The only
difficulty was in clearing them out at the two gates of the drive.
When Mr. Fordyce opened the door to hail his rescuers he was utterly
amazed to behold only three, and asked in a bewildered voice, 'Where
are the others?'
There were two prisoners, Petty the ratcatcher, who had attempted
some resistance and had been knocked down by Griff's horse, and a
young lad in a smock-frock who had fallen off the wall and hurt his
knee, and who blubbered piteously, declaring that them chaps had
forced him to go with them, or they would duck him in the horse-
pond. They were supposed to be given in charge to some one, but
were lost sight of, and no wonder! For just then it was discovered
that the machine shed was on fire. The rioters had apparently
detached one of their number to kindle the flame before assaulting
the house. The matter was specially serious, because the stackyard
was on a line with the Rectory, at some distance indeed, but on
lower ground; and what with barns, hay and wheat ricks, sheds,
cowhouses and stables, all thatched, a big wood-pile, and a long
old-fashioned greenhouse, there was almost continuous communication.
Clouds of smoke and an ominous smell were already perceptible on the
wind, generated by the heat, and the loose straw in the centre of
the farmyard was beginning to be ignited by the flakes and sparks,
carrying the mischief everywhere, and rendering it exceedingly
difficult to release the animals and drive them to a place of
safety.
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