In one of the side pens, immediately under the roof, there was a large heap of leaves, the outside portion of which was at present damp, for the rain had beaten in upon it, but which had been as dry as tinder when collected; and there was a row or ridge of mixed brush-wood and leaves so constructed as to form a line from the grass outside on to the heap.
"The fellow who did that was an ass," said Harry; "a greater ass than I should have taken him to be, not to have known that if he could have gotten the grass to burn outside, the wool-shed must have gone without all that preparation.

But there isn't much difficulty now in seeing what the fellow has intended." "Was it for a fire ?" asked Kate.
"Of course it was.

He wouldn't have been contented with the grass and fences, but wanted to make sure of the shed also.

He'd have come to the house and burned us in our beds, only a fellow like that is too much of a coward to run the risk of being seen." "But, Harry, why didn't he light it when he'd done it ?" said Mrs.
Heathcote.
"Because the Almighty sent the rain at the very moment," said Harry, striking the top rail of one of the pens with his fist.

"I'm not much given to talk about Providence, but this looks like it, does it not ?" "He might have put a match in at the moment ?" "Rain or no rain?
Yes, he might.