"Have you a mother in old England?" she cried. "If so, for her
sake, stop this fire."

Her words touched his heart.

"And if I do--?" he answered.

"THEN YOUR JOHNNY-CAKE ON MY HEARTH WON'T BURN UP," she said,
with a quick little smile, adjusting her cap.

Major Pitcairn laughed, and two soldiers, at his command, seized
the pails and made haste to the court-house, followed by many
more.

For awhile the fire seemed victorious, but, by brave effort, it
was finally overcome, and the court-house saved.

At a distance Joe Devins had noticed the smoke hovering like a
little cloud, then sailing away still more like a cloud over the
town; and he had made haste to the scene, arriving in time to
venture on the roof, and do good service there.

After the fire was extinguished, he thought of Martha Moulton,
and he could not help feeling a bit guilty at the consciousness
that he had gone off and left her alone.

Going to the house he found her entertaining the king's troopers
with the best food her humble store afforded.

She was so charmed with herself, and so utterly well pleased with