The animals had escaped from the stables, and driven forth by the flames were racing wildly across the country.

The cow and the work horse were dragging their halters broken by their flight.

Their flanks were smoking and smelt of burnt hair.

The pigs, the sheep and the chickens were all tearing along mingled with the cats and the dogs.

All the domestic animals were returning to a brute existence, fleeing from civilized man.