Rassendyll's composure gave way. He sprang forward,
catching Sapt by the arm.
"No body? What do you mean?" he exclaimed.
Sapt cast another glance at James, and then began in an even,
mechanical voice, as though he were reading a lesson he had
learnt, or playing a part that habit made familiar:
"That poor fellow Herbert carelessly left a candle burning where
the oil and the wood were kept," he said. "This afternoon, about
six, James and I lay down for a nap after our meal. At about
seven James came to my side and roused me. My room was full of
smoke. The lodge was ablaze. I darted out of bed: the fire had
made too much headway; we could not hope to quench it; we had but
one thought!" He suddenly paused, and looked at James.
"But one thought, to save our companion," said James gravely.
"But one thought, to save our companion. We rushed to the door of
the room where he was. I opened the door and tried to enter. It
was certain death. James tried, but fell back. Again I rushed in.
James pulled me back: it was but another death. We had to save
ourselves. We gained the open air. The lodge was a sheet of
flame. We could do nothing but stand watching, till the swiftly
burning wood blackened to ashes and the flames died down.
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