Wondering what it could mean, and feeling a fresh chill of doubt creep round her heart, she scrambled on down the hill.

When she was about half-way a shower of sparks suddenly shot into the air from the spot where the house should be, caused by the fall of a piece of wall into the smouldering embers beneath.

Again Jess paused, wondering and aghast.

What could have happened?
Determined at all hazards to discover, she crept on very cautiously.

Before she had gone another twenty yards, however, a hand was laid suddenly upon her arm.