desperate remedies-第44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！
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 w
