CHAPTER VI

DOWN THE COAL HOLE


Mirabell and Arnold had been told to be very careful whenever they
played in the sitting room, if a fire were burning on the open hearth.
But, for the moment, the little girl forgot about this. All she thought
of was that her Lamb on Wheels might be burned by the blazing paper,
which had been set on fire by a spark popping out from the blazing logs
on the hearth.

"Oh, my Lamb! My poor Lamb!" cried Mirabell.

"Look out!" shouted Arnold. "Don't go too close!"

"Why not?" asked his sister. "I have to get my Lamb on Wheels away from
the fire!"

"No, you mustn't!" Arnold said. "Your dress might catch on fire!"

The piece of paper was burning on the wide brick hearth of the
fireplace, and not on the carpet, and the Lamb was close to the piece of
paper that was on fire. Altogether too close to the fire was the Lamb.
She was in great danger.

"But I've got to save her! I must save my pet Lamb!" cried Mirabell. She
was going to rush forward, but her brother caught hold of her and held
her back.