the announcement was but too true. To spring past
Little Wolf and rush to secure his property, was his first thought.

But he was too late. Neither he, nor all the crowd that quickly
gathered there, could stay the consuming element. The old brewery
burned to the ground, and, for miles around the country was
illuminated by what to many a poor broken-hearted woman, was a grand
and festive bonfire.

Among the first who discovered the conflagration was Wycoff, and he
was much relieved, on ascertaining the precise location of the fire;
for he had started out filled with apprehensions for Little Wolf. To
his great satisfaction, the old brown house stood out in full relief,
unharmed.

A critical survey of the premises, however, discovered to him the
stable door standing open, and, by the brilliant blaze, he could
distinctly see Black Hawk, pawing and floundering in the midst of the
hay which Hank had arranged for his funeral pile.

Quite as distinctly from the upper window could Little Wolf see the
former, and she hastened to make him acquainted with her narrow escape
and claim his protection.

While he listened, the man's worst passions were aroused. There was
murder in his heart, and, but for the entreaties of Little Wolf,
another day would never have dawned upon Hank Glutter.

As for Hank; having the bitter consciousness that he had brought the
calamity upon himself, he raved and swore like a mad man. To all
questions as to the cause of the fire he had but one answer, "I
suppose I must have left the confounded lamp too near the bed." This
admission was invariably followed by oaths and curses, as he passed up
and down before the burning building.

How different were Daddy's emotions! It was amusing to behold him
bolstered up in bed, exultant to the highest degree. His old wrinkled
face fairly shone with delight, and he frequently ejaculated as he
watched the progress of the flames, "Thank the Lord God Almighty, for
that dispensation!"

As the light began to die away, he turned to Little Wolf and whispered
confidentially. "'Tween you and me, Honey, if I should happen fur tu
hev any children, Recta wont feel any consarn about the boys gittin to
drinking, now that ere old brewery is out of the way. Some folks say
if a man is tu be a drunkard, he'll be one any how; but if there's no
liquor, I'd like fur to know how he is going fur tu git it? I guess
nobody ever got burnt that never see a fire."

CHAPTER XXX.