"Fire! fire! The house is on fire!" The report was true, and as the soldiers left the place up went a large cloud of smoke, followed by the bursting out of flames in several directions. Such was the state of affairs when Jack and his followers reached the roadway in front of the plantation. "The house is on fire!" ejaculated the young captain. "Come, we must put out the flames." "But the enemy----" began one of the other boys. "The Yankees are making for the mountain road and our troops are to the westward. I don't believe either will come this way again. Hurry up, or it will be too late!" Jack ran up to the house with all speed, to meet Mrs. Mary Ruthven on the veranda. "The house--it is doomed!" wailed the lady of the plantation. "Get us all the pails and buckets you have," answered Jack. "And have you a ladder handy?" "There is a ladder in the stable, Jack. Oh, will you help put it out?" "We'll do our best. Is St. John at home?" "Yes," and so speaking, Mrs. Mary Ruthven ran off to arouse her son. "You must help," she said. "Quick, or we will be homeless." "But the--the Yankees?" he asked. "Are gone." She clasped her hands entreatingly. "Oh, St. John, do be a man for once!" "A man? What do you mean, mother?" he cried, leaping up as soon as he heard that the enemy was gone. "I am not afraid. I--I had a sudden attack of pain around my--my heart, that's all." "Then, if it is over, save the house," she answered coldly, and ran off to tell the servants about the pails and buckets. CHAPTER XXI. A LIVELY FIRE. In the meantime Jack and several others of the Home Guard had made their way to the barn and brought forth two ladders, a short affair and one which was both long and heavy. "The short one can be placed on the veranda roof," said the young captain. "The other we can place against the corner, where the fire is burning the strongest." "Somebody must have gone into the garret to set that fire," said another of the boys. "Where are the water buckets?" "Here da am, sah," replied one of the negro servants, and handed them over. "Somebody must keep at the well," said Jack. "Pompey, you know how to use the buckets best. You draw for us." "Yes, Massah Jack." "We'll form a line to the cistern, too," went on our hero. "Now then, work lively!" The boys ran to the places assigned to them, and aided by the colored servants placed the ladders as desired. Soon water was being passed up and dashed upon the burning roof with all possible speed. But the fire was a lively one, and the breeze which was blowing helped it to spread. "What can I do?" asked St. John, as he stood by, rubbing his hands nervously. "Go down to the stable and the barns and put out the sparks blowing that way," said Jack. "Don't you want me here?" "Yes, if you'll go up to the top of the ladder," answered our hero, knowing full well St. John would do nothing of the sort.