The snow on the floor of pine-needles and on the laden trees was, however, as he soon saw, an insurance against the peril from far-scattered sparks, and happily there was no wind.

Little of what was of any value was saved, and in the absence of water there was nothing to do but to watch the fire complete its destructive work.
"There is nothing more we can do, Rivers," said Penhallow.

"John was the first to see it.

We will talk about it to-morrow--not now--not here." The three Grey Pine people stood apart while books and clothes and little else were carried across the road and stored in the village houses.

At last the flames rose high in the air and for a few minutes as the roof fell in, the beauty of the illumination was what impressed John and Rivers.