were his feelings! While his heart throbbed for that freedom and
safety which Canada alone could furnish to the whip-scarred slave, on
the American continent, his thoughts were with Clotelle. Was she still
in prison, and if so, what would be her punishment for aiding him to
escape from prison? Would he ever behold her again? These were the
thoughts that followed him to his pillow, haunted him in his dreams, and
awakened him from his slumbers.

The alarm of fire aroused the inmates of the hotel in which Jerome had
sought shelter for the night from the deep sleep into which they had
fallen. The whole village was buried in slumber, and the building was
half consumed before the frightened inhabitants had reached the scene of
the conflagration. The wind was high, and the burning embers were wafted
like so many rockets through the sky. The whole town was lighted up, and
the cries of women and children in the streets made the scene a terrific
one. Jerome heard the alarm, and hastily dressing himself, he went forth
and hastened toward the burning building.

"There,--there in that room in the second story, is my child!" exclaimed
a woman, wringing her hands, and imploring some one to go to the rescue
of her little one.

The broad sheets of fire were flying in the direction of the chamber
in which the child was sleeping, and all hope of its being saved seemed
gone. Occasionally the wind would life the pall of smoke, and show that
the work of destruction was not yet complete. At last a long ladder was
brought, and one end placed under the window of the room. A moment more
and a bystander mounted the ladder and ascended in haste to the window.
The smoke met him as he raised the sash, and he cried out, "All is
lost!" and returned to the ground without entering the room.

Another sweep of the wind showed that the destroying element had not yet
made its final visit to that part of the doomed building. The mother,
seeing that all hope of again meeting her child in this world was gone,
wrung her hands and seemed inconsolable with grief.

At this juncture, a man was seen to mount the ladder, and ascend with
great rapidity. All eyes were instantly turned to the figure of this
unknown individual as it disappeared in the cloud of smoke escaping from
the window. Those who a moment before had been removing furniture, as
well as the idlers who had congregated at the ringing of the bells,
assembled at the foot of the ladder, and awaited wit