Chapter 14 Summary

Further opportunity to make himself useful to his community comes to Cosimo when his only enemies, the burglars foiled in their plan to resurrect the wilting Gian de Brughi and wanting revenge against the boy who helped him to his end, set fire to the tree in which he sleeps. Cosimo is able to isolate the fire with barley water he keeps in the trees with him. When it threatens to spread, Cosimo calls into the night that there is a fire, and attracts the attention of the townspeople living close by. Together, they are able to subdue the fire.

Consequently, Cosimois inspired to create an entire system of barrels of water high in the trees, strategically located throughout the woods. He enlists the help of the Cavalier to draw up plans for reservoirs and dykes, and gathers the manpower himself to make...