Plot and Counterplot. 119

corner of one of the panes enabled me to hear dis-
tinctly. They were not talking and laughing loud,
as on other days ; they were discussing earnestly, not
whether Mr. Prickard should be attacked, but how.
The plan that seemed to find most favour was to
set fire to some of the out-houses, especially the
coal-shed, which was next to the dwelling-house,
and which, once alight, would be almost inex-
tinguishable ; and then, as they expressed it, to let
it take its chance. My father, I was glad to hear,
objected to this, because there were servants and
other people in the house whom they had no wish
to injure. His proposal was, to set fire to the
stacks in the haggart ; and when Mr. Prickard ran
out, as he surely would, to fire at him, not so as to
injure, but to frighten him. The others objected to
the danger of remaining on the spot after the fire
had been discovered ; and people, they said, who
chose to have to do with such a fellow as Prickard,
must take their chance of perishing with him. My
father retorted that no one was to perish ; the dis-
cussion grew hot and fierce, and the end of it was,
that, as usual, the more violent counsel prevailed,
and my father, though his was the wisest head of
the party, was overridden, and saw that he must
either give in to the others or break away from the
conspiracy ; and that the others would not easily