118 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

lose nothing : nevertheless, he was
in furious wrath, and declared aloud
that the fire was due to no accident,
but to some foul intent.

Nello, awakened from his sleep,
ran to help with the rest. Baas
Cogez thrust him angrily aside.
“Thou wert loitering here after
dark,” he said roughly. “TI believe,
on my soul, that thou dost know
more of the fire than any one!”

Nello heard him in silence, stu-
pefied, not supposing that any one
could say such things except in jest,
-and not comprehending how any one
could pass a jest at such a time.

Nevertheless, the miller said the
brutal thing openly to many of his
neighbors in the day that followed ;