of distant thunder, and
the shouts of "WASSER! WASSER!" alternated with the winding of bugles
as the soldiers moved now in one direction, now in another, their bright
uniforms and the shining helmets of the fire brigade men flashing hither
and thither among the dark mass of spectators. Overhead the flames raged
while the wind blew down bits of burning tinder upon the crowd. Erica,
wedged in among the friendly Tyrolese people, watched anxiously for
her father, not quite able to believe his assurance that there was no
danger. When at length she saw the tall commanding figure emerge from
the burning hotel, the white head towering over the crowd, her heart
gave a great bound of relief. But she saw in a moment that he had been
unsuccessful.

"It must have been thrown out of the window," he said, elbowing his way
up to her. "The room was quite bare, carpet and all gone, nothing to be
found but these valuables," and with a smile, he held up the last number
of the "Idol-Breaker," and a tooth brush.

"They are taking great care of the things," said Erica. "Perhaps we
shall find it by and by."

"We must find it," said Raeburn, his lips forming into the curve of
resoluteness which they were wont to assume when any difficulty arose to
be grappled with. "What has become of the bairn?"

"A nurse came up and claimed it and was overwhelmingly grateful to you
for your rescue. She had put the child to bed early and had gone for a
walk in the gardens. Oh, look, how the fire is spreading!"

"The scaffolding is terribly against saving it, and the wind is high,
too," said Raeburn, scanning the place all over with his keen eyes.
Then, as an idea seemed to strike him, he suddenly hurried forward once
more, and Erica saw him speaking to two fire brigade men. In another
minute the soldiers motioned the crowd further back, Raeburn rejoined
Erica, and, picking up her portmanteau, took her across the road to the
steps of a neighboring hotel. "I've suggested that they should cut down
the scaffolding," he said; "it is the only chance of saving the place."

The whole of the woodwork was now on fire; to cut it down was a somewhat
dangerous task, but the men worked gallantly, and in a few minutes
the huge blazing frame, with its poles and cross poles, ladders and
platforms, swayed, quivered, then fell forward with a crash into the
garden beyond.

Raeburn had, as usual, attracted to himself the persons most worth
talking to in the crowd, a shrewd