The place was old, half-timbered and thatched, and the dry straw of the roof was blazing strongly. 'It's the cottage he works in, in the garden - his workroom. They all poured down to the end of the lane. Some of the villagers had seen' the glare too, and were running down the lane as well. 'Come on - it looks as if it's down Haycock Lane.' 'The house will be burnt down before the firemen comeĪll the way from the next village!' said Larry. 'It's a fire, isn't it? Whose house is burning, do you think? Will they send for the fire- engine?' 'I should have thought you'd have been asleep.' 'Hallo, Bets! You coming too?' called Daisy, surprised. The light picked out a boy about his own age, and with him a small girl of about eight. 'It's Pip, I bet,' said Larry, and shone his torch up the drive. As they went down the lane they passed another house, and heard the sound of hurrying footsteps coming down the drive there. Larry and Daisy dressed quickly, and then ran down the stairs and out into the dark garden. Mummy and Daddy are out, so they won't know anything about the fire. 'We'd better go and see,' said Larry, excited. Do you think it's some one's house on fire?' 'It looks pretty big, doesn't it? I wonder what it is. His sister came into the bedroom in her nightdress. There's a funny flare-up down in the village somewhere.' He had pulled back his curtains so that the daylight would wake him, and he suddenly saw the flare to the west. Larry Daykin was just getting into bed when he saw it. Then suddenly, to the west of the village, a great light flared up. The village of Peterswood was perfectly quiet and peaceful, except for a dog barking somewhere. It was at half-past nine on a dark April night that all the excitement began.