Smokehole

The ovens they now build are well vaulted, with vent-holes on the sides, just underneath the roof, and a chimney closed at top, having a smoke-hole on each side. Through these smoke-holes no spark can get, so as to set fire to the straw spread about it, and the whole kiln is thus preserved from taking fire, owing to the chimney’s being closed at top.

Wind and rain fought it out on Cladich brae, and when it was not the wind that came bold through the smoke-hole in the roof, ’twas the rain, a beady slant that hissed on the peats like roasting herrings.

A splash of white on the floor came from the high moon, which was peering down through the smoke-hole in the roof.

Each of the large houses was the home of several families. The door and the smoke-hole were common to all, but each family had its own fire with its own things round it.

Drifting sparks floated up and out of the smokehole.