Vainly was water brought from the well and cries for help raised, for the house was set apart from the rest.

The fire swept through all the rooms and sent toward the sky thick spirals of smoke.

Soon the whole structure was at the mercy of the flames, fanned now by the wind, which in the heat grew stronger.

Some few rustics came up, but only to gaze on this great bonfire, the end of that old building which had been so long respected by the elements..