CHAPTER XI.

The Old House on the Hill--A Wily Commissary--The Bags of Gold--What was Done at Midnight--The Dead of Night Deposit-- The Old Vault--A Timid Money Lender--Mr. Peter Johnson--The Board of Commissioners--The Old Gentleman's Little Joke--The Inspection--How it was Discovered--The Fight with the Flames --"How much will I Get"--What he Got--The Oil Barrels--Dashing the Water on the Kerosene--A Lively Time on Reed's Point Wharf--The Bridge of Fire--On the Ferry-Boat--The Western Union Telegraph Office--The First Despatch 129