He hurried to the back door of the house, where the servants were eagerly carrying out the furniture.
“Look at master!” they exclaimed, weeping, and drew each other’s attention to his bare feet.
“Leave that alone!” he cried. “Save the animals!”
An axe lay on the path. With it he broke open the back door of the stables, which led into the fields, for the yard was already a sea of flames.
As in a dream he sees how the garden and field are filling with people. The village fire engine comes rattling along, the road to Helenenthal, too, becomes alive.
Three, four times he rushes into the flames, the servants behind him, then he sinks down, fainting with pain, in the middle of the burning stables.
A shriek, a piercing shriek from a woman, causes him to open his eyes once more.
Then it seemed to him as if he saw Elsbeth’s face vanishing in mist over his head, then it was night again round him....