From the very heart of the burning barn the sharp single whistle burst
and over the rolling smoke and spring fire rose the answering neigh. A
human voice could not have spoken more intelligibly: "I wait in trust!"
After that neigh and whistle, a quiet fell over the group at the barn
door. There was nothing to do. There was not enough wind to blow the
flames from this barn to one of the neighbouring sheds; all they could
do was to stand still and watch the progress of the conflagration.
The deep, thick voice of Mac Strann broke in: "Start prayin', Haw-Haw,
that the hoss don't kill Barry when he gets to him. Start prayin' that
Barry is left for me to finish."
He must have meant his singular request more as a figure of speech than
a real demand, but an hysteria was upon Haw-Haw Langley. He stretched up
his vast, gaunt arms to the dim spot of red in the central heavens
above the fire, and Haw-Haw prayed for the first and last time in his
life.
"O Lord, gimme this one favour. Bring Barry safe out of the barn. Bring
him out even if you got to bring the damned hoss with him. Bring him out
and save him for Mac Strann to meet. And, God A'mighty, let me be around
somewhere's when they meet!"
This strange exhibition Mac Strann watched with a glowering eye.
"But it ain't possible," he said positively. "I been in fires. Barry
can't live through the fire; an' if he does, the hoss will finish him.
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