The firing had ceased, and
the besieged were congratulating themselves on success, when a sudden
light glared across the fields. A sheet of flame soon came curling over
the crest of a wheat-stack, and quickly wrapped the inflammable material
in its fierce torrent. Against this destruction there remained no remedy.
The barns and inclosures which, so lately, had been lying in the darkness
of the hour, were instantly illuminated, and life would have been the
penalty paid by any of either party, who should dare to trust his person
within the bright glare. The borderers were soon compelled to fall back,
even within the shadows of the hill, and to seek such covers as the
stockades offered, in order to avoid the aim of the arrow or the bullet.
"This is a mournful spectacle to one that has harvested in charity with
all men;" said Content to the trembler who convulsively grasped his arm,
as the flame whirled in the currents of the heated air, and, sweeping once
or twice across the roof of a shed, left a portion of its torrent creeping
insidiously along the wooden covering.
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