important than a few hundred
pounds. You don't seem to care about us at all,' she protested.

'Don't be so silly and childish, Sarah; and mind you go straight into the
house and stay there,' he replied.

They were now near enough to see that some trees were burning; but as
they were nowhere near the house, Sarah could not quite understand her
uncle's 'fidgetiness,' as she called it.

'How on earth did that tree catch fire,' Horatia suddenly ejaculated as a
tall poplar was seen blazing, 'and after such a wet day as yesterday?'

'I can tell you how it caught fire. It was set on fire by some of your
friends of yesterday; that's how it's caught fire, and that's their way
of saying "Thank you" to me for giving in to them; but they've taught me
a lesson, and one I sha'n't forget, and I hope it'll satisfy you too,
young lady,' replied Mark Clay grimly.

'I don't believe it. It would be too silly of them, to begin with; and,
besides, why should they burn the trees? If they wanted to be wicked like
that they'd burn the house,' declared Horatia.

'Ay, so they would have done before now if they'd had half a chance; but
it's too well protected. Why, there's police in it day and night, and
they know it!' he declared.

'All the same, I agree with Horatia, it does seem funny after yesterday,'
chimed in Sarah from the back-seat. 'And I can't think how those top
branches caught.'

'No, because you don't know your home as well as you might,' said her
father.

'What does he mean?' asked Sarah of her uncle.

'I suppose he means that the granaries are on fire, and that they've set
the trees alight,' explained Mr Howroyd, whose face was very white and
set, but with a different look of determination from his brother's.

They were in the park now.

'Turn off to the right, Tom,' said his master.

'Take the women-folk to the house first, Mark,' pleaded his brother.

'To the fire, Tom. I'll catch the rascals red-handed!' roared Mr Clay.

'Don't get out; go on in the car,' said Mr Howroyd to his niece in an
undertone; but his advice fell on deaf ears.

Sarah was excited enough now, for they had turned a sharp corner at an
angle, which made Mrs Clay give a sharp cry, and there in front of them
were the blazing remains of two huge barns and some charred trunks of
trees, while others were still burning.

In the roar and crackle of the flames and the crash of falling timber,
the approach of the motor had not been heard by the exci