know of the
fire till I came?"

"I suppose we were all too soundly asleep, my lad. Lucky you saw it, or
we might have been burned to death."

"But how did the place catch fire?"

"Ah!" said Farmer Tallington, "that's just what I should like to know.--
Were you out there last night, Tom?" he added after a pause.

"No, father, I wasn't near the stacks yesterday."

"Had you been round there at all?" said the squire.

"No, not for a day or two, neighbour. It's a puzzler."

"It is very strange!" said the squire thoughtfully; and he and Farmer
Tallington looked hard at each other. "You have had no quarrel with
your men?"

"Quarrel! No. Got as good labourers as a man could wish for. So have
you."

"Yes, I have," said the squire; "but those stacks could not catch fire
by accident. Has anybody threatened you?"

"No," replied the farmer thoughtfully. "No! Say, neighbour--no, they
wouldn't do that."

The wheelwright had come up, and stood listening to what was said.

"What do you mean?" said the squire.

"Oh! nothing. 'Tisn't fair to think such things."

"Never mind! Speak out, man, speak out!"

"Well, I was wondering whether some one had done this, just as a hint
that we were giving offence by joining in the drain business."

"No, no!" cried the squire indignantly. "People may grumble and be
dissatisfied; but, thank Heaven, we haven't any one in these parts bad
enough to do such a thing as that, eh, Hickathrift?"

"I dunno 'bout bad enew," said the big wheelwright; "but strikes me
Farmer Tallington's right. That stack couldn't set itself afire, and
get bont up wi'out some one striking a light!"

"No, no!" said the squire. "I will not think such a thing of any
neighbour for twenty miles round. Now, Mr Tallington, come over to my
place and have a comfortable meal; Mrs Tallington will come too."

"Nay, we'll stop and try to put things right."

"Shall I lend you a couple of men?"

"Nay, we'll wuck it oot oursens, and thank you all hearty for what
you've done. If your farm gets alight, neighbour, we'll come over as
you have to us."

"May the demand never arise!" said the squire to himself, as he and his
party trudged away, all looking as blackened and disreputable a set as
ever walked homeward on an early winter's morn.

Dick had made a good meal, and removed the black from his face after
deciding that it would not be worth while to go to bed, when, as he went
down the yard and caught sigh