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I turned from him with a feeling of contempt which I did not seek
to dissemble。
〃As you please；〃 said he。 〃You've been a prig in life； a prig
you'll die。〃
And with that he sat down in a chair； a rifle over his knee； and
amused himself with snapping the lock； but I could see that his
ebullition of light spirits （the only one I ever knew him to
display） had already come to an end； and was succeeded by a sullen；
scowling humor。
All this time our assailants might have been entering the house；
and we been none the wiser； we had in truth almost forgotten the
danger that so imminently overhung our days。 But just then Mr。
Huddlestone uttered a cry； and leaped from the bed。
I asked him what was wrong。
〃Fire！〃 he cried。 〃They have set the house on fire！〃
Northmour was on his feet in an instant； and he and I ran through
the door of communication with the study。 The room was illuminated
by a red and angry light。 Almost at the moment of our entrance； a
tower of flame arose in front of the window； and； with a tingling
report； a pane fell inward on the carpet。 They had set fire to the
lean…to outhouse； where Northmour used to nurse his negatives。
〃Hot work；〃 said Northmour。 〃Let us try in your old room。〃
We ran thither in a breath； threw up the casement； and looked
forth。 Along the whole back wall of the pavilion piles of fuel had
been arranged and kindled； and it is probable they had been
drenched with mineral oil； for； in spite of the morning's rain；
they all burned bravely。 The fire had taken a firm hold already on
the outhouse； which blazed higher and higher every moment； the back
door was in the center of a red…hot bonfire； the eaves we could
see； as we looked upward； were already smoldering； for the roof
overhung； and was supported by considerable beams of wood。 At the
same time； hot； pungent； and choking volumes of smoke began to fill
the house。 There was not a human being to be seen to right or
left。
〃Ah； well！〃 said Northmour； 〃here's the end； thank God！〃
And we returned to My Uncle's Room。 Mr。 Huddlestone was putting on
his boots； still violently trembling； but with an air of
determination such as I had not hitherto observed。 Clara stood
close by him； with her cloak in both hands ready to throw about her
shoulders； and a strange look in her eyes； as if she were half
hopeful； half doubtful of her father。
〃Well； boys and girls；〃 said Northmour； 〃how about a sally？ The
oven is heating； it is not good to stay here and be baked； and； for
my part； I want to come to my hands with them； and be done。〃
〃There's nothing else left；〃 I replied。
And both Clara and Mr。 Huddlestone； though with a very different
intonation； added； 〃Nothing。〃
As we went downstairs the heat was excessive； and the roaring of
the fire filled our ears； and we had scarce reached the passage
before the stairs window fell in； a branch of flame shot
brandishing through the aperture； and the interior of the pavilion
became lighted up with that dreadful and fluctuating glare。 At the
same moment we heard the fall of something heavy and inelastic in
the upper story。 The whole pavilion； it was plain； had gone alight
like a box of matches； and now not only flamed sky high to land and
sea； but threatened with every moment to crumble and fall in about
our ears。
Northmour and I cocked our revolvers。 Mr。 Huddlestone； who had
already refused a firearm； put us behind him with a manner of
command。
〃Let Clara open the door；〃 said he。 〃So； if they fire a volley；
she will be protected。 And in the meantime stand behind me。 I am
the scapegoat； my sins have found me out。〃
I heard him； as I stood breathless by his shoulder； with my pistol
ready； pattering off prayers in a tremulous； rapid whisper； and； I
confess； horrid as the thought may seem； I despised him for
thinking of supplications in a moment so critical and thrilling。
In the meantime； Clara； who was dead white but still possessed her
faculties； had displaced the barricade from the front door。
Another moment； and she had pulled it open。 Firelight and
moonlight illuminated the links with confused and changeful luster；
and far away against the sky we could see a long trail of glowing
smoke。
Mr。 Huddlestone； filled for the moment with a strength greater than
his own； struck Northmour and myself a back…hander in the chest；
and while we were thus for the moment incapacitated from action；
lifting his arms above his head like one about to dive； he ran
straight forward out of the pavilion。
〃Here am I！〃 he cried〃Huddlestone！ Kill me； and spare the
others！〃
His sudden appearance daunted； I suppose； our hidden enemies； for
Northmour and I had time to recover； to seize Clara between us； one
by each arm； and to rush forth to his assistance； ere anything
further had taken place。 But scarce had we passed the threshold
when there came near a dozen reports and flashes from every
direction among the hollows of the links。 Mr。 Huddlestone
staggered； uttered a weird and freezing cry； threw up his arms over
his head； and fell backward on the turf。
〃Traditore！ Traditore！〃 cried the invisible avengers。
And just then a part of the roof of the pavilion fell in； so rapid
was the progress of the fire。 A loud； vague； and horrible noise
accompanied the collapse； and a vast volume of flame went soaring
up to heaven。 It must have been visible at that moment from twenty
miles out at sea； from the shore at Graden Wester； and far inland
from the peak of Graystiel； the most eastern summit of the Caulder
Hills。 Bernard Huddlestone； although God knows what were his
obsequies； had a fine pyre at the moment of his death。
IX
I should have the greatest difficulty to tell you what followed
next after this tragic circumstance。 It is all to me； as I look
back upon it； mixed； strenuous； and ineffectual； like the struggles
of a sleeper in a nightmare。 Clara； I remember； uttered a broken
sigh and would have fallen forward to earth； had not Northmour and
I supported her insensible body。 I do not think we were attacked：
I do not remember even to have seen an assailant； and I believe we
deserted Mr。 Huddlestone without a glance。 I only remember running
like a man in a panic； now carrying Clara altogether in my own
arms； now sharing her weight with Northmour； now scuffling
confusedly for the possession of that dear burden。 Why we should
have made for my camp in the Hemlock Den； or how we reached it； are
points lost forever to my recollection。 The first moment at which
I became definitely sure； Clara had been suffered to fall against
the outside of my little tent； Northmour and I were tumbling
together on the ground； and he； with contained ferocity； was
striking for my head with the butt of his revolver。 He had already
twice wounded me on the scalp； and it is to the consequent loss of
blood that I am tempted