Off!" There was a rush made through the burning mass fallen from the roof; and, scorched and half-blind, they reached the door half-blocked by the anxious men.
"Safe!" cried the farmer.

"Here: where's squire ?" As the words left his mouth there was a fierce snorting and trampling, and those at the door had only just time to draw back, as the two horses dashed frantically out, and then tore off at full gallop across the yard.
"Winthorpe!" cried Farmer Tallington.

"This way!" "Father!" cried Dick in an agonised voice, following the farmer into the burning building; but only to be literally carried out by his companion, as they were driven back by a tremendous gush of burning thatch and wood which roared out of the great doorway consequent upon a mass of the roof falling in.
As soon as he could recover himself, Dick turned to rush in again; but he was checked by Hickathrift.
"Stand back, bairn! art mad ?" he cried.

"Not that way." Dick staggered away, and nearly fell from the tremendous thrust given to him by the big wheelwright, and as he regained his equilibrium, it was to see Hickathrift with something flashing in his hand, making for the other end of the stable, which was as yet untouched.
A few blows from the axe he carried made the rough mud wall collapse, and, without a moment's hesitation Hickathrift forced his way through the hole he had broken, and from which a great volume of smoke began to curl.
Dick would have followed; but Tom clung to his arm, and before he could get free, during what seemed to be a terribly long period of suspense, the wheelwright appeared again, and staggered out, bearing the insensible body of the squire.
For a few minutes there was a terrible silence, and Hickathrift tottered from the man he had left where he had dragged him on the ground.
For the wheelwright was blinded and half strangled by the smoke, and reeled like a drunken man.
He recovered though, directly, and seized a bucket of water from one of the men.

With this he liberally dashed the squire's face, as Dick knelt beside him in speechless agony, and grasped his hand.
For a few minutes there was no sign.