t to see him that day, for he seemed to be in a more than
usually unamiable frame of mind. He went out at the front door, and
Bessie joined him as he passed Mr. Mogmore's house. The saw-mill was
taken to the spot where it had stood before. The dam was reconstructed
much more readily than the rebel states.

Taking the candle from his pocket, Levi greased the running parts of
the machine, hoisted the gate, and away went the saw as briskly as a
bee after its years of rest in the attic, to the intense delight of
Bessie, who was quite ready to vote another feather for the cap of the
hero. A piece of board was adjusted on the carriage, and the saw began
to whisk, whisk, whisk through it, when a series of yells in the
direction of the road attracted the attention of the engineer of the
structure.

"Why, what's that smoke?" exclaimed Bessie.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" shouted several persons in the road.

"It's uncle Nathan's house," said Levi; and, without waiting to extend
any further courtesies to his fair companion, he bounded through the
field, and over the fence, to the imperilled dwelling.

Around the north chimney the smoke was pouring out in a dense volume.
Uncle Nathan had raised a ladder to the roof, and was drawing up pails
of water to throw on the fire. Aunt Susan and Mat Mogmore were
assisting him, and in a few moments several other persons arrived at
the house. Levi ran up the ladder, and went to work with a decision and
vigor which promised the best results.

"I'm ruined! I'm ruined, as true as you live!" groaned the miser. "The
house will burn up!"

"No, it won't, uncle Nathan. We can put the fire out if we stick to
it," replied Levi, in encouraging tones, as he dashed a bucket of water
on a volume of flame that rushed up at the side of the chimney.

"Tain't no use! It's jest my luck."

"Pass up the buckets, uncle Nathan, and we shall be all right in a few
minutes. We are gaining on it."

"O, my money!" groaned the miser, as he dropped the empty bucket he was
carrying.

Levi glanced at him. His uncle was as pale as a sheet, and seemed to
have wilted as though the flames had blasted him. He sank down upon the
roof, and would have rolled off if the strong arm of his nephew had not
saved him. His eyes were closed, his lips were blue and ashy, and his
frame was motionless. Levi was alarmed by his appearance. He was either
dead or had fainted, and the young man saw that he must be removed.
Lying down by the