THE A LA EM IN' TOWN.

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yards away, which would tit a plug in thehouse by the river. But yi the confusionof the moment no one had thought of engines, orof hose, and not even buckets had been broughtdown. Meanwhile, the teams from town wereplunging on, dragging the steamer and the hosethrough the heavy drifts.

The station agent, who had received a telegramfrom the central office, to get surgeons and aidfor the wounded, was also hastening to the spot—but it was too late.

The work was done. It was impossible forthem now to rescue the living. Those who hadreached the scene had already rescued nearly allthe wounded and the living, though fearfullybruised, and some of them insensible, from thefire.

Others were standing and looking on from thebanks, idle spectators of the scene. And, beforethe eyes of all, the fire had crept on and on, andwas now enveloping the whole. The woundedlay in the snow, or on the damp, cold floor.The water dripped from their garments and ranupon the stone. Blood flowed from wounds and