance when he found
how dark and shadowy the parlor was; and he fel