Charlie came to say, Henry wanted to know if they were going to live on firebrands, for he had been waiting with his supper two hours, and was almost starved. They now went on board to eat.
“Come, Ben,” said Joe, “go and eat supper with us; and when you get back Charlie can come.”
As they were eating, Ben ascertained how it happened that his friends were present so opportunely.
“You see,” said Uncle Isaac, “we heard the mackerel were master thick outside; that started us all up. I’d got in my hay, so thought I’d go with the rest. We were beating down, when Joe says to me, ‘There’s a great smoke over to Ben’s.’ ‘Yes,’ I says, ‘I guess he’s setting his burn.’ Then I saw the smoke roll up above the trees, and I was sartain. ‘He’ll have a capital time, for the wind is just right, and there’s a heavy dew.’ The words were hardly out of Joe’s mouth before the wind shifted right about. Then I was sure there would be trouble. In a few moments we opened out by the head of the island, and saw the blaze. I screamed out, ‘The fire is coming right down on Ben’s house, and he’ll be burnt out in a jiffy!’ We were almost abreast of the harbor, and, hauling the sheets aft, shot her right on to the beach.”
About ten o’clock that night a shower came up. Ben sat by Sally, who had now fallen asleep, listened to the rain upon the roof, moistening the parched earth, and relieving him of all anxiety in respect to the fire kindling again during the night. His heart went up in gratitude to God that his little property had been preserved, and his wife and child had not fallen victims to the fire.
Notwithstanding the mackerel were thick, neither John nor Uncle Isaac would start in the morning till they saw how it fared with Sally, who, to the great delight of all, was much better.
Uncle Isaac inspected Charlie’s sink, canoe, and baskets, and praised them very much.
“There’s the making of a mechanic in that boy,” said he, “and no mean one either.”
They then walked over the burn.
“I call that a first-rate burn,” said Joe; “a miss is as good as a mile, Ben. Sally is doing well, and this burn will give you your bread-stuffs for a year, and hay for your cattle after that.”