"Now, my lads, ready!" There was a general shout from the men, who fell into their places with the promptitude that always follows when they have a good leader.
"Get all you can out in case," shouted the squire; "but we're going to save the house." "Hurrah!" shouted the men as they heard this bold assertion, which the squire supplemented by saying between his teeth, "Please God!" "Bring up that ladder," cried the squire--"two of them." These were planted against the end of the house, and none too soon, for the corner nearest the burning stacks was beginning to blaze furiously, and the fire steadily running up, while a peculiar popping and crackling began to be heard as the flames attacked the abundant ivy which mounted quite to the chimney-stack.
"Ho! ho! ho! ho!" came now from the front of the cart-shed in a regular bellowing cry.
"What is it, wench--what is it ?" cried Farmer Tallington, as he hurried out of the burning house, laden with valuables, which he handed to his quiet business-like wife.
"My best Sunday frock! Oh, my best Sunday frock!" sobbed the red-faced servant lass.
"Yes, and oh my stacks! and oh my farm!" cried her master, as he ran back into the house after a glance at the squire, who, in the midst of a loud cheering, stood right up with one foot on the ladder, one on the thatched roof, and sent the first bucket of water, with a good spreading movement, as far as he could throw it, and handed back the bucket.
The flames hissed and danced, and there was a rush of steam all along the ridge, but the water seemed to be licked up directly.
Another was dashed on and the bucket passed back, and another, and another; but the effect produced was so little that, after distributing about a dozen which the wheelwright sent along the line, making the men work eagerly, as he plunged the buckets into the drain and brought them dripping out, the squire shouted, "Hold hard!" and descended to change the position of the long ladder he was on by dragging out the foot till it was at such an angle that the implement now lay flat upon the thatch, so that anyone could walk right up to the chimney-stack.
"Now, then!" cried the squire, mounting once more.

"We want another flood just now, my lads, but as there isn't one we must make it." "It arn't safe," muttered one of the men.

"See theer, lad!" The others needed no telling, as the speaker, who had followed the squire on to the roof so as to be within reach, now felt the flames scorch him, though what he had alluded to was the top of the ladder which was beginning to burn where it lay on the burning thatch, and crackling and blazing out furiously.
_Whizz-hizz_ rose from the water as the first bucket was thrown with such effect that the ladder ceased to burn, and, undismayed by the smoke and flame that floated towards him, the latter in separated patches with a strange fluttering noise, the squire scattered the water from his advantageous position, and with good effect, though that part of the house was now burning fast, the fire having eaten its way through the thatch into the room below.
Meanwhile, as the burning stacks made the whole place light as day, Dick and Tom rushed in and out of the house, bringing everything of value upon which they could lay their hands, to pass their salvage to Mrs Tallington and the women, who stored them in a heap where they seemed safe from the flames.
"Look at that, Tom!" cried Dick, as he paused for a few moments to get breath, and watch his father where he stood high up on the burning roof, like some hero battling with a fiery dragon.
"Yes, I see," said Tom in an ill-used tone.
"Isn't it grand ?" cried Dick.

"I wish I was up there.

Don't it make one proud of one's father ?" "I don't see any more to be proud of in your father than in mine," said Tom stoutly.