So far no flames had appeared.
Placing the still inert figure at a safe distance from the house, Mrs. Colter and Jeanette drew in deep breaths of the August night air.
Jeanette remained close to her father. She was suffering from deep waves of compunction for her state of mind toward him a few hours before. When would he speak or move?
Mrs. Colter was closer to the old lodge. Lina, with presence of mind at last aroused, had run toward the rear of the house to ring the alarm bell.
Suddenly with a cry, Eda flung her arms about her stepmother.
"Via! Where is Via?" she exclaimed. "I have been waiting and watching for her. Every one else is safe, only Via."
Mrs. Colter held the little girl fast.
"Via!" she called, peering through the darkness.
A little tongue of flame had crept out of one of the windows.
There was no answer, no sign of the delicate figure, the wistful face of the Ranch Girl whom her stepmother and entire family loved best.