The shed-like room stood on low joists, with a clear space ten inches high between its flimsy board floor and the ground.

And, in this space, the leaves of the preceding autumn had drifted in windrows.

The persevering spark did the rest.
Lady woke from a fitful doze, to find herself choking from smoke.

The boards of the floor were too hot for endurance.

Between their cracks thin wavery slices of smoke were pouring upward into the room.