"Mother Lefevre," said he, stopping short, "the Cossacks have set fire to your house!"
Catherine heard this news calmly, and walked to the edge of the cliff. Louise and Jean-Claude followed her. At the bottom of the abyss stretched a great white cloud, through which shone what seemed like a spark. That was all; but from time to time the breeze blew aside the smoke and the fire appeared; the two high gables, standing darkly out from the flames, the ruined barn and the blazing stables; then all again was hidden.
"It is nearly finished," said Hullin in a low tone.
"Yes," replied the old mistress of the burning dwelling; "forty years of toil and care are there turning to smoke. But no matter; they cannot burn my good lands—my fine meadows of the Eichmath. We will begin to labor once more; Gaspard and Louise will restore all that mischief. I am content. I repent of nothing I have done."
At the end of a quarter of an hour, millions of sparks arose, and all the buildings fell—all save the dark gables. The party again clambered up the path; and as they reached the highest terrace, the sharp voice of Hexe-Baizel was heard:
"You, Catherine!" she cried "I never thought that you would come to see me in my poor den."
Baizel and Catherine Lefevre had been school-girls together; there was but little ceremony between them.
"Nor I," replied the latter; "but in misfortune one is glad to find a companion of one's childhood."
Baizel seemed touched.