Dazed by the smoke and flame, he saw that there was not the hundredth part of a second to lose.

Shouting Celie's name he ran to her door, where the fire was already beginning to shut him out.

His first cry had awakened her and she was facing the lurid glow of the flame as he rushed in.

Almost before she could comprehend what was happening he had wrapped one of the heavy bear skins about her and had swept her into his arms.

With her face crushed against his breast he lowered his head and dashed back into the fiery holocaust of the outer room.