desperate remedies-第43章
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a single article of apparel； and was walking up and down； as if
still quite undecided upon the course it was best to adopt。
Outside the door； when it was closed upon her； the maid paused to
listen for an instant。 She heard Mrs。 Manston talking to herself。
'This is welcome home！' she said。
2。 FROM TEN TO HALF…PAST ELEVEN P。M。
A strange concurrence of phenomena now confronts us。
During the autumn in which the past scenes were enacted； Mr。
Springrove had ploughed； harrowed； and cleaned a narrow and shaded
piece of ground； lying at the back of his house； which for many
years had been looked upon as irreclaimable waste。
The couch…grass extracted from the soil had been left to wither in
the sun； afterwards it was raked together； lighted in the customary
way； and now lay smouldering in a large heap in the middle of the
plot。
It had been kindled three days previous to Mrs。 Manston's arrival；
and one or two villagers； of a more cautious and less sanguine
temperament than Springrove； had suggested that the fire was almost
too near the back of the house for its continuance to be unattended
with risk； for though no danger could be apprehended whilst the air
remained moderately still； a brisk breeze blowing towards the house
might possibly carry a spark across。
'Ay； that's true enough；' said Springrove。 'I must look round
before going to bed and see that everything's safe； but to tell the
truth I am anxious to get the rubbish burnt up before the rain comes
to wash it into ground again。 As to carrying the couch into the
back field to burn； and bringing it back again； why； 'tis more than
the ashes would be worth。'
'Well； that's very true；' said the neighbours； and passed on。
Two or three times during the first evening after the heap was lit；
he went to the back door to take a survey。 Before bolting and
barring up for the night； he made a final and more careful
examination。 The slowly…smoking pile showed not the slightest signs
of activity。 Springrove's perfectly sound conclusion was； that as
long as the heap was not stirred； and the wind continued in the
quarter it blew from then； the couch would not flame； and that there
could be no shadow of danger to anything； even a combustible
substance； though it were no more than a yard off。
The next morning the burning couch was discovered in precisely the
same state as when he had gone to bed the preceding night。 The heap
smoked in the same manner the whole of that day： at bed…time the
farmer looked towards it； but less carefully than on the first
night。
The morning and the whole of the third day still saw the heap in its
old smouldering condition； indeed； the smoke was less； and there
seemed a probability that it might have to be re…kindled on the
morrow。
After admitting Mrs。 Manston to his house in the evening； and
hearing her retire； Mr。 Springrove return to the front door to
listen for a sound of his son； and inquired concerning him of the
railway…porter； who sat for a while in the kitchen。 The porter had
not noticed young Mr。 Springrove get out of the train； at which
intelligence the old man concluded that he would probably not see
his son till the next day； as Edward had hitherto made a point of
coming by the train which had brought Mrs。 Manston。
Half…an…hour later the porter left the inn； Springrove at the same
time going to the door to listen again an instant； then he walked
round and in at the back of the house。
The farmer glanced at the heap casually and indifferently in
passing； two nights of safety seemed to ensure the third； and he was
about to bolt and bar as usual； when the idea struck him that there
was just a possibility of his son's return by the latest train；
unlikely as it was that he would be so delayed。 The old man
thereupon left the door unfastened； looked to his usual matters
indoors； and went to bed； it being then half…past ten o'clock。
Farmers and horticulturists well know that it is in the nature of a
heap of couch…grass； when kindled in calm weather； to smoulder for
many days； and even weeks； until the whole mass is reduced to a
powdery charcoal ash； displaying the while scarcely a sign of
combustion beyond the volcano…like smoke from its summit； but the
continuance of this quiet process is throughout its length at the
mercy of one particular whim of Nature： that is； a sudden breeze；
by which the heap is liable to be fanned into a flame so brisk as to
consume the whole in an hour or two。
Had the farmer narrowly watched the pile when he went to close the
door； he would have seen； besides the familiar twine of smoke from
its summit； a quivering of the air around the mass； showing that a
considerable heat had arisen inside。
As the railway…porter turned the corner of the row of houses
adjoining the Three Tranters； a brisk new wind greeted his face； and
spread past him into the village。 He walked along the high…road
till he came to a gate； about three hundred yards from the inn。
Over the gate could be discerned the situation of the building he
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
