“Whatmischiefareyouatnow，badchild？“askedNursey，withagood-naturedshake，whichmadethesleeperopenhiseyestosaymeekly，­；
“IonlyranintoNat’sroomtoseehimaboutsomething。Goaway，andletmealone；I’mawfulsleepy。“
NurseytuckedDemiin，andwentofftoreconnoitre，butonlyfoundtwoboysslumberingpeacefullyinDan’sroom。“Somelittlefrolic，“shethought，andastherewasnoharmdoneshesaidnothingtoMrs。Bhaer，whowasbusyandworriedoverlittleTeddy。
Tommywassleepy，andtellingDemitomindhisownbusinessandnotaskquestions，hewassnoringintenminutes，littledreamingwhatwasgoingonunderhisbed。Thecigardidnotgoout，butsmoulderedawayonthestrawcarpettillitwasnicelyonfire，andahungrylittleflamewentcreepingalongtillthedimitybedcovercaught，thenthesheets，andthenthebeditself。ThebeermadeTommysleepheavily，andthesmokestupifiedDemi，sotheysleptontillthefirebegantoscorchthem，andtheywereindangerofbeingburnedtodeath。
Franzwassittinguptostudy，andashelefttheschool-roomhesmeltthesmoke，dashedup-stairsandsawitcominginacloudfromtheleftwingofthehouse。Withoutstoppingtocallanyone，heranintotheroom，draggedtheboysfromtheblazingbed，andsplashedallthewaterhecouldfindathandontotheflames。Itcheckedbutdidnotquenchthefire，andthechildrenwakenedonbeingtumbledtopsy-turvyintoacoldhall，begantoroaratthetopoftheirvoices。Mrs。Bhaerinstantlyappeared，andaminuteafterSilasburstoutofhisroomshouting，“Fire!“inatonethatraisedthewholehouse。Aflockofwhitegoblinswithscaredfacescrowdedintothehall，andforaminuteeveryonewaspanic-stricken。