There was indeed a mild excitement in the farms round Boarzell when Reuben's new plan became known. In those times gunpowder was seldom used for such purposes, and the undertaking was looked upon as a treat and a display.... "Backfield's going to bust up his willer-rootses--fine sight it'll be--like as not blow his own head off--I'll be there to see." So when Reuben came to his territory the next afternoon he found a small crowd assembled--Ditch, Ginner, Realf of Grandturzel, Coalbran of Doozes, Pilcher of Birdseye, with a sprinkling of their wives, families, and farm-hands. He himself had brought Naomi, and Harry was to join them when he came back from an errand to Moor's Cottage. Reuben felt a trifle important and in need of spectators. This was to be the crowning act of conquest. When those roots were shattered away there would be nothing but time and manure between him and the best oat-crop in Peasmarsh. A quarter of an hour passed, and there was no sign of Harry. Reuben grew impatient, for he wanted to have the ground tidied up by sunset. It was a wan, mould-smelling afternoon, and already the sun was drifting through whorls of coppery mist towards the shoulder of Boarzell. Reuben looked up to the gorse-clump on the ridge, from behind which he expected Harry to appear. "I can't wait any longer," he said to Naomi, "something's kept him." "He'll be disappointed," said Naomi softly. "I can't help that--the sun's near down, and I must have everything präaper by dark." He went to where the fuse lay like a snake in the grass, and struck his flint. "Stand back everybody; I'm going to start her." The group huddled back a few yards. The little flame writhed along towards the stump. There was silence. Reuben stood a little way in front of the others, leaning forward with eager, parted lips. Suddenly Naomi cried out: "There's Harry!" A shadow appeared against the copper sky, and ran towards them down the hill. For a moment nobody seemed to realise what was boding. Then they heard a shout that sounded like "Wait for me!" Naomi felt something rise in her throat and sear the roof of her mouth like a hot cinder. She tried to scream, but her parched tongue would not move. She staggered forward, but Reuben flung her back. "Stop!" he shouted. Harry did not seem to hear. "Stop!" yelled Reuben again. Then he cried, "Stand back!" to the crowd, and ran towards his brother. But it was too late. There was a sudden roar, a sheet of flame, a crash, a dreadful scream, and then a far more dreadful silence. One or two flames sang out of a hole in the ground, but scarcely anything could be seen for the pall of smoke that hung over Boarzell, black, and evil-smelling. The fumes made men choke, then they shuddered and drew together, for through the smell of smoke and gunpowder came the horrible smell of burnt flesh.