threw up his head.

"Feel that breeze?" he cried.

"Suction into the fire," suggested Johnny.

But Talbot shook his head impatiently, trying to peer through the glare
into the sky.

It was a very gentle breeze from the direction of the ocean. I could
barely feel it on my cheek, and it was not strong enough as yet to
affect in the slightest the upward-roaring column of flame. For a moment
I was inclined to agree with Johnny that it was simply a current of air
induced by the conflagration. But now an uneasy motion began to take
place in the crowd. Men elbowed their way here and there, met,
conferred, gathered in knots. In less than a minute Talbot signalled us.
We made our way to where he was standing with Sam Brannan, Casey, Green,
and a few others.

"Thank God the wind is from the northwest," Talbot said fervently. "The
Ward Block is safely to windward, and we don't need to worry about that,
anyway. But it is a wind, and it's freshening. We've got to do something
to stop this fire."

As though to emphasize the need for some sort of action, a second and
stronger puff of wind sent whirling aloft a shower of sparks and brands.

We started at double quick in the direction of the flimsy small
structures between the old El Dorado and the Parker House. Some men,
after a moment, brought ropes and axes. We began to tear down the
shanties.

But before we had been at work five minutes, the fire began to run. The
wind from the sea increased. Blazing pieces of wood flew through the air
like arrows. Flames stooped in their stride, and licked up their prey,
and went on rejoicing. Structures one minute dark and cold and still
burst with startling suddenness and completeness into rioting
conflagration. Our little beginning of a defence was attacked and
captured before we had had time to perfect it. The half dozen shanties
we had pulled to the ground merely furnished piled fuel. Somewhat
demoralized, we fell back, and tried, rather vaguely, to draw a second
line of defence. The smoke and sparks suffocated and overwhelmed us, and
the following flames leaped upon us as from behind an ambush. Some few
men continued gropingly to try to do something, but the most of us were
only too glad to get out where we could catch a breath.

Almost immediately, however, we were hurried back by frantic merchants.

"Save the goods!" was the cry.

We laboured like slaves, carrying merchandise, fixtures, furniture,
anything and everything from