Nico spread a bucket of water upon the widow's thatched roof, grateful that the raiment of snow had clothed each house so well.

"If twere August it'd have been far worse," he said. When he spoke it sounded like wars.

But though the immediate danger had passed, Nico was greatly concerned.

"Have you seen Kelty?" he growled. "Damn and blast, where is that naughty girl?"

Some agreed they had seen her running along the lane away from the blazes.

"Poor child," one woman said. "Scared out of her wits most likely."

Nico looked to one horizon and saw the last light of sun dip past it's line. He turned to the other horizon, and as night fell he thought he spied lights in the forest.

But by some trick of the eye they were soon gone. Nico walked that way.

Then he began to run.