Fifteen minutes later the house, which was a mere tinder-box, was in flames, and the startled villagers, aroused from their slumbers, saw a bright flame reflected against the dark midnight sky.
CHAPTER X.
AFTER THE FIRE.
By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it. For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever. So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village. Being in the store, Harry had an opportunity of hearing it discussed by those who “dropped in” to make purchases.
“Was the house insured?” asked old Sam Tilden, filling the bowl of his pipe with tobacco, preparatory to having a comfortable smoke.
“I reckon it was,” said another. “The squire’s a keerful man. He wouldn’t be likely to neglect it.”
“Here’s the squire himself. You can ask him,” said John Gaylord, the chief salesman, who was doing up half-a-dozen pounds of sugar for a customer.