On the other side was a black cat asleep, with her chin upon her paws.

When the cat heard Jonas coming, she rose up, stretched out her fore paws, and then began to purr, rubbing her cheeks against the bottom of the settle.
"Good morning, Darco," said Jonas.

"It is time to get up." The cat's name was Darco.
Jonas took a pair of heavy iron tongs, which stood by the side of the fire, and pulled forward the log.

He found that it had burned through, and by three or four strokes with the tongs, he broke it up into large fragments of coal, of a dark-reddish color.

The air being thus admitted, they soon began to brighten and crackle, until, in a few minutes, there was before him a large heap of glowing and burning coals.