A flake of falling fire fell on it.

Instantly the whole trunk-cover blazed up with a roar like that of a great beast in pain.

It was sudden and for the instant terrible, but the snow-laden leaves still left on it failed to take fire, and what in summer would have been a calamity was at an end.
"Gosh!" exclaimed Billy, "didn't he howl ?" John made no reply.
"Couldn't wake Peter.

I was out first." He had liked the fun of banging at the doors.

"Old Woman Lamb said she couldn't wake him." "Drunk, I suppose," said John absently, stamping out a spark among the pine-needles at his feet, now freed from snow by the heat.
The night passed, and when the dawning came, the Squire leaving some orders went homeward with John, saying only, "Go to bed at once, we will talk about it later.