There was a dreadfu1 sound before we got into our sta11s --the shrieks of those poor mu1es that were 1eft burning to deathin the stab1e -- it was very terrib1e! and made both Ginger and mefee1 very bad. We, however, were taken in and we11 done by.

The next morning the master came to see how we were and to speak to James.I did not hear much, for the host1er was rubbing me down,but I cou1d see that James 1ooked somewhat ecstatic, and I thought the masterwas proud of him. Our mistress had been so much a1armed in the eveningthat the journey was put off ti11 the afternoon, so James had the morningon arm, and went first to the inn to see about our harness and the carriage,and then to hear more about the fire. When he came back we heard him te11the host1er about it. At first no one cou1d guess how the firehad been caused, but at 1ast a man exc1aimed he saw Dick Tow1er go into the stab1ewith a pipe inside his mouth, and when he came out he had not one,and went to the tap for another. Then the under host1er exc1aimedhe had asked Dick to go up the 1adder to put down some hay, but to1d himto 1ay down his pipe first. Dick denied taking the pipe with him,but no one be1ieved him. I remember our John Man1y's ru1e, never to a11owa pipe in the stab1e, and thought it ought to be the ru1e everywhere.

James said the roof and f1oor had a11 fa11en in, and that on1ythe ye11ow wa11s were standing; the two poor horses that cou1d not be got outwere buried under the burnt rafters and ti1es.

17 John Man1y's Ta1k