pouring down over the opening, as a cataract of water flows over the
edge of a fall. To escape they would have to jump through the flames.




CHAPTER III

TALKING IT OVER


What had happened was this. There was loose hay and straw in the upper
part of the barn. The flames, eating up and along the roof, had burned
into this, until the whole mass was ablaze.

Then, as the upper part of the side of the barn, above the big open
doors, was burned through, the burning hay and straw began falling
into the cowyard. Right down it fell, like a cataract of fire.

It made a pile in the muck of the cow-yard, whence the men had led the
horses, wheeled out the mowing machine and carriage, and removed the
baled hay and straw.

At first the blazing wisps were extinguished, as the cow-yard was wet,
but, as more and more of the hay and straw fell, there gradually grew
a pile of blazing hot embers. But, worse than all, was the curtain of
fire that shut off escape by the big doors.

"What are we going to do?" asked Vincent, his face white with fear.