“Lieutenant Jerrold’s compliments, sir, hand Hi was to hinform you, sir, that the fire is hout.”
“Fire! what fire?” exclaimed Mervyn, wildly, looking out in keen anxiety, as if he expected to see the substantial block-houses, the store-house, the armory, the guard-house, the barracks all vanish like a mirage. The wind tossed his hair, dispersing its perfumed powder backward through the hall, where Arabella scented the fragrance of attar of roses blended with the dank odors of the rain-drenched woods.
“Sure, sir, the granary. The lightning struck it fust volley, and it was blazing like a puffick pyr’mid in ten seconds.”
“The granary! Damme! Why was I not informed?”
“Sure, sir, the hofficer of the day sent a detail ’ere, sir, to hammer on the door, but they got no answer, an’ the fire ’ad to be fit with all ’ands, sir. Lieutenant Jerrold ’ad ’is fears for the fort.”
Mervyn, all unmindful of the dank, wintry air that played round his legs, inadequately protected in silk hose and pumps, felt as if he could faint. The garrison had fought out its battle for the very existence of the little frontier fort, and he, the acting commandant, tucked away in a lady’s bower, making love to one and soothing the terrors of another—what did he say in the confidence of his inner consciousness as he heard Mrs. Annandale’s patter, “Indians! Indians!” He vaguely fancied there was a relish of the situation in the face of the corporal, but he whirled about, intending to take his hat and go to the scene of action. Then reflection stayed him. This would merely gratify his personal curiosity and interest. Before he should meet the other officers he preferred full official information of so serious a mischance during his service as commandant of the garrison and fort.
“What was saved of the corn? What was done with it?”
“Lord, sir,—nothing! The fire raged like ’ell, and was as tall as a tree, sir. And ’twas hall the men could do, sir, to keep the armory an’ store-house from going, too—they both caught fire. Nothing but the tremenjous rain-burst saved the fort. The force ’ere couldn’t handle no such fire as this ’ere one.”
“I daresay,—I daresay—” Mervyn affected an ease of manner he was far from feeling. Then fury for the dilemma in which he was placed overcame him anew. “It should have been reported to me. Who did he send here?”
“Meself, sir, an’ Hi ’ammered with two men. But we was of the gyard, sir, an’ the Injuns was right around the counterscarp an’ the horficer of the gyard was fearful they’d rush the gate. Sure, sir, he had the guns manned an’ fired blank ca’tridges to keep ’em at a distance.”