AN AUTUMN RAMBLE IN SURREY 109 



harber for them crawlin' varmints you knows 'em. 

 Why the young uns was afraid to come up this 'ere 

 stripe for worts ; for they was hissin' and crawlin' 

 all over the place. It's cleared 'em off for a time, 

 I reckon/ 



' What was the cause of that fire, do ye think ? ' 



* An uncommon good un, if I could just get them 

 words out what some gentleman said as was paintin' 

 picturs about here. 'Twas spon somethin' or other. 

 I know it was a spon.' 



' Was it spontaneous combustion ? ' 



1 Yes, that's it ; don't it sound gran' ? ' Turning 

 round and looking me full in the face, he continued : 

 * You knows us, and we knows you ; yes, it was just 

 that ere spontaneous combustun ; and I reckon there's 

 more on it comin' before long. 'Tain't a bad name 

 for it. Maybe there's another, but spon sounds 

 best. One thing I'm going to tell ye, and most mortal 

 strange 'tis too. 'Twas a dark night, as you knows ; 

 well, when the fire was tearin' full speed, we hears 

 a noise overhead what brought all on us to a stand. 

 'Twas a sort of cryin' whistle like ; on'y there seemed 

 to be no end to it. Sometimes 'twas just over- 

 head, then 'twas high up, and then it come from 

 the firs. It was a row, and no mistake. Some on 

 'em said it warn't a nateral noise. Whatever it was 



