"But," cried Carolyn May, almost plaintively, "I didn't see any fire. Why! that fire that burned up the woods at Uncle Joe Stagg's house just flamed right up and burned _everything_." "I am glad this is not that kind of fire," her mother said quickly. Just then Dr. Warren came out, staggering under the weight of two great bags. "I thought I'd better make sure of my drugstore, anyway," he said. "No knowing when you folks will need my services. How do you feel now, Mrs. Cameron?" "Not very sprightly," she told him. "I believe I must have been almost asphyxiated." "I believe you!" he agreed. "And here," the doctor added, patting Carolyn's shoulder, "is the little girl who perhaps saved more of us from the same fate. She came pounding at my door to tell me her mamma was sick, in just the nick of time." Everybody had to hear the story then of the rousing of the doctor by Carolyn and Prince. They praised her so much that the little girl felt uncomfortable, although like most children, Carolyn May could absorb a vast amount of praise. The larger crowd was around at the back of the hotel, and she and Prince ran there to watch the fight against the fire. It had originated in the cellar. The dynamo room was gutted and the electric plant put out of commission. The flames, too, had swept the kitchen and pantries. In the rooms above the kitchen, the help slept. Even Captain Littlefield had a room here which he occupied during the season, for his services were needed both early and late. The wooden-legged man was now greatly excited. He was stumping about, talking loudly and mopping his brow with a bandanna. Somebody caught him by the sleeve and stayed his steps. "Why, Ozy! you act like you warn't all here." "You'm right. I ain't all here," declared Captain Littlefield. "My Sunday-go-to-meeting laig is up there in that dratted room, burnin' up so fur as I know." CHAPTER XIX A REMOVAL The fire was finally put out without even the loss of Captain Ozias Littlefield's spare artificial limb; but the kitchen ell was entirely gutted. Little but smoke-damage was done to the main part of the hotel; but the whole house must be redecorated before it could be made really habitable. And with the kitchen unusable the season was ruined for Mrs. Truefelt and her son. They could not care properly for their guests. They did not hurry away those who could not at once obtain new lodgings; but most of the guests were able to get accommodations at other hotels and boarding houses. The new clerk was not in the hotel when the fire occurred. He had been across the island with his family at Barzilla Ball's place; and he came to Mrs. Cameron at once, when he arrived and heard what had happened, to remind her of the fact that the Balls had room for other boarders if she and Carolyn could get along without hotel accommodations.