desperate remedies-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


had　just　quitted。　　He　carelessly　turned　his　head　in　passing；　and　saw
behind　him　a　clear　red　glow　indicating　the　position　of　the　couch…
heap：　　a　glow　without　a　flame；　increasing　and　diminishing　in
brightness　as　the　breeze　quickened　or　fell；　like　the　coal　of　a　newly
lighted　cigar。　　If　those　cottages　had　been　his；　he　thought；　he
should　not　care　to　have　a　fire　so　near　them　as　thatand　the　wind
rising。　　But　the　cottages　not　being　his；　he　went　on　his　way　to　the
station；　where　he　was　about　to　resume　duty　for　the　night。　　The　road
was　now　quite　deserted：　　till　four　o'clock　the　next　morning；　when
the　carters　would　go　by　to　the　stables　there　was　little　probability
of　any　human　being　passing　the　Three　Tranters　Inn。

By　eleven；　everybody　in　the　house　was　asleep。　　It　truly　seemed　as　if
the　treacherous　element　knew　there　had　arisen　a　grand　opportunity
for　devastation。

At　a　quarter　past　eleven　a　slight　stealthy　crackle　made　itself　heard
amid　the　increasing　moans　of　the　night　wind；　the　heap　glowed
brighter　still；　and　burst　into　a　flame；　the　flame　sank；　another
breeze　entered　it；　sustained　it；　and　it　grew　to　be　first　continuous
and　weak；　then　continuous　and　strong。

At　twenty　minutes　past　eleven　a　blast　of　wind　carried　an　airy　bit　of
ignited　fern　several　yards　forward；　in　a　direction　parallel　to　the
houses　and　inn；　and　there　deposited　it　on　the　ground。

Five　minutes　later　another　puff　of　wind　carried　a　similar　piece　to　a
distance　of　five…and…twenty　yards；　where　it　also　was　dropped　softly
on　the　ground。

Still　the　wind　did　not　blow　in　the　direction　of　the　houses；　and　even
now　to　a　casual　observer　they　would　have　appeared　safe。　　But　Nature
does　few　things　directly。　　A　minute　later　yet；　an　ignited　fragment
fell　upon　the　straw　covering　of　a　long　thatched　heap　or　'grave'　of
mangel…wurzel；　lying　in　a　direction　at　right　angles　to　the　house；
and　down　toward　the　hedge。　　There　the　fragment　faded　to　darkness。

A　short　time　subsequent　to　this；　after　many　intermediate　deposits
and　seemingly　baffled　attempts；　another　fragment　fell　on　the　mangel…
wurzel　grave；　and　continued　to　glow；　the　glow　was　increased　by　the
wind；　the　straw　caught　fire　and　burst　into　flame。　　It　was　inevitable
that　the　flame　should　run　along　the　ridge　of　the　thatch　towards　a
piggery　at　the　end。　　Yet　had　the　piggery　been　tiled；　the　time…
honoured　hostel　would　even　now　at　this　last　moment　have　been　safe；
but　it　was　constructed　as　piggeries　are　mostly　constructed；　of　wood
and　thatch。　　The　hurdles　and　straw　roof　of　the　frail　erection　became
ignited　in　their　turn；　and　abutting　as　the　shed　did　on　the　back　of
the　inn；　flamed　up　to　the　eaves　of　the　main　roof　in　less　than　thirty
seconds。

3。　　HALF…PAST　ELEVEN　TO　TWELVE　P。M。

A　hazardous　length　of　time　elapsed　before　the　inmates　of　the　Three
Tranters　knew　of　their　danger。　　When　at　length　the　discovery　was
made；　the　rush　was　a　rush　for　bare　life。

A　man's　voice　calling；　then　screams；　then　loud　stamping　and　shouts
were　heard。

Mr。　Springrove　ran　out　first。　　Two　minutes　later　appeared　the　ostler
and　chambermaid；　who　were　man　and　wife。　　The　inn；　as　has　been
stated；　was　a　quaint　old　building；　and　as　inflammable　as　a　bee…hive；
it　overhung　the　base　at　the　level　of　the　first　floor；　and　again
overhung　at　the　eaves；　which　were　finished　with　heavy　oak　barge…
boards；　every　atom　in　its　substance；　every　feature　in　its
construction；　favoured　the　fire。

The　forked　flames；　lurid　and　smoky；　became　nearly　lost　to　view；
bursting　forth　again　with　a　bound　and　loud　crackle；　increased
tenfold　in　power　and　brightness。　　The　crackling　grew　sharper。　　Long
quivering　shadows　began　to　be　flung　from　the　stately　trees　at　the
end　of　the　house；　the　square　outline　of　the　church　tower；　on　the
other　side　of　the　way；　which　had　hitherto　been　a　dark　mass　against　a
sky　comparatively　light；　now　began　to　appear　as　a　light　object
against　a　sky　of　darkness；　and　even　the　narrow　surface　of　the　flag…
staff　at　the　top　could　be　seen　in　its　dark　surrounding；　brought　out
from　its　obscurity　by　the　rays　from　the　dancing　light。

Shouts　and　other　noises　increased　in　loudness　and　frequency。　　The
lapse　of　ten　minutes　brought　most　of　the　inhabitants　of　that　end　of
the　village　into　the　street；　followed　in　a　short　time　by　the　rector；
Mr。　Raunham。

Casting　a　hasty　glance　up　and　down；　he　beckoned　to　one　or　two　of　the
men；　and　vanished　again。　　In　a　short　time　wheels　were　heard；　and　Mr。
Raunham　and　the　men　reappeared；　with　the　garden　engine；　the　only　one
in　the　village；　except　that　at　Knapwater　House。　　After　some　little
trouble　the　hose　was　connected　with　a　tank　in　the　old　stable…yard；
and　the　puny　instrument　began　to　play。

Several　seemed　paralyzed　at　first；　and　stood　transfixed；　their　rigid
faces　looking　like　red…hot　iron　in　the　glaring　light。　　In　the
confusion　a　woman　cried；　'Ring　the　bells　backwards！'　and　three　or
four　of　the　old　and　superstitious　entered　the　belfry　and　jangled
them　indescribably。　　Some　were　only　half　dressed；　and；　to　add　to　the
horror；　among　them　was　Clerk　Crickett；　running　up　and　down　with　a
face　streaming　with　blood；　ghastly　and　pitiful　to　see；　his
excitement　being　so　great　that　he　had　not　the　slightest　conception
of　how；　when；　or　where　he　came　by　the　wound。

The　crowd　was　now　busy　at　work；　and　tried　to　save　a　little　of　the
furniture　of　the　inn。　　The　only　room　they　could　enter　was　the
parlour；　from　which　they　managed　to　bring　out　the　bureau；　a　few
chairs；　some　old　silver　candlesticks；　and　half…a…dozen　light
articles；　but　these　were　all。

Fiery　mats　of　thatch　slid　off　the　roof　and　fell　into　the　road　with　a
deadened　thud；　whilst　white　flakes　of　straw　and　wood…ash　were　flying
in　the　wind　like　feathers。　　At　the　same　time　two　of　the　cottages
adjoining；　upon　which　a　little　water　had　been　brought　to　play　from
the　rector's　engine；　were　seen　to　be　on　fire。　　The　attenuated　spirt
of　water　was　as　nothing　upon　the　heated　and　dry　surface　of　the
thatched　roof；　the　fire　prevailed　without　a　minute's　hindrance；　and
dived　through　to　the　rafters。

Suddenly　arose　a　cry；　'Where's　Mr。　Springrove？'

He　had　vanished　from　the　spot　by　the　churchyard　wall；　where　he　had
been　standing　a　few　minutes　earlier。

'I　fancy　he's　gone　inside；'　said　a　voice。

'Madness　and　folly！　what　can　he　save？'　said　another。　　'Good　God；
find　him！　　Help　here！'

A　wild　rush　was　made　at　the　door；　which　had　fallen　to；　and　in
defiance　of　the　scorching　flame　that　burst　forth；　three　men　forced
themselves　through　it。　　Immediately　inside　the　threshold　they　found
the　object　of　their　search　lying　senseless　on　the　floor　of　the
passage。

To　bring　him　out　and　lay　him　on　a　bank　was　the　work　of　an　instant；　a
basin　of　cold　water　was　dashed　in　his　face；　and　he　began　to　recover
consciousness；　but　very　slowly。　　He　had　been　saved　by　a　miracle。　　No
sooner　were　his　preservers　out　of　the　building　than　the　window…
frames　lit　up　as　if　by　magic　with　deep　and　waving　fringes　of　flames。
Simultaneously；　the　joints　of　the　boards　forming　the　front　door
started　into　view　as　glowing　bars　of　fire：　　a　star　of　red　light
penetrated　the　centre；　gradually　increasing　in　size　till　the　flames
rushed　forth。

Then　the　staircase　fell。

'Everybody　is　out　safe；'　said　a　voice。

'Yes；　thank　God！'　said　three　or　four　others。

'O；　we　forgot　that　a　stranger　came！　　I　think　she　is　safe。'

'I　hope　she　is；'　said　the　weak　voice　of　some　one　coming　up　from
behind。　　It　was　the　chambermaid's。

Springrove　at　that　moment　aroused　himself；　he　staggered　to　his　feet；
and　threw　his　hands　up　wildly。

'Everybody；　no！　no！　　The　lady　who　came　by　train；　Mrs。　Manston！　　I
tried　to　fetch　her　out；　but　I　fell。'

An　exclamation　of　horror　burst　from　the　crowd；　it　was　caused　partly
by　this　disclosure　of　Springrove；　more　by　the　added　perception　which
followed　his　words。

An　average　interval　of　about　three　minutes　had　elapsed　between　one
intensely　fierce　gust　of　wind　and　the　next；　and　now　another　poured
over　them；　the　roof　swayed；　and　a　moment　afterwards　fell　in　with　a
crash；　pulling　the　gable　after　it；　and　thrusting　outwards　the　front
wall　of　wood…work；　which　fell　into　the　road　with　a　rumbling　echo；　a
cloud　of　black　dust；　myriads　of　sparks；　and　a　great　outburst　of
flame　followed　the　uproar　of　the　fall。

'Who　is　she？　what　is　she？'　burst　from　every　lip　again　and　again；
incoherently；　and　without　leaving　a　sufficient　pause　for　a　reply；
had　a　reply　been　volunteered。

The　autumn　wind；　tameless；　and　swift；　and　proud；　still　blew　upon　the
dying　old　house；　which　was　constructed　so　entirely　of　combustible
materials　that　it　burnt　almost　as　fiercely　as　a　corn…rick。　　The　heat
in　the　road　increased；　and　now　for　an　instant　at　the　height　of　the
conflagration　all　stood　still；　and　gazed　silently；　awestruck　and
helpless；　in　the　presence　of　so　irresistible　an　enemy。　　Then；　with
minds　full　of　the　tragedy　unfolded　to　them；　they　rushed　forward
again　with　the　obtuse　directness　of　waves；　to　their　labour　of　saving
goods　from　the　houses　adjoining；　which　it　was　evident　were　all
doomed　to　destruction。

The　minutes　passed　by。　　The　Three　Tranters　Inn　sank　into　a　mere　heap
of　red…hot　charcoal：　　the　fire　pushed　its　way　down　the　row　as　the
church　clock　opposite　slowly　struck　the　hour　of　midnight；　and　the
bewildered　chimes；　scarcely　heard　amid　the　crackling　of　the　flames；
wandered　through　the　wayward　air　of　the　Old　Hundred…and…Thirteenth
Psalm。

4。　　NINE　TO　ELEVEN　P。M。

Manston　mounted　his　gig　and　set　out　from　Chettlewood　that　evening　in
no　very　enviable　frame　of　mind。　　The　thought　of　domestic　life　in
Knapwater　Old　House；　with　the　now　eclipsed　wife　of　the　past；　was
more　than　disagreeable；　was　positively　distasteful　to　him。

Yet　he　knew　that　the　influential　position；　which；　from　whatever
fortunate　cause；　he　held　on　Miss　Aldclyffe's　manor；　would　never
again　fall　to　his　lot　on　any　other；　and　he　tacitly　assented　to　this
dilemma；　hoping　that　some　consolation　or　other　would　soon　suggest
itself　to　him；　married　as　he　was；　he　was　near　Cytherea。

He　occasionally　looked　at　his　watch　as　he　drove　along　the　lanes；
timing　the　pace　of　his　horse　by　the　hour；　that　he　might　reach
Carriford　Road　Station　just　soon　enough　to　meet　the　last　London
train。

He　soon　began　to　notice　in　the　sky　a　slight　yellow　halo；　near　the
horizon。　　It　rapidly　increased；　it　changed　colour；　and　grew　redder；
then　the　glare　visibly　brightened　and　dimmed　at　intervals；　showing
that　its　origin　was　affected　by　the　strong　wind　prevailing。

Manston　reined　in　his　horse　on　the　summit　of　a　hill；　and　considered。

'It　is　a　rick…yard　on　fire；'　he　thought；　'no　house　could　produce
such　a　raging　flame　so　suddenly。'

He　trotted　on　again；　attempting　to　particularize　the　local　features
in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　fire；　but　this　it　was　too　dark　to　do；
and　the　excessive　winding　of　the　roads　misled　him　as　to　its
direction；　not　being　an　old　inhabitant　of　the　district；　or　a
countryman　used　to　forming　such　judgments；　whilst　the　brilliancy　of
the　light　shortened　its　real　remoteness　to　an　apparent　distance　of
not　more　than　half：　　it　seemed　so　near　that　he　again　stopped　his
horse；　this　time　to　listen；　but　he　could　hear　no　sound。

Entering　now　a　narrow　valley；　the　sides　of　which　obscured　the　sky　to
an　angle　of　perhaps　thirty　or　f