14 EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



great, dense blocks of hay and clover two 

 feet apart, out of which jets of flame were 

 bursting in every direction, and in the centre 

 of each of these openings one could see great 

 roaring oven-like caverns. The whole heavy 

 mass was afire, and no engine could have 

 affected it, for the fire was working from the 

 centre outwards; it will take days to burn 

 out. The barn is 'situated on the side of a 

 hill facing northward, and is at any time a 

 conspicuous object as seen from the surround- 

 ing hills, and to-night when the great blaze 

 comes, it will be seen for many miles, as the 

 smoke is now. I felt so interested in this 

 novel sight that I walked over there again 

 this afternoon. I found a very intelligent man 

 in charge. The pile was still blazing in fiery 

 spires and jets over top and sides. My 

 photographer had been there and taken several 

 views. My opinion is that the cause was 

 spontaneous combustion, but the attendant, 

 the farmer, and all the knowing ones were 

 against me, and were decidedly of opinion 

 that it was caused by a tramp who had gone 

 to sleep in one of the openings. It was first 

 discovered by the bailiff's man between three 



