THE RESULT OF A BONFIRE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 45, 8 November 1890, Page 22

THE RESULT OF A BONFIRE.

T’S the fifth of November, have you forgotten that important fact ?’ said Robert Hind, as he ran alongside his great chum, Henry Fallers, to school. It was very hot, and as the two boys came to a hill, they were obliged to slacken their pace a little, though the fear of being late made them still walk fast. ‘ I know it is,’ said Henry, breathlessly. ‘ I say. what are we going to do ’’ ■ Have fireworks and a bonfire, of course : why didn’t you get them ready ? I only came home last night, and I thought I should have found a whole pile of stuff up that paddock where we had it last year.’ ‘ Well, we did get all ready, and all of the fellows helped, even the girls carried wood, and we should have had the best blaze ever seen in New Zealand, but what do you think happened ’’ ■ I don't know. Hurry up, we’re nearly at school.’ ‘ Well,’said Henry, ‘some sneaking rascal crept into the paddock and burnt every scrap of our bonfire down to the ground.’ • What a mean trick !’ cried Robert. ‘ When did it happen, and who did it ?’ ■ I don’t really know,’ answered Henry, slowly, ‘ but no one saw it burning, so we think it was done in the middle of the night.’ ■ Yes, yes, but who did it ? Oh lif I could only catch him !’ • Hush, we don’t reallv know, but I think it was that skunk. Bill Hadfell.’ •Why?’ ‘ Oh. he was hanging about, and would not help us, so we ordered him off the premises.’ • Yes. and then ?’ ‘ I believe in revenge he came in the night and burnt it all down ’.’ • Mean cur !' cried Robert. ‘ What are you going to do .•’ • Well, we don’t speak to him. anyway,’ answered Henry, and the two boys went into the class-room. When they were again in the playground a number of them met together to devise some plan of paying Bill Hadfell out. First one idea was proposed, and then another. At last one boy said : ‘lfon’t you fellows think it would be better to find out first if Hadfell really did it ?’ ■ There was a general cry of, “ Oh, we know he did t" ‘ • How do you know ?’ • < Inly because there was no one else who was likely to do such a thing,’ said Henry Fallers. At last a plan was fixed upon, and late that night wa~ carried out. Henry and Roliert were the ringleaders. They piled a quantity of fern, pine needles, and brush wood under the window of Bill Hadfell's room. He slept in a sort of lean-to off the kitchen, whilst his parents and little sisters were upstairs in the front part of the house. So the boys fancied that thev would not lie disturbed by the little bonfire under Bill's window. A match was struck, the fire was lighted ; but it blazed up far more quickly than they had at all fancied it would. A breeze suddenly arose, anil drove the flames against the wooden house. In another minute there was a terrible cry from the bonfire makers, • The house is on fire !' Bill opened his window, but the heat and smoke drove him quickly out of his room. He rushed through the kitchen and met the frightened group of boys. •«th ! w hat shall we do ?' they cried. ‘We never meant to do this '.’ ‘(let some water,’ cried Bill, and he made a dash for a couple of tin pails which stood ready for the morning’s milking.

Bat the fire was spreading rapidly, and with a shriek of * They’ll all be burned !" hill turned to re-enter the kitchen. But a mass of flames barret! his progress. He ran rapidly round the house, and flung himself against the front door, calling out as loudly as possible, ‘ Father ! Mother I Fire ! Fire I’ The door would not yield, so he smashed the sittingroom window, and ran up the stairs still calling oat. His parents were quickly aroused, and then the children, and all were speedily on tfie grass in front of the burning house—all but one. ‘ Where’s Ethel :' cried the mother, suddenly. ‘ I don't see Ethel.' At that moment a pretty little girl’s face appeared at the window of the children’s room. ‘ Peep ! Peep !’ she cried. The father aud Bill made a quick rush for the front door, but it was reached first by Henry, who was standing nearest it. t'p the now burning stairs he flew, scarcely noticing the smoke and heat, and into the room where the child stood. • Quick, come with me !’ he cried : but Ethel jumped off the chair on which she had climbed, and ran to the further side of the room. Half-blinded by smoke, Henry caught her in his arms, and turned to go, but at the threshold a thick puff’ of smoke and little tongues of flame met him, and he was forced to turn back. He rushed to the window and called out, ■ Get a ladder, quick, the stairs are burning !’ ‘ There is no ladder, throw out the mattress !’ cried Mr Hadfell. Henry put the little girl down, and pulling the mattress oft' the bed, flung it out, and some blankets. Then he tore a sheet in two, tied the ends together, and fastening it round the little girl’s waist, lowered her as far as he could through the window, and then let her drop into a blanket held at each coiner by four willing supports. ‘ Now jump yourself,’ cried Mr Hadfell, and Henry, half suffocated, made the attempt, and fell amongst the blankets and mattress. He was not hurt by the fall, but was badly burned by his rapid flight up the staircase. When an inquiry was made into the origin of the fire the boys confessed that they had merely intended to give Bill Hadfell a good fright by letting the smoke go into his window and singing out ‘ Fire !’ They owned it was exceedingly wrong of them, and very careless and thoughtless, though they had not foreseen the terrible consequences of their prank. ‘ But why did you wish to frighten me ?’ asked Bill. Then they told him, and he said he had certainly not done such a mean trick as burn down their bonfire.

The boys were dreadfully ashamed of themselves, ami truly they did not find ‘ revenge is sweet." ifr Hadfell forgave them for the alarm and loss they had caused, him, and the headmaster of the school, at their fathers’ request, hel|>ed them to remember the sth of November by a thorough good caning. But they never found out who burnt the bonfire.

Jack Frost.