hey say three
men have been killed."

The Plaza was black with men, their faces red with the light of the
flames. A volunteer crew were busily darting in and out of the adjacent
buildings, carrying out all sorts of articles and dumping them in the
square.

"There's no water nearer than the bay," an acquaintance shouted in our
ears. "There ain't much to do. She'll burn herself out in a few
minutes."

The three buildings were already gutted. A sheet of fire sucked straight
upward in the still air, as steadily as a candle flame, and almost as
unwavering. It was a grand and beautiful spectacle. The flimsy
structures went like paper. Talbot saw us standing at a little
elevation, and forced his way to us.

"It will die down in five minutes," said he. "What do you bet on
Warren's place? Do you think she'll go?"

"It's mighty hot all around there," said I doubtfully.

"Yes, but the flames are going straight up; and, as you say, it will
begin to die down pretty soon," put in Johnny.

"The walls are smoking a little," commented a bystander judicially.

"She's a fine old bonfire, anyway," said Talbot.

Fifteen or twenty men were trying to help Warren's place resist the
heat. They had blankets and pails of water, and were attempting to
interpose these feeble defences at the points most severely attacked.
Each man stood it as long as he could, then rushed out to cool his
reddened face.

"Reminds me of the way I used to pop corn when I was a kid," grinned a
miner. "I wouldn't care for that job."

"Just the same, they'll save it," observed Talbot judicially.

Almost coincident with his words a long-drawn _a-ah_! burst from
the crowd. A wandering gust of wind came in from the ocean. For the
briefest instant the tall straight column of flame bent gracefully
before it, then came upright again as it passed. In that instant it
licked across the side wall of Warren's place, and immediately Warren's
place burst into flame.

"Hard luck!" commented Talbot.

The firefighters swarmed out like bees from a disturbed hive.

"Our hotel next," said Johnny.

"That's safe enough; there's a wide lot between," I observed.

A fresh crew of firefighters took the place of the others--namely, those
personally interested in saving the hotel.

"Lucky the night is so still," said Talbot.

We watched Warren's place burn with all the half guilty joy of those who
are sorry; but who are glad to be there if it has to happen. Suddenly
Talbot