"Here," replied her mother's voice not three yards away. "Is Scott with thee? Harry and Lou are safe."
"No," answered Ruth, aghast, hastening with all possible speed to her mother's side.
"Where is the child?" she cried, immediately calling aloud with all her strength, "Scott! Scott!"
"He must have hidden somewhere when the darkness came," was the mother's despairing conclusion.
"The root-house!" Ruth's words told the awful story.
"If I _could_ save him!" And with a silent prayer for strength, she once more dashed into the stifling smoke.
Hour after hour crept by; it seemed to the terrified children as if they must have sat there for days; and they were so hungry! and Ruth never would come!
Presently, after long waiting, the darkness began to lift somewhat, and they could see each other's faces. Little by little the gloom cleared away until the whole atmosphere was of a dusky hue. And still they waited. At length, starting up with an exclamation of joy as rapid footsteps approached, they heard their father's voice.
"Here," roared Hal, starting to his feet.
In a moment more Mr. Leonard bounded down the steep bank of the creek, and with him Jake Murphy, who had started from the village to warn Mr. Leonard, reaching the farm just as that first overwhelming darkness dropped upon the village.
They had found shelter in the old well, for Mr. Leonard was overtaken in his preparations for flight, and could not reach the house before it burst into flames. When the crisis was past, almost wild with grief and despair, he commenced a search for wife and children, fearing at every step to come upon their lifeless bodies. For a moment he stood overcome with thankfulness as he found them unharmed.
But two were missing. Mrs. Leonard hurriedly told of little Scott's disappearance, and of Ruth's effort to save him.
The two men hastened to the root-house. It was still standing, though blackened and charred, and no sign of life appeared. The door was tightly closed, and upon opening it a sight met the father's eye which almost overpowered the strong man. There lay Ruth, white and still, tightly clasping the little fellow to her bosom.
It was but the work of a moment to carry them out of the dark building. Both were unconscious, though they bore few traces of the fire. Might there not yet be a chance of life?