f of the mansion had been
consumed.

That half, however, was still a source of great danger, the walls being
intensely hot and the fallen beams a mass of glowing charcoal, which the
least breath of wind blew into a flame. A few of the shepherds were
therefore stationed to watch these, and pour water on them continually.
But the need for urgent haste was past, and most of the people had
assembled on the lawn among the furniture when the stars began to
glimmer in the darkening sky.

"My dear," said the laird, on finding his wife in the group, "it is all
safe now, so you had better get off to rest, and take all the women with
ye. Come, girls, be off to your beds," he added, turning with kindly
smile to the domestics, and with the energetic manner that was habitual
to him. "You've done good service, and stand much in need of rest, all
of you. The men will keep a sharp look out on what's left o' the fire,
so you have nothing to fear. Off with you, an' get to sleep!"

There was no hesitation in obeying the laird's commands. The female
domestics went off at once to their dormitories, and these were
fortunately in that part of the mansion which had escaped. Some of the
younger girls, however, made no effort to conceal a giggle as they
glanced at their master who, with coat off, shirt torn, face blackened,
hair dishevelled, and person dripping, presented rather an undignified
appearance. But as worthy Allan Gordon had never set up a claim to
dignity, the giggles only amused him.

"Duncan! Duncan, man, where are ye?" he called out, when the ladies and
female domestics had gone. "Oh! there ye are--an' not much more
respectable than myself!" he added, as the butler answered to his
summons. "Go and fetch the whisky bottle. We'll all be the better of a
dram after such a fight. What say you, gentlemen? Do you not relax
your teetotal principles a little on an occasion like this?"

"We never relax our _total abstinence_ principles," returned Jackman,
with a smile, as he wrung some of the water out of his garments. "I
think I may speak for my companions as well as myself. Friendship has
been a sufficient stimulant while we were engaged in the work, and
gratitude for success will suffice now that the work is done."

"Run, Donald, boy, an' tell them to get some hot coffee ready at once!
It's all very well, gentlemen," said the laird, turning again to his
friends, "to talk of subsisting on friendship and gratitude; but