The Weathercock, Being the Adventures of a Boy with a Bias, by GeorgeManville Fenn. 

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There is actually another title to this book, "The Boy Inventer", andthat is just the character of our sixteen-year-old hero. He is livingwith his uncle, who is a doctor in a small Lincolnshire village. He isfriendly, after a fashion, with three boys who are living in theRector's house, where they are being educated. 

Our hero, Vane Lee, is also a bit of a naturalist, as is the author ofthis book. But some of his inventions have a way of going wrong, as forexample when he decides to make the defective church clock work. Hetakes it all to pieces, cleans all the parts up, and puts it alltogether again--with the exception of two vital wheels. In the middleof the night the clock's bell begins to strike without cease--the signalin the village for a fire. Everybody turns out and rushes about withfire hoses looking for the fire, and it takes a while before they findout that there never was a fire at all. 

But one day Vane is set upon by two gipsy boys, and beaten nearly todeath. Nobody knows who did the deed, as Vane is for a long whileunconscious. Eventually he comes round, and things become a little bitclearer, but exactly how I will not reveal here. 

The typography of the book we used was not very good, and there were anumber of spelling inconsistencies. For instance "gipsy" is sometimesspelt "gipsey" and sometimes "gypsy". And the unfortunate Mr Deeringis sometimes spelt "Dearing" and sometimes "Dereing". I hope we haveironed these things out, as well as making the hyphenation moreconsistent throughout the book. 

Read it, or listen to it--you'll enjoy it. 

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THE WEATHERCOCK, BEING THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY WITH A BIAS, BY GEORGEMANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

TOADSTOOLS!

"Oh, I say, here's a game! What's he up to now?"

"Hi! Vane! Old weathercock! Hold hard!"

"Do you hear? Which way does the wind blow?"

Three salutations shouted at a lad of about sixteen, who had just shownhimself at the edge of a wood on the sunny slope of the Southwolds, oneglorious September morning, when the spider-webs were still glitteringwith iridescent colours, as if every tiny strand were strung withdiamonds, emeralds and amethysts, and the thick green moss that clothedthe nut stubbs was one glorious sheen of topaz, sapphire and gold. Downin the valley the mist still hung in thick patches, but the sun's rayswere piercing it in many directions, and there was every promise of ahot day, such as would make the shade of the great forest with itsacorn-laden oaks welcome, and the whole place tempting to one who caredto fill pocket or basket with the bearded hazelnuts, already beginningto show colour in the pale green husks, while the acorns, too, werechanging tint slightly, and growing too big for their cups. 

The boy, who stood with his feet deep in moss, was framed by the longlithe hazel stems, and his sun-browned face looked darker in the shadeas, bareheaded, his cap being tucked in the band of his Norfolk jacket, he passed one hand through his short curly hair, to remove a dead leafor two, while the other held a little basket full of something of abright orange gold; and as he glanced at the three youths in the road, he hurriedly bent down to rub a little loam from the knees of hisknickerbockers--loam freshly gathered from some bank in the wood. 

"Morning, " he said, as the momentary annoyance caused by the encounterpassed off. "How is it you chaps are out so early?"

"Searching after you, of course, " said the first speaker. "What haveyou got there?"

"These, " said the lad, holding up his basket, as he stepped down amongstthe dewy grass at the side of the road. "Have some?"

"Have some? Toadstools?"

"Toad's grandmothers!" cried the lad. "They're all chanterelles--forbreakfast. Delicious. "

The first of the three well-dressed youths, all pupils reading with theReverend Morton Syme, at the Rectory, Mavis Greythorpe, Lincolnshire, gave a sidelong glance at his companions and advanced a step. 

"Let's look, " he said. 

The bearer of the basket raised his left hand with his fungoid booty, frankly trusting, and his fellow-pupil delivered a sharp kick at thebottom of the wicker receptacle--a kick intended to send the goldenchalice-like fungi flying scattered in the air. But George Vane Lee wasas quick in defence as the other was in attack, and his parry was madein the easiest and most effortless way. 

It was just this:--

He let the basket swing down and just passed his right hand forward, seeming only to brush the assailant's ankle--in fact it was the meresttouch, but sufficient to upset the equilibrium of a kicker on one leg, and the next moment Lance Distin was lying on his back in a perfecttangle of brambles, out of which he scrambled, scratched and furious, amidst a roar of laughter from his companions. 

"You beggar!" he cried, with his dark eyes flashing, and a red spot ineach of his sallow cheeks. 

"Keep off!" cried the mushroom bearer, backing away. "Lay hold of him, Gilmore--Aleck!"

The lads addressed had already caught at the irate boy's arms. 

"Let go, will you!" he yelled. "I'll let him know. "

"Be quiet, or we'll all sit on you and make you. "

"I'll half kill him--I'll nearly break his neck. "

"No, don't, " said the boy with the basket, laughing. "Do you want yourleave stopped? Nice you'd look with a pair of black eyes. "

"You can't give them to me, " roared the lad, passionately, as he stillstruggled with those who held him, but giving them little trouble inkeeping him back. 

"Don't want to. Served you right. Shouldn't have tried to kick over mybasket. There, don't be in such a temper about that. "

"I'll pay you for it, you miserable cad!"

"Don't call names, Distie, " said the lad coolly. "Those who play atbowls must expect rubbers. Let him go, boys; he won't hurt me. "

It was a mere form that holding; but as the detaining pair loosenedtheir hold, Lance Distin gave himself a violent wrench, as if he werewresting himself free, and then coloured to the roots of his hair, as hesaw the laugh in his adversary's eyes. 

"Distie's got no end of Trinidad sun in him yet. --What a passionatefellow you are, Cocoa. I say, these are good, really. Come home withme and have breakfast. "

Lance Distin, son of a wealthy planter in the West Indies, turned awayscornfully, and the others laughed. 

"Likely, " said Fred Gilmore, showing his white teeth. "Why, I wouldn'tpoison a cat with them. "

"No, " said Aleck Macey; "I know. "

"Know what?"

"It's a dodge to make a job for his uncle, because the doctor can't getany practice. "

"Don't want any, " said the lad, good-humouredly. "If he did, he'd goback to Savile Row. "

"Not he, " snarled Distin, pausing in his occupation of removing thornsfrom his jacket. "Killed all his patients, and was obliged to run awayinto the country. "

"That's it!" said Vane Lee, with a laugh. "What a clever chap you are, Distie; at least you would be if your tongue wasn't quite so sharp. There, shake hands, I didn't mean to hurt you. "

He stretched out rather a dirty hand, at which the young Creole gave acontemptuous glance, looked at his own white fingers, and thrust theminto his pockets. 

"Ah, well, they are dirty, " said Vane, laughing. "No, they're not. It's only good old English soil. Come on. Uncle will be glad to seeyou, and then we'll all walk up to the Rectory together. "

_Crick_!

Distin struck a match, and, with a very haughty look on his thin face, began to puff at a cigarette which he had taken from a little silvercase, Vane watching him scornfully the while, but only to explode withmirth the next moment, for the young West Indian, though he came fromwhere his father's plantations produced acres of the pungent weed, wasnot to the manner born, and at the third draw inhaled so much acridsmoke that he choked, and stood coughing violently till Vane gave him ahearty slap on his back. 

Down went the cigarette, as Distin made a bound forward. 

"You boor!" he coughed out; and, giving the lad a malevolent look, heturned haughtily to the others. 

"Are you fellows coming home to breakfast?"

He did not pause for an answer, but walked off sharply in the directionof the Rectory, a quarter of a mile from the little sleepy town. 

"Oh, I say, " cried Vane, in a tone full of remorse, "what an oldpepper-pot he is! I didn't mean to upset him. He began it, --now, didn't he?"

"Yes, of course, " said Gilmore. "Never mind. He'll soon come round. "

"Oh, yes, " said Macey. "I shouldn't take any notice. He'll forget itall before night. "

"But it seems so queer, " said the lad, taking out and examining one ofhis mushrooms. "I just came out for a walk, and to pick some of theseto have cooked for breakfast; and just as I've got a nice basketful, Icome upon you fellows, and you begin to chaff and play larks, and thenext moment I might have been knocking all the skin off my knucklesagainst Distin's face, if I hadn't backed out--like a coward, " he added, after a pause. 

"Oh, never mind, " said the others. 

"But I do mind, " cried the lad. "I want to be friends with everyone. Ihate fighting and quarrelling, and yet I'm always getting intohot-water. "

"Better go and get your hands in now--with soap, " said Macey, staring atthe soil-marks. 

"Pooh! a rinse in the water-cress stream would take that off. Nevermind Distin: come home, you two. "

"No, not this morning, " said Gilmore. 

"I won't ask you to taste the mushrooms: honour bright. "

"Wouldn't come if you did, " said Macey, with a merry laugh on hishandsome face. "Old Distie would never forgive us if we came home withyou now. "

"No, " said Gilmore; "he'd keep us awake half the night preaching at you. Oh! here's old Syme. "

"Ah, gentlemen, good-morning, " said a plump, florid clergyman withglittering glasses. "That's right, walk before breakfast. Good forstamina. Must be breakfast time though. What have you got there, Lee?"

"Fungi, sir. "

"Hum! ha!" said the rector bending over the basket. "Which? Fungi, soft as you pronounce it, or Fungi--Funghi, hard, eh?"

"Uncle says soft, sir, " said Vane. 

"Hum--ha--yes, " said the rector, poking at one of the vegetable growthswith the forefinger of his gloved hand. "He ought to know. But, _vulgo_, toadstools. You're not going to eat those, are you?"

"Yes, sir. Will you try a few?"

"Eh? Try a few, Lee? Thanks, no. Too much respect for my gastricregion. And look here; hadn't you better try experiments on Jamby'sdonkey? It's very old. "

"Wouldn't be any good, sir. Nothing would hurt him, " said Vane, laughing. 

"Hum! ha! Suppose not. Well, don't poison one of my pupils--yourself. Breakfast, gentlemen, breakfast. The matutinal coffee and one ofBrader's rolls, not like the London French, but passably good; and thereis some cold stuffed chine. "

"Cold stuffed chine!" said Vane, as he walked in the other direction. "Why, these will be twice as good--if Martha will cook 'em. Nastyprejudiced old thing!"

Ten minutes later he reached a gate where the remains of a fine oldavenue leading up to a low mossy-looking stone house, built manygenerations back; and as he neared it, a pleasant odour, suggestive ofbreakfast, saluted his nostrils, and he went round and entered thekitchen, to be encountered directly by quite an eager look from itsoccupant, as he made his petition. 

The Weathercock--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER TWO. 

AUNT AND UNCLE. 

"No, Master Vane, I'll not, " cried cook, bridling up, and looking as ifan insult had been offered to her stately person; "and if master andmissus won't speak, it's time someone else did. "

"But I only want them just plainly stewed with a little butter, pepper, and salt, " said Vane, with the basket in his hand. 

"A little butter and pepper and salt, sir!" cried cook reproachfully; "alittle rhubar' and magneshire, you mean, to keep the nasty pysonousthinks from hurting of you. Really I do wonder at you, sir, a-goingabout picking up such rubbish. "

"But they're good food--good to eat. "

"Yes, sir; for toads and frogs. Don't tell me, sir. Do you think Idon't know what's good Christian food when I see it, and what isn't?"

"I know you think they're no good, but I want to try them as anexperiment. "

"Life isn't long enough, sir, to try sperrymens, and I'd sooner go andgive warning at once than be the means of laying you on a bed of agonyand pain. "

"Oh, well, never mind, cook, let me do them myself. "

"What?" cried the stout lady in such a tone of indignant surprise thatthe lad felt as if he had been guilty of a horrible breach of etiquette, and made his retreat, basket and all, toward the door. 

But he had roused Martha, who, on the strength of many years' servicewith the doctor and his lady in London, had swollen much in mind as wellas grown stout in body, and she followed him to the kitchen-door wherehe paused without opening it, for fear of the dispute reaching the earsof aunt and uncle in the breakfast-room. 

"Look here, Martha, " he said, "don't be cross. Never mind. I'm sorry Iasked you. "

"Cross? Cross, Master Vane? Is it likely I should make myself crossabout a basketful of rubbishing toadstools that you've wasted your timein fetching out of the woods?"

"No, no, you are not cross, and I beg your pardon. "

"And I wouldn't have thought it of you, sir. The idee, indeed, of youwanting to come and meddle here in my kitchen!"

"But I don't want to, I tell you, so don't say any more about it. "

But before Vane could grasp the woman's intention, she had snatched thebasket from his hand and borne it back to the table, upon which shethumped it with so much vigour that several of the golden chalice-likefungi leaped out. 

"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Vane. 

"What you told me, sir, " said cook austerely, and with a great hardeningof her face. "I don't forget my dooties, sir, if other people do. "

"Oh, but never mind, cook, " cried Vane. "I'm sorry I asked you. "

"Pray don't say any more about it, sir. The things shall be cooked andsent to table, and it's very thankful you ought to be, I'm sure, thatmaster's a doctor and on the spot ready, for so sure as you eat thatmess in the parlour, you'll all be on a bed of sickness before night. "

"Now, Martha, " cried Vane; "that's just what you said when I asked youto cook the parasol mushrooms. "

"Paragrandmother mushrooms, sir; you might just as well call them bytheir proper name, umberrella toadstools, and I don't believe any oneate them. "

"Yes; uncle and I ate them, and they were delicious. Cook these thesame way. "

"I know how to cook them, sir, only it's an insult to proper mushroomsto dress them in the same way as good wholesome food. "

"That's good wholesome food, " said Vane, "only people don't know it. Iwanted to bring you some big puff balls to fry for me, but you turn socross about it. "

"And enough to make anyone turn cross, sir. There, that will do now. I've said that I'd cook them, and that's enough. "

Vane Lee felt that there was nothing to be done now but make a retreat, and he went into the hall where Eliza Jane, the doctor's housemaid, waswhisking a feather-brush about, over picture-frames, and ornaments, curiosities from different parts of the world, and polishing the halltable. From this she flew to the stand and caught up the hat brush withwhich she attacked the different hats on the pegs, speaking over hershoulder at Vane in a rapid way as she went on. 

"Now, don't you ask me to do anything, Master Vane, because I'm allbehind, and your aunt's made the tea and waiting for you, and your unclewill be back directly, for he has only gone down the garden for a walk, and to pick up the fallen peaches. "

"Wasn't going to ask you to do anything, " was the reply. 

"But you've been asking cook to do something, and a nice fantigue she'llbe in. She was bad enough before. I wouldn't have such a temper forall the money in the Bank of England. What have you been asking her todo?--Bother the hat!"

Eliza was brushing so vigorously that she sent Vane's hard felt hat, which she had just snatched up from where he had placed it, flying tothe other end of the hall just as Doctor Lee, a tall, pleasant-lookinggrey-haired man, came in from the garden with a basket of his gleaningsfrom beneath the south wall. 

"That meant for me?" he said, staring down at the hat and then at Vane. 

"Which I beg your pardon, sir, " said the maid, hurriedly. "I wasbrushing it, and it flew out of my hand. "

"Ah! You should hold it tight, " said the doctor, picking up the hat, and looking at a dint in the crown. "It will require an operation toremove that depression of the brain-pan on the _dura mater_. I mean onthe lining, eh, Vane?"

"Oh, I can soon put that right, " said the boy merrily, as he gave it apunch with his fist and restored the crown to its smooth dome-likeshape. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, "but you see we cannot do that with a man whohas a fractured skull. Been out I see?" he continued, looking down atthe lad's discoloured, dust-stained boots. 

"Oh, yes, uncle, I was out at six. Glorious morning. Found quite abasketful of young chanterelles. "

"Indeed? What have you done with them?"

"Been fighting Martha to get her to cook them. "

"And failed?" said the doctor quietly, as he peered into the basket, andturned over the soft, downy, red-cheeked peaches he had brought in. 

"No, uncle, --won. "

"Now, you good people, it's nearly half-past eight. Breakfast--breakfast. Bring in the ham, Eliza. "

"Good-morning, my dear, " said the doctor, bending down to kiss thepleasantly plump elderly lady who had just opened the dining-room door, and keeping up the fiction of its being their first meeting thatmorning. 

"Good-morning, dear. "

"Come, Vane, my boy, " cried the doctor, "breakfast, breakfast. Here'saunt in one of her furious tempers because you are so late. "

"Don't you believe him, my dear, " said the lady. "It's too bad. Andreally, Thomas, you should not get in the habit of telling such dreadfulfibs even in fun. Had a nice walk, Vane?"

"Yes, aunt, and collected a capital lot of edible fungi. "

"The word fungi's enough to make any one feel that they are not edible, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah. "What sort did you get? Not those nasty, tall, long-legged things you brought before?"

"No, aunt; beautiful golden chanterelles. I wanted to have them cookedfor breakfast. "

"And I have told him it would be high treason, " said the doctor. "Martha would give warning. "

"No, no, my dear, not quite so bad as that, but leave them to me, andI'll cook them for lunch myself. "

"No need, aunt; Martha came down from her indignant perch. "

"I'm glad of that, " said the lady smiling; "but, one minute, before wego in the dining-room: there's a beautiful _souvenir_ rosebud over thewindow where I cannot reach it. Cut it and bring it in. "

"At your peril, sir, " said the doctor fiercely. "The last rose ofsummer! I will not have it touched. "

"Now, my dear Tom, don't be so absurd, " cried the lady. "What is theuse of your growing roses to waste--waste--waste themselves all over theplace. "

"You hear that, Vane? There's quoting poetry. Waste their sweetness onthe desert air, I suppose you mean, madam?"

"Yes: it's all the same, " said the lady. "Thank you, my dear, " shecontinued, as Vane handed the rose in through the window. 

"My poor cut-down bloom, " sighed the doctor; but Vane did not hear him, for he was setting his hat down again in the museum-like hall, close bythe fishing-tackle and curiosities of many lands just as a door wasopened and a fresh, maddening odour of fried ham saluted his nostrils. 

"Oh, murder!" cried the lad; and he rushed upstairs, three steps at atime, to begin washing his hands, thinking the while over his encounterwith his Creole fellow-pupil. 

"Glad I didn't fight him, " he muttered, as he dried his knuckles, andlooked at them curiously. "Better than having to ask uncle for hissticking-plaster. "

He stopped short, turning and gazing out of the bedroom window, whichlooked over the back garden toward the field with their Jersey cows; andjust then a handsome game-cock flapped his bronzed wings and sent forthhis defiant call. 

"Cock-a-doodle-doo! indeed, " muttered Vane; "and he thinks me a regularcoward. I suppose it will have to come to a set-to some day. I feelsure I can lick him, and perhaps, after all, he'll lick me. "

"Oh, Vane, my dear boy, don't!" cried Mrs Lee, as the lad rushed downagain, his feet finding the steps so rapidly that the wonder was that hedid not go headlong, and a few seconds later, he was in his place at thedining-room table, tastily arranged with its plate, china, and flowers. 

A walk before breakfast is a wonderful thing for the appetite, and Vanesoon began with a sixteen-year-old growing appetite upon the whitebread, home-made golden butter, and the other pleasant products of thedoctor's tiny homestead, including brahma eggs, whose brown shellssuggested that they must have been boiled in coffee. 

The doctor kept the basket he had brought in beside him on the cloth, and had to get up four times over to throw great fat wood-lice out ofthe window, after scooping them up with a silver tablespoon, the darkgrey creatures having escaped from between the interstices of thebasket, and being busily making their way in search of some dry, darkcorner. 

"It is astonishing what a predilection for peaches the wood-louse has, "said the doctor, resuming his seat. 

"All your fault, uncle, " said Vane, with his mouth full. 

"Mine! why?"

"You see you catch them stealing, and then you forgive them and let themgo to find their way back to the south wall, so that they can beginagain. "

"Humph! yes, " said the doctor; "they have plenty of enemies to shortentheir lives without my help. Well, so you found some mushrooms, didyou?"

"Yes, uncle, just in perfection. "

"Some more tea, dear?" said Vane's aunt. "I hope you didn't bring manyto worry cook with. "

"Only a basket full, aunty, " said Vane merrily. 

"What!" cried the lady, holding the teapot in air. 

"But she is going to cook them for dinner. "

"Really, my dear, I must protest, " said the lady. "Vane cannot knowenough about such things to be trusted to bring them home and eat them. I declare I was in fear and trembling over that last dish. "

"You married a doctor, my dear, " said Vane's uncle quietly; "and you sawme partake of the dish without fear. Someone must experimentalise, somebody had to eat the first potato, and the first bunch of grapes. Nature never labelled them wholesome food. "

"Then let somebody else try them first, " said the lady. "I do not feeldisposed to be made ill to try whether this or that is good for food. Iam not ambitious. "

"Then you must forgive us: we are, " said the doctor dipping into hisbasket. "Come, you will not refuse to experimentalise on a peach, mydear. There is one just fully ripe, and--dear me! There are twowood-lice in this one. Eaten their way right in and living there. "

He laid one lovely looking peach on a plate, and made another dip. 

"That must have fallen quite early in the night, " said Vane, sharply, "slugs have been all over it. "

"So they have, " said the doctor, readjusting his spectacles. "Here is asplendid one. No: a blackbird has been digging his beak into that. Andinto this one too. Really, my dear, I'm afraid that my garden friendsand foes have been tasting them all. No, here is one with nothing thematter, save the contusion consequent from its fall from the mothertree. "

"On to mother earth, " said Vane laughing. "I say, uncle, wouldn't it bea good plan to get a lot of that narrow old fishing net, and spread itout hanging from the wall, so as to catch all the peaches that fall?"

"Excellent, " said the doctor. 

"I'll do it, " said Vane, wrinkling up his brow, as he began to puzzlehis brains about the best way to suspend the net for the purpose. 

Soon after, the lad was in the doctor's study, going over some papers hehad written, ready for his morning visit to the rectory; and this puthim in mind of the encounter with his fellow-pupil, Distin, and made himthoughtful. 

"He doesn't like me, " the boy said to himself; "and somehow I feel as ifI do not like him. I don't want to quarrel, and it always seems as ifone was getting into hot-water with him. He's hot-blooded, I suppose, from being born in the West Indies. Well, if that's it, " mused Vane, "he can't help it any more than I can help being cool because I was bornin England. I won't quarrel with him. There. "

And taking up his books and papers, he strapped them together, and setoff for the rectory, passing out of the swing-gate, going along the roadtoward the little town above which the tall grey-stone tower stood up inthe clear autumn air with its flagstaff at the corner of thebattlements, its secondary tower at the other corner, holding within itthe narrow spiral staircase which led from the floor to the leads; andabout it a little flock of jackdaws sailing round and round beforesettling on the corner stones, and the top. 

"Wish I could invent something to fly with, " thought Vane, as he reachedthe turning some distance short of the first houses of the town. "Itdoes seem so easy. Those birds just spread out their wings, and floatabout wherever they please with hardly a beat. There must be a way, ifone could only find it out. "

He went off into the pleasant lane to the left, and caught sight of abunch of blackberries apparently within reach, and he was about to crossthe dewy band of grass which bordered the road, when he recollected thathe had just put on clean boots, and the result of a scramble through andamong brambles would be unsatisfactory for their appearance in therector's prim study. So the berries hung in their place, left to ripen, and he went on till a great dragon-fly came sailing along the moist laneto pause in the sunny openings, and poise itself in the clear air whereits wings vibrated so rapidly that they looked like a patch of cleargauze. 

Vane's thoughts were back in an instant to the problem that has puzzledso many minds; and as he watched the dragon-fly, a couple of swallowsskimmed by him, darted over the wall, and were gone. Then, floppingidly along in its clumsy flight, came a white butterfly, and directlyafter a bee--one of the great, dark, golden-banded fellows, with a soft, velvety coat. 

"And all fly in a different way, " said Vane to himself, thoughtfully. "They all use wings, but all differently; and they have so much commandover them, darting here and there, just as they please. I wonderwhether I could make a pair of wings and a machine to work them. Itdoesn't seem impossible. People float up in balloons, but that isn'tenough. I think I could do it, and--oh, hang it, there goes ten, andthe rector will be waiting. I wonder whether I can recollect all hesaid about those Greek verbs. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

IN THE STUDY. 

Vane reached the rectory gate and turned in with his brains in the air, dashing here and there like a dragon-fly, skimming after the fashion ofa swallow, flying steadily, bumble-bee-fashion, and flopping faintly asthe butterfly did whose wings were so much out of proportion to the sizeof its body. Either way would do, he thought, or better still, if hecould fly by a wide-spread membrane stretched upon steel or whaleboneribs or fingers like a bat. Why not? he mused. There could be noreason; and he was beginning to wonder why he had never thought ofmaking some flying machine before, when he was brought back to earthfrom his imaginary soarings by a voice saying, --

"Hullo! here's old Weathercock!" and this was followed by a laugh whichbrought the colour into his cheeks. 

"I don't care, " he thought. "Let him laugh. Better be a weathercockand change about, than be always sticking fast. Uncle says we can'thelp learning something for one's trouble. "

By this time he was at the porch, which he entered just as the footmanwas carrying out the breakfast things. 

"Rector isn't in the study then, Joseph?" said Vane. 

"No, sir; just coming in out of the garden. Young gents is in theretogether. "

Vane felt disposed to wait and go in with the rector, but, feeling thatit would be cowardly, he walked straight in at the study door to findDistin, Gilmore, and Macey seated at the table, all hard at work, butapparently not over their studies. 

"Why, gracious!" cried Macey. 

"Alive?" said Gilmore. 

"Used to it, " sneered Distin. "That sort of creature takes a deal ofkilling. "

"What's the matter?" said Vane, good-humouredly, taking a seat. 

"Why, " said Gilmore, "we were all thinking of writing to our tailors tosend us suits of mourning out of respect for you--believe it or not asyou please. "

"Thankye, " said Vane quietly. "Then I will not believe it, becauseDistin wouldn't order black if I were drowned. "

"Who said a word about drowned? I said poisoned, " cried Gilmore. 

"Not a word about it. But why?"

"Because you went home and ate those toadstools. "

"Wrong, " said Vane quietly, "I haven't eaten them yet. "

"Then three cheers for the tailors; there's a chance for them yet, "cried Macey. 

"Why didn't you eat them?" asked Gilmore. "Afraid?"

"I don't think so. They'll be ready by dinner time, will you come?"

Grimaces followed, as Vane quietly opened his books, and glanced roundthe rector's room with its handsome book-cases all well filled, chimney-piece ornamented with classic looking bronzes; and the wholeplace with its subdued lights and heavily curtained windows suggestiveof repose for the mind and uninterrupted thought and study. 

Books and newly-written papers lay on the table, ready for application, but the rector's pupils did not seem to care about work in their tutor'sabsence, for Macey, who was in the act of handing round a tin box whenVane entered, now passed it on to the latter. 

"Lay hold, old chap, " he said. Vane opened it, and took out a piece ofcrisp dark brown stickiness generally known as "jumble, " and transferredit to his mouth, while four lower jaws were now seen at work, giving thepupils the aspect of being members of that portion of the quadrupedalanimal kingdom known as ruminants. 

"Worst of this stuff is, " said Macey, "that you get your teeth stucktogether. Oh, I say, Gil, what hooks! A whole dozen?"

Gilmore nodded as he opened a ring of fine silkworm gut, and began toexamine the points and backs of the twelve bright blue steel hooks atthe ends of the gut lengths, and the carefully-tied loops at the other. 

"Where did you buy them?" continued Macey, as he gloated over the brighthookah. 

No answer. 

"Where did you buy them, Gil?" said Macey again. 

"Cuoz--duoz--ooze. "

"What!" cried Macey; and Distin and Vane both looked wonderingly attheir fellow-pupil, who had made a peculiar incoherent guttural noise, faintly represented by the above words. 

Then Vane began to laugh. 

"What's the matter, Gil?" he said. 

Gilmore gave his neck a peculiar writhe, and his jaws a wrench. 

"I wish you fellows wouldn't bother, " he cried. "You, Macey, ought toknow better: you give a chap that stickjaw stuff of yours, and thenworry him to speak. Come by post, I said. From London. "

Distin gave vent to a contemptuous sniff, and it was seen that he wasbusily spreading tobacco on thin pieces of paper, and rolling them upinto cigarettes with the nonchalant air of one used to such feats ofdexterity, though, truth to tell, he fumbled over the task; and as henoticed that Vane was observing him with a quiet look of good-humouredcontempt, his fingers grew hot and moist, and he nervously blunderedover his task. 

"Well, " he said with a vicious twang in his tones, "what are you staringat?"

"You, " replied Vane, with his hand holding open a Greek Lexicon. 

"Then mind your lessons, schoolboy, " retorted Distin sharply. "Did younever see a gentleman roll a cigarette before?"

"No, " said Vane quietly, and then, feeling a little nettled by theother's tone, he continued, "and I can't see one now. "

Distin half rose from the table, crushing a partly formed cigarette inhis hand. 

"Did you mean that for another insult, sir?" he cried in a loud, angryvoice. 

"Oh, I say, Distie, " said Gilmore, rising too, and catching his arm, "don't be such a pepper-pot. Old Weathercock didn't mean any harm. "

"Mind your own business, " said Distin, fiercely wrenching his arm free. 

"That is my business--to sit on you when you go off like a firework, "said Gilmore merrily. "I say, does your father grow much ginger on hisplantation?"

"I was speaking to the doctor's boy, and I'll thank you to be silent, "cried Distin. 

"Oh, I say, don't, don't, don't!" cried Macey, apostrophising all three. "What's the good of kicking up rows about nothing! Here, Distie, " hecontinued, holding out his box; "have some more jumble. "

Distin waved the tin box away majestically, and turned to Vane. 

"I said, sir, goo--gloo--goog--"

He stepped from his place to the window in a rage, for his voice hadsuddenly become most peculiar; and as the others saw him thrust a whitefinger into his mouth and tear out something which he tried to throwaway but which refused to be cast off, they burst into a simultaneousroar of laughter, which increased as they saw the angry lad suck hisfinger, and wipe it impatiently on his handkerchief. 

"Don't you give me any of your filthy stuff again, you. Macey, " hecried. 

"All right, " said the culprit, wiping the tears out of his eyes, andtaking the tin box from his pocket. "Have a bit more?"

Distin struck the tin box up furiously, sending it flying open, as itperformed an arc in the air, and distributing fragments of thehard-baked saccharine sweet. 

"Oh, I say!" cried Macey, hastily stooping to gather up the pieces. "Here, help, Gil, or we shall have Syme in to find out one of them bysitting on it. "

"Look here, sir, " cried Distin, across the table to Vane, who sat, aslast comer, between him and the door, "I said did you mean that as aninsult?"

"Oh, rubbish!" replied Vane, a little warmly now; "don't talk in thatmanner, as if you were somebody very big, and going to fight a duel. "

"I asked you, sir, if you meant that remark as an insult, " cried Distin, "and you evade answering, in the meanest and most shuffling way. I wasunder the impression when I came down to Greythorpe it was to read withEnglish gentlemen, and I find--"

"Never mind what you find, " said Vane; "I'll tell you what you do. "

"Oh, you will condescend to tell me that, " sneered Distin. "Pray whatdo I do?"

"Don't tell him, Lee, " said Gilmore; "and stop it, both of you. MrSyme will be here directly, and we don't want him to hear us squabblingover such a piece of idiotic nonsense. "

"And you call my resenting an insult of the most grave nature a piece ofidiocy, do you, Mr Gilmore?"

"No, Mr Distin; but I call the beginning of this silly row a piece ofidiocy. "

"Of course you fellows will hang together, " said Distin, with acontemptuous look. "I might have known that you were not fit to trustas a friend. "

"Look here, Dis, " said Gilmore, in a low, angry voice, "don't you talkto me like that. "

"And pray why, sir?" said Distin, in a tone full of contempt. 

"Because I'm not Vane, sir, and--"

"I say, old chaps, don't, please don't, " cried Macey, earnestly. "Lookhere; I've got a tip from home by this morning's post, and I'll be agood feed to set all square. Come: that's enough. " Then, imitating therector's thick, unctuous voice, "Hum--ha!--silence, gentlemen, if youplease. "

"Silence yourself, buffoon!" retorted Distin, sharply, and poor Maceysank down in his chair, startled, or assuming to be. 

"No, Mr Gilmore, " said Distin, haughtily, "you are not Vane Lee, yousaid, and--and what?"

"I'll tell you, " cried the lad, with his brow lowering. "I will not sitstill and let you bully me. He may not think it worth his while to hitout at a foreign-bred fellow who snaps and snarls like an angry dog, butI do; and if you speak to me again as you did just now, I'll show youhow English-bred fellows behave. I'll punch your head. "

"No, you will not, Gil, " said Vane, half rising in his seat. "I don'twant to quarrel, but if there must be one, it's mine. So look here, Distin: you've done everything you could for months past to put me outof temper. "

"He--aw!--he--aw!" cried Macey, in parliamentary style. 

"Be quiet, jackass, " cried Distin; and Macey began to lower himself, inmuch dread, under the table. 

"I say, " continued Vane, "you have done everything you could to put meout of temper, and I've put up with it patiently, and behaved like acoward. "

"He--aw, he--aw!" said Macey again; and Vane shook his fist at himgood-humouredly. 

"Amen. That's all, then, " cried Macey; and then, imitating the rectoragain, "Now, gentlemen, let us resume our studies. "

"Be quiet, Aleck, " said Gilmore, angrily; "I--"

He did not go on, for he saw Distin's hand stealing toward a heavydictionary, and, at that moment, Vane said firmly:--

"I felt it was time to show you that I am not quite a coward. I didmean it as an insult, as you call it. What then?"

"That!" cried Distin, hurling the dictionary he had picked up with allhis might at his fellow-pupil, across the table, but without effect. Vane, like most manly British lads, knew how to take care of himself, and a quick movement to one side was sufficient to allow the big book topass close to his ear, and strike with a heavy bang against the doorpanel just as the handle rattled, and a loud "Hum--ha!" told that therector was coming into the room for the morning's reading. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

MARTHA'S MISTAKE. 

As quickly as if he were fielding a ball, Vane caught up the volume fromwhere it fell, and was half-way back to his seat as the rector came in, looking very much astonished, partly at the noise of the thump on thedoor, partly from an idea that the dictionary had been thrown as aninsult to him. 

Macey was generally rather a heavy, slow fellow, but on this occasion hewas quick as lightning, and, turning sharply to Distin, who looked paleand nervous at the result of his passionate act. 

"You might have given the dictionary to him, Distin, " he said, in areproachful tone. "Don't do books any good to throw 'em. "

"Quite right, Mr Macey, quite right, " said the rector, blandly, as hemoved slowly to the arm-chair at the end of the table. "Really, gentlemen, you startled me. I was afraid that the book was intended forme, hum--ha! in disgust because I was so late. "

"Oh, no, sir, " cried Distin, with nervous eagerness. 

"Of course not, my dear Distin, of course not. An accident--an error--of judgment. Good for the binders, no doubt, but not for the books. And I have an affection for books--our best friends. "

He subsided into his chair as he spoke. 

"Pray forgive me for being so late. A little deputation from the town, Mr Rounds, my churchwarden; Mr Dodge, the people's. A little questionof dispute calling for a gentle policy on my part, and--but, no matter;it will not interest you, neither does it interest me now, in the faceof our studies. Mr Macey, shall I run over your paper now?"

Macey made a grimace at Vane, as he passed his paper to the rector; and, as it was taken, Vane glanced at Distin, and saw that his lips weremoving as he bent over his Greek. Vane saw a red spot in each of hissallow cheeks, and a peculiar twitching about the corners of his eyes, giving the lad a nervous, excitable look, and making Vane remark, --

"What a pity it all is. Wish he couldn't be so easily put out. Hecan't help it, I suppose, and I suppose I can. There, he shan't quarrelwith me again. I suppose I ought to pitch into him for throwing thebook at my head, but I could fight him easily, and beat him, and, if Idid, what would be the good? I should only make him hate me instead ofdisliking me as he does. Bother! I want to go on with my Greek. "

He rested his head upon his hands determinedly, and, after a great dealof effort, managed to condense his thoughts upon the study he had inhand; and when, after a long morning's work, the rector smilinglycomplimented him upon his work, he looked up at him as if he thought itwas meant in irony. 

"Most creditable, sir, most creditable; and I wish I could say the sameto you, my dear Macey. A little more patient assiduity--a little moresolid work for your own sake, and for mine. Don't let me feeluncomfortable when the Alderman, your respected father, sends me hiscustomary cheque, and make me say to myself, `We have not earned thishonourably and well. '"

The rector nodded to all in turn, and went out first, while, as bookswere being put together, Macey said sharply:--

"Here, Vane; I'm going to walk home with you. Come on!"

Vane glanced at Distin, who stood by the table with his eyeshalf-closed, and his hand resting upon the dictionary he had turned intoa missile. 

"He's waiting to hear what I say, " thought Vane, quickly. Thenaloud:--"All right, then, you shall. I see through you, though. Youwant to be asked to lunch on the toadstools. "

In spite of himself, Vane could not help stealing another glance atDistin, and read in the contempt which curled his upper lip that he wasaccusing him mentally of being a coward, and eager to sneak away. 

"Well, let him, " he thought. "As I am not afraid of him, I can affordit. "

Then he glanced at Gilmore who was standing sidewise to the window withhis hands in his pockets; and he frowned as he encountered Vane's eyes, but his face softened directly. 

"I won't ask you to come with us, Gil, " said Vane frankly. 

"All right, old Weathercock, " cried Gilmore; and his face lit up nowwith satisfaction. 

"He doesn't think I'm afraid, " said Vane to himself. 

"Am I to wait all day for you?" cried Macey. 

"No; all right, I'm coming, " said Vane, finishing the strapping togetherof his books. --"Ready now. "

But he was not, for he hesitated for a moment, coloured, and then hisface, too, lit up, and he turned to Distin, and held out his hand. 

"I'm afraid I lost my temper a bit, Distie, " he said; "but that's allover now. Shake hands. "

Distin raised the lids of his half-closed eyes, and gazed full at thespeaker, but his hand did not stir from where it rested upon the book. 

And the two lads stood for some moments gazing into each other's eyes, till the blue-veined lids dropped slowly over Distin's, and without wordor further look, he took his cigarette case out of his pocket, walkeddeliberately out of the study, and through the porch on to the graveldrive, where, directly after, they heard the sharp _crick-crack_ of amatch. 

"It's all going to end in smoke, " said Macey, wrinkling up his forehead. "I say, it isn't nice to wish it, because I may be in the samecondition some day; but I do hope that cigarette will make him feelqueer. "

"I wouldn't have his temper for anything, " cried Gilmore, angrily. "Itisn't English to go on like that. "

"Oh, never mind, " said Vane; "he'll soon cool down. "

"Yes; but when he does, you feel as if it's only a crust, " criedGilmore. 

"And that the jam underneath isn't nice, " added Macey. "Never mind. It's nothing fresh. We always knew that our West India possessions wererather hot. Come on, Vane. I don't know though. I don't want to gonow. "

"Not want to come? Why?"

"Because I only wanted to keep you two from dogs delighting again. "

"You behaved very well, Vane, old fellow, " said Gilmore, ignoringMacey's attempts to be facetious. "He thinks you're afraid of him, andif he don't mind he'll someday find out that he has made a mistake. "

"I hope not, " said Vane quietly. "I hate fighting. "

"You didn't seem to when you licked that gipsy chap last year. "

Vane turned red. 

"No: that's the worst of it. I always feel shrinky till I start; andthen, as soon as I get hurt, I begin to want to knock the other fellow'shead off--oh, I say, don't let us talk about that sort of thing; one hasgot so much to do. "

"You have, you mean, " said Gilmore, clapping him on the shoulder. "What's in the wind now, Weathercock?"

"He's making a balloon, " said Macey, laughing. 

Vane gave quite a start, as he recalled his thoughts about flight thatmorning. 

"Told you so, " cried Macey merrily; "and he's going to coax pepper-potDistin to go up with him, and pitch him out when they reach the firstlake. "

"No, he isn't, " said Gilmore; "he's going to be on the look-out, forDistie's sure to want to serve him out on the sly if he can. "

"Coming with us?" said Vane. 

"No, not this time, old chap, " said Gilmore, smiling. "I'm going to bemerciful to your aunt and spare her. "

"What do you mean?"

"I'll come when Aleck Macey stops away. He does eat at such a frightfulrate, that if two of us came your people would never have us in at theLittle Manor again. "

Macey made an offer as if to throw something, but Gilmore did not seeit, for he had stepped close up to Vane and laid his hand upon hisshoulder. 

"I'm going to stop with Distie. Don't take any notice of his temper. I'm afraid he cannot help it. I'll stay and go about with him, as ifnothing had happened. "

Vane nodded and went off with Macey, feeling as if he had never likedGilmore so much before; and then the little unpleasantry was forgottenas they walked along from the rectory gates, passing, as they reachedthe main road, a party of gipsies on their way to the next town withtheir van and cart, both drawn by the most miserable specimens of thefour-legged creature known as horse imaginable, and followed by aboutseven or eight more horses and ponies, all of which found time to crop alittle grass by the roadside as cart and van were dragged slowly along. 

It was not an attractive-looking procession, but the gipsies themselvesseemed active and well, and the children riding or playing about thevehicles appeared to be happy enough, and the swarthy, dark-eyed women, both old and young, good-looking. 

Just in front of the van, a big dark man of forty slouched along, with awhip under his arm, and a black pipe in his mouth; and every now andthen he seemed to remember that he had the said whip, and took it inhand, to give it a crack which sounded like a pistol shot, with theresult that the horse in the van threw up its head, which had hung downtoward the road, and the other skeleton-like creature in the cart threwup its tail with a sharp whisk that disturbed the flies which appearedto have already begun to make a meal upon its body, while the scattereddrove of ragged ponies and horses ceased cropping the roadside herbage, and trotted on a few yards before beginning to eat again. 

"They're going on to some fair, " said Macey, as he looked curiously atthe horses. "I say, you wouldn't think anyone would buy such animals asthose. "

"Want to buy a pony, young gentlemen?" said the man with the pipe, sidling up to them. 

"What for?" said Macey sharply. "Scarecrow? We're not farmers. "

The man grinned. 

"And we don't keep dogs, " continued Macey. "Oh, I say, George, you havegot a pretty lot to-day. "

The gipsy frowned and gave his whip a crack. 

"Only want cleaning up, master, " he said. 

"Going to the fair?"

The man nodded and went on, for all this was said without the two ladsstopping; and directly after, driving a miserable halting pony whichcould hardly get over the ground, a couple of big hulking lads ofsixteen or seventeen appeared some fifty yards away. 

"Oh, I say, Vane, " cried Macey; "there's that chap you licked last year. You'll see how he'll smile at you. "

"I should like to do it again, " said Vane. "Look at them banging thatpoor pony about. What a shame it seems!"

"Yes. You ought to invent a machine for doing away with such chaps asthese. They're no good, " said Macey. 

"Oh, you brute!--I say, don't the poor beggar's sides sound hollow!"

"Hollow! Yes, " cried Vane indignantly; "they never feed them, and thatpoor thing can't find time to graze. "

"No. It will be a blessing for it when it's turned into leather andglue. "

"Go that side, and do as I do, " whispered Vane; and they separated, andtook opposite sides of the road, as the two gipsy lads stared hard atthem, and as if to rouse their ire shouted at the wretched pony, andbanged its ribs. 

What followed was quickly done. Vane snatched at one stick and twistedit out of the lad's hand nearest to him Macey followed suit, and theboys stared. 

"It would serve you precious well right if I laid the stick about yourshoulders, " cried Vane, breaking the ash sapling across his knee. 

"Ditto, ditto, " cried Macey doing the same, and expecting an attack. 

The lads looked astonished for the moment, but instead of resenting theact, trotted on after the pony, which had continued to advance; and, assoon as they were at a safe distance, one of them turned, put his handto his mouth and shouted "yah!" while the other took out his knife andflourished it. 

"Soon cut two more, " he cried. 

"There!" said Macey, "deal of good you've done. The pony will only getit worse, and that's another notch they've got against you. "

"Pish!" said Vane, contemptuously. 

"Yes, it's all very well to say pish; but suppose you come upon themsome day when I'm not with you. Gipsies never forget, and you see ifthey don't serve you out. "

Vane gave him a merry look, and Macey grinned. 

"I hope you will always be with me to take care of me, " said Vane. 

"Do my best, old fellow--do my best, little man. I say, though, do youmean me to come and have lunch?"

"It'll be dinner to-day, " said Vane. 

"But won't your people mind?"

"Mind! no. Uncle and aunt both said I was to ask you to come as oftenas I liked. Uncle likes you. "

"No; does he?"

"Yes; says you're such a rum fellow. "

"Oh!"

Macey was silent after that "oh, " and the silence lasted till theyreached the manor, for Vane was thinking deeply about the quarrel thatmorning; but, as the former approached the house, he felt no misgivingsabout his being welcome, the doctor, who was in the garden, comingforward to welcome him warmly, and Mrs Lee, who heard the voices, hastening out to join them. 

Ten minutes later they were at table, where Macey proved himself apretty good trencherman till the plates were changed and Eliza broughtin a dish and placed it before her mistress. 

"Hum!" said the doctor, "only one pudding and no sweets. Why, Macey, they're behaving shabbily to you to-day. "

Aunt Hannah looked puzzled, and Vane stared. 

"Is there no tart or custard, Eliza?" asked the doctor. 

"Yes, sir; both coming, sir, " said the maid, who was very red in theface. 

"Then what have you there?"

Eliza made an unspellable noise in her throat, snatched off the coverfrom the dish, and hurried out of the room. 

"Dear me!" said the doctor putting on his glasses, and looking at thedish in which, in the midst of a quantity of brownish sauce, there was alittle island of blackish scraps, at which Aunt Hannah gazed blankly, spoon in hand. 

"What is it, my dear?" continued the doctor. 

"I'm afraid, dear, it is a dish of those fungi that Vane brought in thismorning. "

"Oh, I see. You will try them, Macey?"

"Well, sir, I--"

"Of course he will, uncle. Have a taste, Aleck. Give him some, aunt. "

Aunt Hannah placed a portion upon their visitor's plate, and Macey waswonderfully polite--waiting for other people to be served before hebegan. 

"Oh, I say, aunt, take some too, " cried Vane. 

"Do you wish it, my dear? Well, I will;" and Aunt Hannah helpedherself, as the doctor began to turn his portion over; and Macey thoughtof poisoning, doctors, and narrow escapes, as he trifled with thecontents of his plate. 

"Humph!" said the doctor breaking a painful silence. "I'm afraid, Vane, that cook has made a mistake. "

"Mistake, sir?" cried Macey, eagerly; "then you think they are notwholesome?"

"Decidedly not, " said the doctor. "I suppose these are yourchanterelles, Vane. "

"Don't look like 'em, uncle. "

"No, my boy, they do not. I can't find any though, " said the doctor, ashe turned over his portion with his fork. "No: I was wrong. "

"They are not the chanterelles then, uncle?"

"Oh, yes, my boy, they are. I was afraid that Martha had had anaccident with the fungi, and had prepared a substitute from my oldshooting boots, but I can't see either eyelet or nail. Can you?"

"Oh, my dear!" cried Aunt Hannah to her nephew; "do, pray, ring, andhave them taken away. You really should not bring in such things to becooked. "

"No, no: stop a moment, " said the doctor, as Macey grinned with delight;"let's see first whether there is anything eatable. "

"It's all like bits of shrivelled crackling, " said Vane, "only harder. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, "much. I'm afraid Martha did not like her job, and she has cooked these too much. No, " he added, after tasting, "thisis certainly not a success. Now for the tart--that is, if our youngfriend Macey has quite finished his portion. "

"I haven't begun, sir, " said the visitor. 

"Then we will wait. "

"No, no, please sir, don't. I feel as if I couldn't eat a bit. "

"And I as if they were not meant to eat, " said the doctor, smiling. "Never mind, Vane; we'll get aunt to cook the rest, or else you and Iwill experimentalise over a spirit lamp in the workshop, eh?"

"Yes, uncle, and we'll have Macey there, and make him do all the tastingfor being so malicious. "

"Tell me when it's to be, " said Macey, grinning with delight at gettingrid of his plate; "and I'll arrange to be fetched home for a holiday. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE MILLER'S BOAT. 

Vane so frequently got into hot-water with his experiments that he morethan once made vows. But his promises were as unstable as water, and hesoon forgot them. He had vowed that he would be contented with thingsas they were, but his active mind was soon at work contriving. 

He and Macey had borrowed Rounds the miller's boat one day for a row. They were out having a desultory wander down by the river, when theycame upon the bluff churchwarden himself, and he gave them a friendlynod as he stood by the roadside talking to Chakes about somethingconnected with the church; and, as the boys went on, Macey said, laughing, "I say, Weathercock, you're such a fellow for makingimprovements, why don't you take Chakes in hand, and make him look likethe miller?"

"They are a contrast, certainly, " said Vane, glancing back at thegloomy, bent form of the sexton, as he stood looking up sidewise at thebig, squarely-built, wholesome-looking miller. "But I couldn't improvehim. I say, what shall we do this afternoon?"

"I don't know, " said Macey. "Two can't play cricket comfortably. It'sstupid to bowl and field. "

"Well, and it's dull work to bat, and be kept waiting while the ball isfetched. Let's go to my place. I want to try an experiment. "

"No, thank you, " cried Macey. "Don't catch me holding wires, or beingset to pound something in a mortar. I know your little games, Vane Lee. You've caught me once or twice before. "

"Well, let's do something. I hate wasting time. "

"Come and tease old Gil; or, let's go and sit down somewhere nearDistie. He's in the meadows, and it will make him mad as mad if you gonear him. "

"Try something better, " said Vane. 

"Oh, I don't know. We might go blackberrying, only one seems to begetting too old for that sort of thing. Let's hire two nags, and have aride. "

"Well, young gents, going my way?" cried the miller, from behind them, as he strode along in their rear. 

"Where are you going?" said Vane. 

"Down to the mill. The wind won't blow, so I'm obliged to make up forit at the river mill, only the water is getting short. That's the bestof having two strings to your bow, my lads. By the time the water getslow, perhaps the wind may rise, and turn one's sails again. When Ican't get wind or water there's no flour, and if there's no flourthere'll be no bread. "

"That's cheerful, " cried Macey. 

"Yes; keeps one back, my lad. Two strings to one's bow arn't enough. Say, Master Lee, you're a clever sort of chap, and make all kinds of'ventions; can't you set me going with a steam engine thing as 'll makemy stones run, when there's no water?"

"I think I could, " said Vane, eagerly. 

"I thowt you'd say that, lad, " cried the miller, laughing; "but I'veheard say as there's blowings-up--explosions--over your works sometimes, eh?"

"Oh, that was an accident, " cried Vane. 

"And accidents happen in the best regulated families, they say, " criedthe miller. "Well, I must think about it. Cost a mint o' money to dothat. "

By this time they had reached the long, low, weather-boarded, woodenbuilding, which spanned the river like a bridge, and looked curiouslypicturesque among the ancient willows growing on the banks, and withtheir roots laving in the water. 

It was a singular-looking place, built principally on a narrow island inthe centre of the stream, and its floodgates and dam on either side ofthe island; while heavy wheels, all green with slimy growth, and lookinggrim and dangerous as they turned beneath the mill on either side, keptup a curious rumbling and splashing sound that was full of suggestionsof what the consequences would be should anyone be swept over them bythe sluggish current in the dam, and down into the dark pool below. 

"Haven't seen you, gents, lately, for a day's fishing, " said the miller, as he entered the swing-gate, and held it open for the lads to follow, which, having nothing else to do, they did, as a matter of course. 

"No, " said Macey; "been too busy over our books. "

The churchwarden laughed. 

"Oh, yes, I suppose so, sir. You look just the sort of boy who wouldwork himself to death over his learning. Tired of fishing?"

"I'm not, " said Vane. "Have there been many up here lately?"

"Swarms, " said the miller. "Pool's alive with roach and chub sometimes, and up in the dam for hundreds of yards you may hear the big tenchsucking and smacking their lips among the weeds, as if they was waitingfor a bit of paste or a fat worm. "

"You'll give us a day's fishing any time we like to come then, MrRounds?" said Vane. 

"Two, if you like, my lads. Sorry I can't fit you up with tackle, oryou might have a turn now. "

"Oh, I shan't come and fish that way, " cried Macey. "I've tried toooften. You make all kinds of preparations, and then you come, and thefish won't bite. They never will when I try. "

"Don't try enough, do he, Master Lee?"

"Yes, I do, " cried Macey. "I like fishing with a net, or I should liketo have a try if you ran all the water out of the dam, so that we couldsee what fish were in. "

"Yes, I suppose you'd like that. "

"Hi! Look there, Vane, " cried Macey, pointing to a newly-painted boatfastened by its chain to one of the willows. "I'm ready for a row ifMr Rounds would lend us the boat. "

"Nay, you'd go and drown yourself and Master Vane too. "

"Pooh! as if we couldn't row. I say, Mr Rounds, do lend us the boat. "

"Oh, well, I don't mind, my lads, if you'll promise to be steady, andnot get playing any games. "

"Oh, I'll promise, and there's no need to ask Lee. He's as steady asyou are. "

"All right, lads; you can have her. Oars is inside the mill. I'll showyou. Want to go up or down?"

"I don't care, " said Macey. 

"If you want to go down stream, I shall have to slide the boat down theovershoot. Better go up, and then you'll have the stream with youcoming back. Hello, here's some more of you. "

This was on his seeing Distin and Gilmore coming in the other direction, and Macey shouted directly:

"Hi! We've got the boat. Come and have a row. "

Gilmore was willing at once, but Distin held off for a few moments, butthe sight of the newly-painted boat, the clear water of the sunlitriver, and the glowing tints of the trees up where the stream woundalong near the edge of the wood, were too much for him, and he took thelead at once, and began to unfasten the chain. 

"You can fasten her up again when you bring her back, " said the miller, as he led the way into the mill. 

"I do like the smell of the freshly-ground flour, " cried Macey, as theypassed the door. "But, I say, Vane Lee, hadn't we better have gonealone? You see if those two don't monopolise the oars till they'retired, and then we shall have to row them just where they please. "

"Never mind, " said Vane; "we shall be on the water. "

"I'll help you pitch them in, if they turn nasty, as people call it, down here. "

"There you are, young gents, and the boat-hook, too, " said the miller, opening his office door, and pointing to the oars. "Brand noo uns I'vejust had made, so don't break 'em. "

"All right, we'll take care, " said Macey; and, after a few words ofthanks, the two lads bore out the oars, and crossed a narrow plankgangway in front of the mill to the island, where Distin and Gilmorewere seated in the boat. 

"Who's going to row?" said Macey. 

"We are, " replied Distin, quietly taking off his jacket, Gilmorefollowing suit, and Macey gave Vane a look, which plainly said, "Toldyou so, " as he settled himself down in the stern. 

The start was not brilliant, for, on pushing off, Distin did not takehis time from Gilmore, who was before him, and consequently gave him atremendous thump on the back with both fists. 

"I say, " roared Gilmore, "we haven't come out crab-catching. "

Whereupon Macey burst into a roar of laughter, and Vane smiled. 

Distin, who was exceedingly nervous and excited, looked up sharply, ignored Macey, and addressed Vane. 

"Idiot!" he cried. "I suppose you never had an accident in rowing. "

"Lots, " said Vane, with his face flushing, but he kept his temper. 

"Perhaps you had better take the oar yourself. "

"Try the other way, Mr Distin, sir, " cried the miller, in his big, bluff voice; and, looking up, they could see his big, jolly face at alittle trap-like window high up in the mill. 

"Eh! Oh, thank you, " said Distin, in a hurried, nervous way, and, rising in his seat, he was in the act of turning round to sit down withhis back to Gilmore, when a fresh roar of laughter from Macey showed himthat the miller was having a grin at his expense. 

Just then the little window shut with a sharp clap, and Distinhesitated, and glanced at the shore as if, had it been closer, he wouldhave leaped out of the boat, and walked off. But they were a goodboat's length distant, and he sat down again with an angry scowl on hisface, and began to pull. 

"In for a row again, " said Gilmore to himself. "Why cannot a fellowbear a bit of banter like that!"

To make things go more easily, Gilmore reversed the regular order ofrowing, and took his time, as well as he could, from Distin, and theboat went on, the latter tugging viciously at the scull he held. Theconsequence was, that, as there was no rudder and the river was notstraight, there was a tendency on the part of the boat to run its noseinto the bank, in spite of all that Gilmore could do to prevent it; andat last Macey seized the boat-hook, and put it over the stern. 

"Look here, " he cried, "I daresay I can steer you a bit with this. "

But his act only increased the annoyance of Distin, who had been nursinghis rage, and trying to fit the cause in some way upon Vane. 

"Put that thing down, idiot!" he cried, fiercely, "and sit still in theboat. Do you think I am going to be made the laughing-stock ofeverybody by your insane antics?"

"Oh, all right, Colonist, " said Macey, good-humouredly; "only somepeople would put the pole down on your head for calling 'em idiots. "

"What!" roared Distin; "do you dare to threaten me?"

"Oh, dear, no, sir. I beg your pardon, sir. I'm very sorry, sir. Ididn't come for to go for to--"

"Clown!" cried Distin, contemptuously. 

"Oh, I say, Vane, we are having a jolly ride, " whispered Macey, but loudenough for Distin to hear, and the Creole's dark eyes flashed at them. 

"I say, Distin, " said Gilmore in a remonstrant growl, "don't be soprecious peppery about nothing. Aleck didn't mean any harm. "

"That's right! Take his part, " cried Distin, making the water foam, ashe pulled hard. "You fellows form a regular cabal, and make a dead setat me. But I'm not afraid. You've got the wrong man to deal with, and--confound the wretched boat!"

He jumped up, and raising the scull, made a sharp dig with it at theshore, and would have broken it, had not Gilmore checked him. 

"Don't!" he cried, "you will snap the blade. "

For, having nearly stopped rowing as he turned to protest, the naturalresult was that the boat's nose was dragged round, and the sharp prowran right into the soft overhanging bank and stuck fast. 

Vane tried to check himself, but a hearty fit of laughter would come, one which proved contagious, for Macey and Gilmore both joined in, theformer rolling about and giving vent to such a peculiar set of gruntsand squeaks of delight, as increased the others' mirth, and made Distinthrow down his scull, and jump ashore, stamping with rage. 

"No, no, Distie, don't do that, " cried Gilmore, wiping his eyes. "Comeback. "

"I won't ride with such a set of fools, " panted Distin, hoarsely. "Youdid it on purpose to annoy me. "

He took a few sharp steps away, biting his upper lip with rage, and thelaughter ceased in the boat. 

"I say, Distin, " cried Vane; and the lad faced round instantly with avindictive look at the speaker as he walked sharply back to the boat, and sprang in. 

"No, I will not go, " he cried. "That's what you want--to get rid of me, but you've found your match. "

He sprang in so sharply that the boat gave a lurch and freed itself fromthe bank, gliding off into deep water again; and as Distin resumed hisscull, Gilmore waited for it to dip, and then pulled, so that solely byhis skill--for Distin was very inexperienced as an oarsman--the boat waskept pretty straight, and they went on up stream in silence. 

Macey gazed at Gilmore, who was of course facing him, but he could notlook at his friend without seeing Distin too, and to look at the lattermeant drawing upon himself a savage glare. So he turned his eyes toVane, with the result that Distin watched him as if he were certain thathe was going to detect some fresh conspiracy. 

Macey sighed, and gazed dolefully at the bank, as if he wished that hewere ashore. 

Vane gazed at the bank too, and thought of his ill luck in being at oddswith Distin, and of the many walks he had had along there with hisuncle. These memories brought up plenty of pleasant thoughts, and hebegan to search for different water-plants and chat about them to Macey, who listened eagerly this time for the sake of having something to do. 

"Look!" said Vane pointing; "there's the Stratiotes. "

"What?"

"Stratiotes. The water-soldier. "

"Then he's a deserter, " said Macey. "Hold hard you two, and let'sarrest him. "

"No, no; go on rowing, " said Vane. 

"Don't take any notice of the buffoon, Gilmore, " cried Distin sharply. "Pull!"

"I say, old cock of the weather, " whispered Macey, leaning over theside, "I'd give something to be as strong as you are. "

"Why?" asked Vane in the same low tone. 

"Because my left fist wants to punch Distie's nose, and I haven't gotmuscle enough--what do you call it, biceps--to do it. "

"Let dogs delight to bark and bite, " said Vane, laughing. 

"Don't, " whispered Macey; "you're making Distie mad again. He feelswe're talking about him. Go on about the vegetables. "

"All right. There you are then. That's all branched bur-reed. "

"What, that thing with the little spikey horse-chestnuts on it?"

"That's it. "

"Good to eat?"

"I never tried it. There's something that isn't, " continued Vane, pointing at some vivid green, deeply-cut and ornamental leaves. 

"What is it? Looks as if it would make a good salad. "

"Water hemlock. Very poisonous. "

"Do not chew the hemlock rank--growing on the weedy bank, " quoted Macey. "I wish you wouldn't begin nursery rhymes. You've started me off now. I should like some of those bulrushes, " and he pointed to a cluster ofthe brown poker-like growth rising from the water, well out of reachfrom the bank. 

"Those are not bulrushes. "

"What are they, then?"

"It is the reed-mace. "

"They'll do just as well by that name. I say, Distie, I want to cutsome of them. "

"Go on rowing, " said Distin, haughtily, to Gilmore, without glancing atMacey. 

"All right, my lord, " muttered Macey. "Halloo! What was that? a bigfish?"

"No; it was a water-rat jumped in. "

"All right again, " said Macey good-humouredly. "I don't know anythingat all. There never was such an ignorant chap as I am. "

"Give me the other scull, Gilmore, " said Distin, just then. 

"All right, but hadn't we better go a little higher first? The streamruns very hard just here. "

Distin uttered a sound similar to that made by a turkey-cock before hebegins to gobble--a sound that may be represented by the word _Phut_, and they preserved their relative places. 

"What are those leaves shaped like spears?" said Macey, giving Vane apeculiar look. 

"Arrowheads. "

"There, I do know what those are!" cried Macey, quickly as a shoal ofgood-sized fish darted of from a gravelly shallow into deep water. 

"Well, what are they?"

"Roach and dace. "

"Neither, " said Vane, laughing heartily. 

"Well, I--oh, but they are. "

"No. "

"What then?"

"Chub. "

"How do you know?"

"By the black edge round their tails. "

"I say!" cried Macey; "how do you know all these precious things soreadily?"

"Walks with uncle, " replied Vane. "I don't know much but he seems toknow everything. "

"Why I thought he couldn't know anything but about salts and senna, andbleeding, and people's tongues when they put 'em out. "

"Here, Macey and he had better row now, " cried Distin, suddenly. "Let'shave a rest, Gilmore. "

The exchange of position was soon made, and Macey said, as he rolled uphis sleeves over his thin arms, which were in peculiar contrast to hisround plump face:--

"Now then: let's show old pepper-pot what rowing is. "

"No: pull steadily, and don't show off, " said Vane quietly. "We want tolook at the things on the banks. "

"Oh, all right, " cried Macey resignedly; and the sculls dipped togetherin a quiet, steady, splashless pull, the two lads feathering well, and, with scarcely any exertion, sending the boat along at a fair pace, whileVane, with a naturalist's eye, noted the different plants on the banks, the birds building in the water-growth--reed sparrows, and bearded tits, and pointing out the moor-hens, coots, and an occasional duck. 

All at once, as they cut into a patch of the great dark flat leaves ofthe yellow water-lily, there was a tremendous swirl in the river justbeyond the bows of the boat--one which sent the leaves heaving andfalling for some distance ahead. 

"Come now, that was a pike, " cried Macey, as he looked at Distin lollingback nonchalantly, with his eyes half-closed. 

"Yes; that was a pike, and a big one too, " said Vane. "Let's see, opposite those three pollard willows in the big horseshoe bend. We'llcome and have a try for him, Aleck, one of these days. "

It was a pleasant row, Macey and Vane keeping the oars for a couple ofhours, right on, past another mill, and among the stumps which showedwhere the old bridge and the side-road once spanned the deeps--a bridgewhich had gradually decayed away and had never been replaced, as thetraffic was so small and there was a good shallow ford a quarter of amile farther on. 

The country was beautifully picturesque up here, and the latter part oftheir row was by a lovely grove of beeches which grew on a chalk ridge--almost a cliff--at whose foot the clear river ran babbling along. 

Here, all of a sudden, Macey threw up the blade of his oar, and at apull or two from Vane, the boat's keel grated on the pebbly sand. 

"What's that for?" cried Gilmore, who had been half asleep as he satright back in the stern, with his hands holding the sides. 

"Time to go back, " said Macey. "Want my corn. "

"He means his thistle, " said Distin, rousing himself to utter asarcastic remark. 

"Thistle, if you like, " said Macey, good-humouredly. "Donkey enjoys histhistle as much as a horse does his corn, or you did chewing sugar-caneamong your father's niggers. "

It was an unlucky speech, and like a spark to gunpowder. 

Distin sprang up and made for Macey, with his fists doubled, but Vaneinterposed. 

"No, " he said; "no fighting in a boat, please. Gilmore and I don't wanta ducking, if you do. "

There was another change in the Creole on the instant. The fierce angrylook gave place to a sneering smile, and he spoke in a husky whisper. 

"Oh, I see, " he said, gazing at Vane the while, with half-shut eyes. "You prompted him to say that. "

Vane did not condescend to answer, but Macey cried promptly, --

"That he didn't. Made it all up out of my own head. "

"A miserable insult, " muttered Distin. 

"But he had nothing to do with it, Distie, " said Macey; "all my own; andif you wish for satisfaction--swords or pistols at six sharp, withcoffee, I'm your man. "

Distin took no heed of him, but stood watching Vane, his dark half-shuteyes flashing as they gazed into the lad's calm wide-open grey orbs. 

"I say, " continued Macey, "if you wish for the satisfaction of agentleman--"

"Satisfaction--gentleman!" raged out Distin, as he turned suddenly uponMacey. "Silence, buffoon!"

"The buffoon is silent, " said Macey, sinking calmly down into his place;"but don't you two fight, please, till after we've got back and had somefood. I say, Gil, is there no place up here where we can buy sometuck?"

"No, " replied Gilmore; and then, "Sit down, Vane. Come, Distie, what isthe good of kicking up such a row about nothing. You really are toobad, you know. Let's, you and I, row back. "

"Keep your advice till it is asked for, " said Distin contemptuously. "You, Macey, go back yonder into the stern. Perhaps Mr Vane Lee willcondescend to take another seat. "

"Oh, certainly, " said Vane quietly, though there was a peculiarsensation of tingling in his veins, and a hot feeling about the throat. The peculiar human or animal nature was effervescing within him, andthough he hardly realised it himself, he wanted to fight horribly, andthere was that mastering him in those moments which would have made it akeen joy to have stood ashore there on the grass beneath the chalk cliffand pummelled Distin till he could not see to get back to the boat. 

But he did not so much as double his fist, though he knew that Macey andGilmore were both watching him narrowly and thinking, he felt sure, that, if Distin struck him, he would not return the blow. 

As the three lads took their seats, Distin, with a lordly contempt andarrogance of manner, removed his jacket, and deliberately doubled it upto place it forward. Then slowly rolling up his sleeves he took thesculls, seated himself and began to back-water but without effect, forthe boat was too firmly aground forward. 

"You'll never get her off that way, " cried Macey the irrepressible. "Now lads, all together, make her roll. "

"Sit still, sir!" thundered Distin--at least he meant to thunder, but itwas only a hoarse squeak. 

"Yes, sir; certainly, sir, " cried Macey; and then, in an undertone tohis companions, "Shall we not sterrike for ferreedom? Are we all--er--serlaves!"

Then he laughed, and slapped his leg, for Distin drew in one scull, rose, and began to use the other to thrust the boat off. 

"I say, you know, " cried Macey, as Gilmore held up the boat-hook toDistin, but it was ignored, "I don't mean to pay my whack if you breakthat scull. "

"Do you wish me to break yours?" retorted Distin, so fiercely that hiswords came with a regular snarl. 

"Oh, murder! he's gone mad, " said Macey, in a loud whisper; and screwingup his face into a grimace which he intended to represent horribledread, but more resembled the effects produced by a pin or thorn, hecrouched down right away in the stern of the boat, but kept up acontinuous rocking which helped Distin's efforts to get her off intodeep water. When the latter seated himself, turned the head, and beganto row back, that is to say, he dipped the sculls lightly from time totime, so as to keep the boat straight, the stream being strong enough tocarry them steadily down without an effort on the rower's part. 

Macey being right in the stern, Vane and Gilmore sat side by side, making a comment now and then about something they passed, while Distinwas of course alone, watching them all from time to time through hishalf-closed eyes, as if suspicious that their words might be relating tohim. 

Then a gloomy silence fell, which lasted till Macey burst out inecstatic tones:

"Oh, I am enjoying of myself!"

Then, after a pause:

"Never had such a glorious day before. "

Another silence, broken by Macey once more, saying in a deferentialway:--

"If your excellency feels exhausted by this unwonted exertion, yourservant will gladly take an oar. "

Distin ceased rowing, and, balancing the oars a-feather, he saidcoldly:--

"If you don't stop that chattering, my good fellow, I'll either pitchyou overboard, or set you ashore to walk home. "

"Thankye, " cried Macey, cheerfully; "but I'll take the dry, please. "

Distin's teeth grated together as he sat and scowled at hisfellow-pupil, muttering, "Chattering ape;" but he made no effort to puthis threats into execution, and kept rowing on, twisting his neck roundfrom time to time, to see which way they were going; Vane and Gilmorewent on talking in a low tone; and Macey talked to himself. 

"He has made me feel vicious, " he said. "I'm a chattering ape, am I?He'll pitch me overboard, will he? I'd call him a beast, only it wouldbe so rude. He'd pitch me overboard, would he? Well, I could swim ifhe did, and that's more than he could do. "

Macey looked before him at Vane and Gilmore, to see that the former hadturned to the side and was thoughtfully dipping his hand in the water, as if paddling. 

"Halloo, Weathercock!" he cried. "I know what you're thinking about. "

"Not you, " cried Vane merrily, as he looked back. 

"I do. You were thinking you could invent a machine to send the boatalong far better than old West Indies is doing it now. "

Vane stared at him. 

"Well, " he said, hesitatingly, "I was not thinking about Distin'srowing, but I was trying to hit out some way of propelling a boatwithout steam. "

"Knew it! I knew it! Here, I shan't read for the bar; I shall study upfor a head boss conjurer, thought-reader, and clairvoyant. "

"For goodness' sake, Gilmore, lean back, and stuff your handkerchief inthat chattering pie's mouth. You had better; it will save me frompitching him into the river. "

Then deep silence fell on the little party, and Macey's eyes sparkled. 

"Yes, he has made me vicious now, " he said to himself; and, as he satback, he saw something which sent a thought through his brain which madehim hug his knees. "Let me see, " he mused: "Vane can swim and dive likean otter, and Gil is better in the water than I am. All right, my boy;you shall pitch me in. "

Then aloud:

"Keep her straight, Distie. Don't send her nose into the willows. "

The rower looked sharply round, and pulled his right scull. Then, alittle further on, Macey shouted:--

"Too much port--pull your right. "

Distin resented this with an angry look; but Macey kept on in the mostunruffled way, and, by degrees, as the rower found that it saved himfrom a great deal of unpleasant screwing round and neck-twisting, hebegan to obey the commands, and pulled a little harder, so that theytravelled more swiftly down the winding stream. 

"Port!" shouted Macey. "Port it is! Straight on!"

Then, after a minute, --

"Starboard! More starboard! Straight on!"

Again: "Pull your right--not too much. Both hands;" and Distin calmlyand indifferently followed the orders, till it had just occurred to himthat the others might as well row now, when Macey shouted again:--

"Right--a little more right; now, both together. That's the way;" and, as again Distin obeyed, Macey shut his eyes, and drew up his knees. Togive a final impetus to the light craft, Distin leaned forward, threwback the blades of the sculls, dipped, and took hold of the water, andthen was jerked backwards as the boat struck with a crash on one of theold piles of the ancient bridge, ran up over it a little way, swunground, and directly after capsized, and began to float down stream, leaving its human freight struggling in deep water. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

DISTIN IS INCREDULOUS. 

"Oh, murder!" shouted Macey, as he rose to the surface, and struck outafter the boat, which he reached, and held on by the keel. 

Gilmore swam after him, and was soon alongside, while Vane made for thebank, climbed out, stood up dripping, and roaring with laughter. 

"Hi! Gil!--Aleck, bring her ashore, " he cried. 

"All right!" came back; but almost simultaneously Vane shouted again, ina tone full of horror:--

"Here, both of you--Distin--where's Distin?"

He ran along the bank as he spoke, gazing down into the river, butwithout seeing a sign of that which he sought. 

Macey's heart sank within him, as, for the first time, the realsignificance of that which he had done in carefully guiding the rower onto the old rotten pile came home. A cold chill ran through him, and, for the moment, he clung, speechless and helpless, to the drifting boat. 

But Vane soon changed all that. 

"Here, you!" he yelled, "get that boat ashore, turn her over, and cometo me--"

As he spoke, he ran to and fro upon the bank for a few moments, but, seeing nothing, he paused opposite a deep-looking place, and plunged in, to begin swimming about, raising his head at every stroke, and searchingabout him, but searching in vain, for their companion, who, as far as heknew, had not risen again to the surface. 

Meanwhile, Gilmore and Macey tried their best to get the boat ashore, and, after struggling for a few minutes in the shallow close under thebank, they managed to right her, but not without leaving a good deal ofwater in the bottom. Still she floated as they climbed in and thrusther off, but only for Gilmore to utter a groan of dismay as he graspedthe helplessness of their situation. 

"No oars--no oars!" he cried; and, standing up in the stern, he plungedinto the water again, to swim toward where he could see Vane's head. 

"What have I done--what have I done!" muttered Macey, wildly. "Oh, poorchap, if he should be drowned!"

For a moment he hesitated about following Gilmore, but, as he swept thewater with his eyes, he caught sight of something floating, and, sittingdown, he used one hand as a paddle, trying to get the boat toward themiddle of the river to intercept the floating object, which he had seento be one of the oars. 

Vane heard the loud splash, and saw that Gilmore was swimming to hishelp, then he kept on, looking to right and left in search of theircompanion; but everywhere there was the eddying water gliding along, andbearing him with it. 

For a time he had breasted the current, trying to get toward the deepswhere the bridge had stood, but he could make no way, and, concludingfrom this that Distin would have floated down too, he kept on his weary, useless search till Gilmore swam up abreast. 

"Haven't seen him?" panted the latter, hoarsely. "Shall we go lower?"

"No, " cried Vane; "there must be an eddy along there. Let's go upagain. "

They swam ashore, climbed out on to the bank, and, watching the surfaceas they ran, they made for the spot where the well-paved road hadcrossed the bridge. 

Here they stood in silence for a few moments, and Gilmore was about toplunge in again, but Vane stopped him. 

"No, no, " he cried, breathing heavily the while; "that's of no use. Wait till we see him rise--if he is here, " he added with a groan. 

The sun shone brightly on the calm, clear water which here looked blackand deep, and after scanning it for some time Vane said quickly--

"Look! There, just beyond that black stump. "

"No; there is nothing there but a deep hole. "

"Yes, but the water goes round and round there, Gil; that must be theplace. "

He was about to plunge in, but it was Gilmore's turn to arrest him. 

"No, no; it would be no use. "

"Yes; I'll dive down. "

"But there are old posts and big stones, I daren't let you go. "

"Ah!" shouted Vane wildly; "look--look!"

He shook himself free and plunged in as Gilmore caught sight ofsomething close up to the old piece of blackened oak upon which Maceyhad so cleverly steered the boat. It was only a glimpse of somethingfloating, and then it was gone; and he followed Vane, who was swimmingout to the old post. This he reached before Gilmore was half-way, swamround for a few moments, and then paddled like a dog, rose as high as hecould, turned over and dived down into the deep black hole. 

In a few moments he was up again to take a long breath and dive oncemore. 

This time he was down longer, and Gilmore held on by the slimy post, gazing about with staring eyes, and prepared himself to dive down afterhis friend, when all at once, Vane's white face appeared, and one armwas thrust forth to give a vigorous blow upon the surface. 

"Got him, " he cried in a half-choked voice, "Gil, help!"

Gilmore made for him directly, and as he reached his companion's sidethe back of Distin's head came to the surface, and Gilmore seized him byhis long black hair. 

Their efforts had taken them out of the eddy into the swift stream oncemore, and they began floating down; Vane so confused and weak from hisefforts that he could do nothing but swim feebly, while his companionmade some effort to keep Distin's face above water and direct him towardthe side. 

An easy enough task at another time, for it only meant a swim of somefifty yards, but with the inert body of Distin, and Vane so utterlyhelpless that he could barely keep himself afloat, Gilmore had hardwork, and, swim his best, he could scarcely gain a yard toward theshore. Very soon he found that he was exhausting himself by his effortsand that it would be far better to go down the stream, and trust togetting ashore far lower down, though, at the same time, a chillyfeeling of despair began to dull his energies, and it seemed hopeless tothink of getting his comrade ashore alive. 

All the same, though, forced as the words sounded, he told Vane hoarselythat it was all right, and that they would soon get to the side. 

Vane only answered with a look--a heavy, weary, despairing look--whichtold how thoroughly he could weigh his friend's remark, as he held onfirmly by Distin and struck out slowly and heavily with the arm atliberty. 

There was no doubt about Vane's determination. If he had loosed hishold of Distin, with two arms free he could have saved himself withcomparative ease, but that thought never entered his head, as theyfloated down the river, right in the middle now, and with the treesapparently gliding by them and the verdure and water-growth graduallygrowing confused and dim. To Vane all now seemed dreamlike and strange. He was in no trouble--there was no sense of dread, and the despair of afew minutes before was blunted, as with his body lower in the water, which kept rising now above his lips, he slowly struggled on. 

All at once Gilmore shouted wildly, --

"Vane--we can't do it. Let's swim ashore. "

Vane turned his eyes slowly toward him, as if he hardly comprehended hiswords. 

"What can I do?" panted Gilmore, who, on his side, was gradually growingmore rapid and laboured in the strokes he made; but Vane made no sign, and the three floated down stream, each minute more helpless; and it wasnow rapidly becoming a certainty that, if Gilmore wished to save hislife, he must quit his hold of Distin, and strive his best to reach thebank. 

"It seems so cowardly, " he groaned; and he looked wildly round for help, but there was none. Then there seemed to be just one chance: the shorelooked to be just in front of them, for the river turned here sharplyround, forming a loop, and there was a possibility of their being sweptright on to the bank. 

Vain hope! The stream swept round to their right, bearing them towardthe other shore, against which it impinged, and then shot off withincreased speed away for the other side; and, though they were carriedalmost within grasping distance of a tree whose boughs hung down to kissthe swift waters, the nearest was just beyond Gilmore's reach, as heraised his hand, which fell back with a splash, as they were borne rightout, now toward the middle once more, and round the bend. 

"I can't help it. Must let go, " thought Gilmore. "I'm done. " Thenaloud:

"Vane, old chap! let go. Let's swim ashore;" and then he shuddered, forVane's eyes had a dull, half-glazed stare, and his lips, nostrils, --thegreater part of his face, sank below the stream. "Oh, help!" groanedGilmore; "he has gone:" and, loosing his hold of Distin, he made asnatch at Vane, who was slowly sinking, the current turning him facedownward, and rolling him slowly over. 

But Gilmore made a desperate snatch, and caught him by the sleeve asVane rose again with his head thrown back and one arm rising above thewater, clutching frantically at vacancy. 

The weight of that arm was sufficient to send him beneath the surfaceagain, and Gilmore's desperate struggle to keep him afloat resulted inhis going under in turn, losing his presence of mind, and beginning tostruggle wildly as he, too, strove to catch at something to keep himselfup. 

Another few moments and all would have been over, but the clutch did notprove to be at vacancy. Far from it. A hand was thrust into his, andas he was drawn up, a familiar voice shouted in his singing ears, wherethe water had been thundering the moment before:

"Catch hold of the side, " was shouted; and his fingers involuntarilyclosed on the gunwale of the boat, while Macey reached out and seizedVane by the collar, drew him to the boat, or the boat to him, and guidedthe drowning lad's cramped hand to the gunwale too. 

"Now!" he shouted; "can you hold on?"

There was no answer from either, and Macey hesitated for a few moments, but, seeing how desperate a grip both now had, he seized one of therecovered sculls, thrust it out over the rowlock, and pulled and paddledfirst at the side, then over the stern till, by help of the current, heguided the boat with its clinging freight into shallow water where heleaped overboard, seized Gilmore, and dragged him right up the sandyshallow to where his head lay clear. He then went back and seized Vanein turn, after literally unhooking his cramped fingers from the side, and dragged him through the shallow water a few yards, before herealised that his fellow-pupil's other hand was fixed, with what for themoment looked to be a death-grip, in Distin's clothes. 

This task was more difficult, but by the time he had dragged Vanealongside of Gilmore, the latter was slowly struggling up to his feet;and in a confused, staggering way he lent a hand to get Vane's head wellclear of the water on to the warm dry pebbles, and then between themthey dragged Distin right out beyond the pebbles on to the grass. 

"One moment, " cried Macey, and he dashed into the water again just intime to catch hold of the boat, which was slowly floating away. Thenwading back he got hold of the chain, and twisted it round a littleblackthorn bush on the bank. 

"I'm better now, " gasped Gilmore. And then, "Oh, Aleck, Aleck, they'reboth dead!"

"They aren't, " shouted Macey fiercely. "Look! Old Weathercock's movinghis eyes, but I'm afraid of poor old Colonist. Here, hi, Vane, old man!You ain't dead, are you? Catch hold, Gil, like this, under his arm. Now, together off!"

They seized Vane, and, raising his head and shoulders, dragged him up onto the grass, near where Distin lay, apparently past all help, and agroan escaped from Gilmore's lips, as, rapidly regaining his strengthand energy, he dropped on his knees beside him. 

"It's all right, " shouted Macey, excitedly, when a whisper would havedone. "Weathercock's beginning to revive again. Hooray, old Vane!You'll do. We must go to Distie. "

Vane could not speak, but he made a sign, which they interpreted tomean, go; and the next moment they were on their knees by Distin's side, trying what seemed to be the hopeless task of reviving him. For thelad's face looked ghastly in the extreme; and, though Macey felt hisbreast and throat, there was not the faintest pulsation perceptible. 

But they lost no time; and Gilmore, who was minute by minute growingstronger, joined in his companion's efforts at resuscitation from a fewrather hazy recollections of a paper he had once read respecting theefforts to be made with the apparently drowned. 

Everything was against them. They had no hot flannels or water-bottlesto apply to the subject's feet, no blankets in which to wrap him, nothing but sunshine, as Macey began. After doubling up a couple of wetjackets into a cushion and putting them under Distin's back, he placedhimself kneeling behind the poor fellow's head, seized his arms, pressedthem hard against his sides, and then drew them out to their fullstretch, so as to try and produce respiration by alternately compressingand expanding the chest. 

He kept on till he grew so tired that his motions grew slow; and then hegave place to Gilmore, who carried on the process eagerly, while Maceywent to see how Vane progressed, finding him able to speak now in awhisper. 

"How is Distin?" he whispered. 

"Bad, " said Macey, laconically. 

"Not dead!" cried Vane, frantically. 

"Not yet, " was the reply; "but I wouldn't give much for the poorfellow's chance. Oh, Vane, old chap, do come round, and help. You areso clever, and know such lots of things. I shall never be happy againif he dies. "

For answer to this appeal Vane sat up, but turned so giddy that he layback again. 

"I'll come and try as soon as I can, " he said, feebly. "All thestrength has gone out of me. "

"Let me help you, " cried Macey; and he drew Vane into a sittingposition, but had to leave him and relieve Gilmore, whose arms werefailing fast. 

Macey took his place, and began with renewed vigour at what seemed to bea perfectly hopeless task, while Gilmore went to Vane. 

"It's no good, " muttered Macey, whose heart was full of remorse; and aterrible feeling of despair came over him. "It's of no use, but I willtry and try till I drop. Oh, if I could only bring him to, I'd neversay an unkind word to him again!"

He threw himself into his task, working Distin's thin arms up and downwith all his might, listening intently the while for some faintsuggestion of breathing, but all in vain; the arms he held were cold anddank, and the face upon which he looked down, seeing it in reverse, washorribly ghastly and grotesque. 

"I don't like him, " continued Macey, to himself, as he toiled away; "Inever did like him, and I never shall, but I think I'd sooner it was melying here than him. And me the cause of it all. "

"Poor old Distie!" he went on. "I suppose he couldn't help his temper. It was his nature, and he came from a foreign country. How could I besuch a fool? Nearly drowned us all. "

He bent over Distin at every pressure of the arms, close to the poorfellow's side; and, as he hung over him, the great tears gathered in hiseyes, and, in a choking voice, he muttered aloud:--

"I didn't mean it, old chap. It was only to give you a ducking forbeing so disagreeable; indeed, indeed, I wish it had been me. "

"Oh, I say, " cried a voice at his ear; "don't take on like that, oldfellow. We'll bring him round yet. Vane's getting all right fast. "

"I can't help it, Gil, old chap, " said Macey, in a husky whisper; "it isso horrible to see him like this. "

"But I tell you we shall bring him round. You're tired, and out ofheart. Let me take another turn. "

"No, I'm not tired yet, " said Macey, recovering himself, and speakingmore steadily. "I'll keep on. You feel his heart again. "

He accommodated his movements to his companion's, and Gilmore kept hishand on Distin's breast, but he withdrew it again without a word; and, as Macey saw the despair and the hopeless look on the lad's face, hisown heart sank lower, and his arms felt as if all the power had gone. 

But, with a jerk, he recommenced working Distin's arms up and down withthe regular pumping motion, till he could do no more, and he again madeway for Gilmore. 

He was turning to Vane, but felt a touch on his shoulder, and, lookinground, it was to gaze in the lad's grave face. 

"How is he?"

"Oh, bad as bad can be. Do, pray, try and save him, Vane. We mustn'tlet him die. "

Vane breathed hard, and went to Distin's side, kneeling down to feel histhroat, and looking more serious as he rose. 

"Let me try now, " he whispered, but Gilmore shook his head. 

"You're too weak, " he said. "Wait a bit. "

Vane waited, and at last they were glad to let him take his turn, whenthe toil drove off the terrible chill from which he was suffering, andhe worked at the artificial respiration plan, growing stronger everyminute. 

Again he resumed the task in his turn, and then again, after quite anhour of incessant effort had been persisted in; while now the feelingwas becoming stronger in all their breasts that they had tried in vain, for there was no more chance. 

"If we could have had him in a bed, we might have done some good, " saidGilmore, sadly. "Vane, old fellow, I'm afraid you must give it up. "

But, instead of ceasing his efforts, the lad tried the harder, and, in atone of intense excitement, he panted:--

"Look!"

"At what?" cried Macey, eagerly; and then, going down on his knees, hethrust in his hand beneath the lad's shirt. 

"Yes! you can feel it. Keep on, Vane, keep on. "

"What!" shouted Gilmore; and then he gave a joyful cry, for there was atrembling about one of Distin's eyelids, and a quarter of an hour laterthey saw him open his eyes, and begin to stare wonderingly round. 

It was only for a few moments, and then they closed again, as if thespark of the fire of life that had been trembling had died out becausethere had been a slight cessation of the efforts to produce it. 

But there was no farther relaxation. All, in turn, worked hard, full ofexcitement at the fruit borne by their efforts; and, at last, while Vanewas striving his best, the patient's eyes were opened, gazed round oncemore, blankly and wonderingly, till they rested upon Vane's face, whenmemory reasserted itself, and an unpleasant frown darkened the Creole'scountenance. 

"Don't, " he cried, angrily, in a curiously weak, harsh voice, quitedifferent from his usual tones; and he dragged himself away, and triedto rise, but sank back. 

Vane quitted his place, and made way for Macey, whose turn it would havebeen to continue their efforts, but Distin gave himself a jerk, andfixed his eyes on Gilmore, who raised him by passing one hand beneathhis shoulders. 

"Better?"

"Better? What do you mean? I haven't--Ah! How was it the boat upset?"

There was no reply, and Distin spoke again, in a singularly irritableway. 

"I said, how was it the boat upset? Did someone run into us?"

"You rowed right upon one of the old posts, " replied Gilmore, and Distingazed at him fixedly, while Macey shrank back a little, and then lookedfurtively from Vane to Gilmore, and back again at Distin, who fixed hiseyes upon him searchingly, but did not speak for some time. 

"Here, " he said at last; "give me your hand. I can't sit here in thesewet things. "

"Can you stand?" said Gilmore, eagerly. 

"Of course I can stand. Why shouldn't I? Because I'm wet? Oh!"

He clapped his hands to his head, and bowed down a little. 

"Are you in pain?" asked Gilmore, with solicitude. 

"Of course I am, " snarled Distin; "any fool could see that. I must havestruck my head, I suppose. "

"He doesn't suspect me, " thought Macey, with a long-drawn breath full ofrelief. 

"Here, I'll try again, " continued Distin. "Where's the boat? I want toget back, and change these wet things. Oh! my head aches as if it wouldsplit!"

Gilmore offered his hand again, and, forgetting everything in his desireto help one in pain and distress, Vane ranged up on the other side, andwas about to take Distin's arm. 

But the lad shrank from him fiercely. 

"I can manage, " he said. "I don't want to be hauled and pulled aboutlike a child. Now, Gil, steady. Let's get into the boat. I want tolie down in the stern. "

"Wait a minute or two; she's half full of water, " cried Macey, who waslonging to do something helpful. "Come on, Vane. "

The latter went to his help, and they drew the boat closer in. 

"Oh, I say, " whispered the lad, "isn't old Dis in a temper?"

"Yes; I've heard that people who have been nearly drowned are terriblyirritable when they come to, " replied Vane, in the same tone. "Nevermind, we've saved his life. "

"You did, " said Macey. 

"Nonsense; we all did. "

"No; we two didn't dive down in the black pool, and fetch him up. Oh, Isay, Vane, what a day! If this is coming out for pleasure I'll stop athome next time. Now then, together. "

They pulled together, and by degrees lightened the boat of more and morewater, till they were able to get it quite ashore, and drain out thelast drops over the side. Then launching again, and replacing the oars, Macey gave his head a rub. 

"We shall have to buy the miller a new boat-hook, " he said. "I supposethe iron on the end of the pole was so heavy that it took the thingdown. I never saw it again. Pretty hunt I had for the sculls. I gotone, but was ever so long before I could find the other. "

"You only just got to us in time, " said Vane, with a sigh; and he lookedpainfully in his companion's eyes. 

"Oh, I say, don't look at a fellow like that, " said Macey. "I amsorry--I am, indeed. "

Vane was silent, but still looked at his fellow-pupil steadily. 

"Don't ever split upon me, old chap, " continued Macey; "and I'll own itall to you. I thought it would only be a bit of a lark to give him aducking, for he had been--and no mistake--too disagreeable for us to putup with it any longer. "

"Then you did keep on telling him which hand to pull and steered him onto the pile?"

Macey was silent. 

"If you did, own to it like a man, Aleck. "

"Yes, I will--to you, Vane. I did, for I thought it would be such agame to see him overboard, and I felt it would only be a wetting for us. I never thought of it turning out as it did. "

He ceased speaking, and Vane stood gazing straight before him for a fewmoments. 

"No, " he said, at last, "you couldn't have thought that it would turnout like it did. "

"No, 'pon my word, I didn't. "

"And we might have had to go back and tell Syme that one of his pupilswas dead. Oh, Aleck, if it had been so!"

"Yes, but don't you turn upon me, Vane. I didn't mean it. You know Ididn't mean it; and I'll never try such a trick as that again. "

"Ready there?" cried Gilmore. 

"Yes; all right, " shouted Macey. Then, in a whisper, "Don't tellDistie. He'd never forgive me. Here they come. "

For, sallow, and with his teeth chattering, Distin came toward them, leaning on Gilmore's arm; but, as he reached the boat, he drew himselfup, and looked fixedly in Vane's face. 

"You needn't try to plot any more, " he said, "for I shall be aware ofyou next time. "

"Plot?" stammered Vane, who was completely taken aback. "I don't knowwhat you mean. "

"Of course not, " said Distin, bitterly. "You are such a genius--soclever. You wouldn't set that idiot Macey to tell me which hand topull, so as to overset the boat. But I'll be even with you yet. "

"I wouldn't, I swear, " cried Vane, sharply. 

"Oh, no; not likely. You are too straightforward and generous. But I'mnot blind: I can see; and if punishment can follow for your cowardlytrick, you shall have it. Come, Gil, you and I will row back together. It will warm us, and we can be on our guard against treachery thistime. "

He stepped into the boat, staggered, and would have fallen overboard, had not Vane caught his arm; but, as soon as he had recovered hisbalance, he shook himself free resentfully and seated himself on theforward thwart. 

"Jump in, " said Gilmore, in a low voice. 

"Yes, jump in, Mr Vane Lee, and be good enough to go right to thestern. You did not succeed in drowning me this time; and, mind this, ifyou try any tricks on our way back, I'll give you the oar across thehead. You cowardly, treacherous bit of scum!"

"No, he isn't, " said Macey, boldly, "and you're all out of it, clever asyou are. It was not Vane's doing, the running on the pile, but mine. Idid it to take some of the conceit and bullying out of you, so you maysay and do what you like. "

"Oh, yes, I knew you did it, " sneered Distin; "but there are not brainsenough in your head to originate such a dastardly trick. That was VaneLee's doing, and he'll hear of it another time, as sure as my name'sDistin. "

"I tell you it was my own doing entirely, " cried Macey, flushing up;"and I'll tell you something else. I'm glad I did it--so there. Foryou deserved it, and you deserve another for being such a cad. "

"What do you mean?" cried Distin, threateningly. "What I say, youungrateful, un-English humbug. You were drowning; you couldn't befound, and you wouldn't have been here now, if it hadn't been for oldWeathercock diving down and fetching you up, and then, half-deadhimself, working so hard to help save your life. "

"I don't believe it, " snarled Distin. 

"Don't, " said Macey, as he thrust the boat from the side, throwinghimself forward at the same time, so that he rode out on his chest, andthen wriggled in, to seat himself close by Vane, while Gilmore andDistin began to row hard, so as to get some warmth into their chilledbodies. 

They went on in silence for some time, and then Macey leaped up. 

"Now, Vane, " he cried; "it's our turn. "

"Sit down, " roared Distin. 

"Don't, Aleck, " said Vane, firmly. "You are quite right. We want towarm ourselves too. Come, Gil, and take my place. "

"Sit down!" roared Distin again; but Gilmore exchanged places with Vane, and Macey stepped forward, and took hold of Distin's oar. 

"Now then, give it up, " he said; and, utterly cowed by the firmness ofthe two lads, Distin stepped over the thwart by Vane, and went andseated himself by Gilmore. 

"Ready?" cried Macey. 

"Yes. "

"You pull as hard as you can, and let's send these shivers out of us. You call out, Gil, and steer us, for we don't want to have to lookround. "

They bent their backs to their work, and sent the boat flying throughthe water, Gilmore shouting a hint from time to time, with the resultthat they came in sight of the mill much sooner than they had expected, and Gilmore looked out anxiously, hoping to get the boat moored unseen, so that they could hurry off and get to the rectory by the fields, sothat their drenched condition should not be noticed. 

But, just as they approached the big willows, a window in the mill wasthrown open, the loud clacking and the roar of the machinery reachedtheir ears, and there was the great, full face of the miller grinningdown at them. 

"Why, hallo!" he shouted; "what game's this? Been fishing?"

"No, " said Vane, quietly; "we--"

But, before he could finish, the miller roared:--

"Oh, I see, you've been bathing; and, as you had no towels, you keptyour clothes on. I say, hang it all, my lads, didst ta capsize theboat?"

"No, " said Vane, quietly, as he leaped ashore with the chain; "we had amisfortune, and ran on one of those big stumps up the river. "

"Hey? What, up yonder by old brigg?"

"Yes. "

"Hang it all, lads, come into the cottage, and I'll send on to fetchyour dry clothes. Hey, but it's a bad job. Mustn't let you catch cold. Here, hi! Mrs Lasby. Kettle hot?"

"Yes, Mester, " came from the cottage. 

"Then set to, and make the young gents a whole jorum of good hot tea. "

The miller hurried the little party into the cottage, where thekitchen-fire was heaped up with brushwood and logs, about which the boysstood, and steamed, drinking plenteously of hot tea the while, till themessenger returned with their dry clothes, and, after the change hadbeen made, their host counselled a sharp run home, to keep up thecirculation, undertaking to send the wet things back himself. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

MR. BRUFF'S PRESENT. 

That boating trip formed a topic of conversation in the study morningafter morning when the rector was not present--a peculiar form ofconversation when Distin was there--which was not regularly, for theaccident on the river served as an excuse for several long stays inbed--but a free and unfettered form when he was not present. For Maceysoon freed Vane from any feeling of an irksome nature by insisting toGilmore how he had been to blame. 

Gilmore looked very serious at first, but laughed directly after. 

"I really thought it was an accident, " he said; "and I felt the moreconvinced that it was on hearing poor old hot-headed Distie accuse you, Vane, because, of course, I knew you would not do such a thing; and Ithought Macey blamed himself to save you. "

"Thought me a better sort of fellow than I am, then, " said Macey. 

"Much, " replied Gilmore, quietly. "You couldn't see old Weathercocktrying to drown all his friends. "

"I didn't, " cried Macey, indignantly. "I only wanted to give Distie acooling down. "

"And nicely you did it, " cried Gilmore. 

"There, don't talk any more about it, " cried Vane, who was busysketching upon some exercise paper. "It's all over, and doesn't bearthinking about. "

"What's he doing?" cried Macey, reaching across the table, and making asnatch at the paper, which Vane tried hurriedly to withdraw, but onlysaved a corner, while Macey waved his portion in triumph. 

"Hoo-rah!" he cried. "It's a plan for a new patent steamboat, and Ishall make one, and gain a fortune, while poor old Vane will be left outin the cold. "

"Let's look, " said Gilmore. 

"No, no. It's too bad, " cried Vane, making a fresh dash at the paper. 

"Shan't have it, sir! Sit down, " cried Macey. "How dare you, sir!Look, Gil! It is a boat to go by steam, with a whipper-whopper out atthe stern to send her along. "

"I wish you wouldn't be so stupid, Aleck. Give me the paper. "

"Shan't. "

"I don't want to get up and make a struggle for it. "

"I should think not, sir. Sit still. Oh, I say, Gil, look. Here itall is. It's not steam. It's a fellow with long arms and queer elbowsturns a wheel. "

"Get out!" cried Vane, laughing; "those are shafts and cranks. "

"Of course they are. No one would think it, though, would they, Gil? Isay, isn't he a genius at drawing?"

"Look here, Aleck, if you don't be quiet with your chaff I'll ink yournose. "

"Wonderful, isn't he?" continued Macey. "I say, how many hundred milesan hour a boat like that will go!"

"Oh, I say, do drop it, " cried Vane, good-humouredly. 

"I know, " cried Macey; "this is what you were thinking about that day wehad Rounds' boat. "

"Well, yes, " said Vane, quietly. "I couldn't help thinking how slow andlaborious rowing seemed to be, and how little change has been made inall these years that are passed. You see, " he continued, warming to hissubject, "there is so much waste of manual labour. It took two of us tomove that boat and not very fast either. "

"And only one sitting quite still to upset it, " said Gilmore quietly. 

Macey started, as if he had been stung. 

"There's a coward, " he cried. "I thought you weren't going to say anymore about it. "

"Slipped out all at once, Aleck, " said Gilmore. 

"But you were quite right, " said Vane. "Two fellows toiling hard, andjust one idea from another's brain proved far stronger. "

"Now you begin, " groaned Macey. "Oh, I say, don't! I wouldn't have oldDistie know for anything. You chaps are mean. "

"Go on, Vane, " cried Gilmore. 

"There's nothing more to go on about, for I haven't worked out the ideathoroughly. "

"I know, " cried Macey, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. 

"I thought, " continued Vane dreamily, "that one might contrive a littlepaddle or screw--"

"And work it with hot-water pipes, " cried Macey. 

It was Vane's turn to wince now; and he made a pretence of throwing abook at Macey, who ducked down below the table, and then slowly raisedhis eyes to the level as Vane went on. 

"Then you could work that paddle by means of cranks. "

"Only want one--old Weathercock. Best crank I know, " cried Macey. 

"Will you be quiet, " cried Gilmore. "Go on, Vane. "

"That is nearly all, " said the latter, thoughtfully, and lookingstraight before him, as if he could see the motive-power he mentallydesigned. 

"But how are you going to get the thing to work?"

"Kitchen-boiler, " cried Macey. 

Gilmore made "an offer" at him with his fist, but Macey dodged again. 

"Oh, one might move it by working a lever with one's hands. "

"Then you might just as well row, " said Gilmore. 

"Well, then, by treadles, with one's feet. "

"Oh--oh--oh!" roared Macey. "Don't! don't! Who's going to be put onthe tread-mill when he wants to have a ride in a boat? Why, I--"

"Pst! Syme!" whispered Gilmore, as a step was heard. Then the dooropened, and Distin came in, looking languid and indifferent. 

"Morning, " cried Gilmore. "Better?"

Distin gave him a short nod, paid no heed to the others, and went to hisplace to take up a book, yawning loudly as he did so. Then he openedthe book slowly. 

"Look!" cried Macey, with a mock aspect of serious interest. 

"Eh? What at?" said Vane. 

"The book, " cried Macey; and then he yawned tremendously. "Oh, dear!I've got it now. "

Vane stared. 

"Don't you see? You, being a scientific chap, ought to have noticed itdirectly. Example of the contagious nature of a yawn. "

Oddly enough, Gilmore yawned slightly just at the moment, and, puttinghis hand to his mouth, said to himself, "Oh, dear me!"

"There!" cried Macey, triumphantly, "that theory's safe. Distie comesin, sits down, yawns; then the book yawns, I yawn, Gilmore yawns. Youmight, could, would, or should yawn, only you don't, and--"

"Good-morning, gentlemen. I'm a bit late, I fear. Had a little walkafter breakfast, and ran against Doctor Lee, who took me in to see hisgreenhouse. He tells me you are going to heat it by hot-water. Why, Vane, you are quite a genius. "

Macey reached out a leg to kick Vane under the table, but it wasDistin's shin which received the toe of the lad's boot, just as Gilmoremoved suddenly. 

Distin uttered a sharp ejaculation, and looked fiercely across atGilmore. 

"What did you do that for?" he cried. 

"What?"

"Kick me under the table. "

"I did not. "

"Yes, you--"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, " cried the rector reprovingly, "this is not asmall boarding-school, and you are not school-boys. I was speaking. "

"I beg your pardon, sir, " cried Gilmore. 

Distin was silent, and Macey, who was scarlet in the face; glancedacross at Vane, and seemed as if he were going to choke with suppressedlaughter, while Vane fidgeted about in his seat. 

The rector frowned, coughed, changed his position, smiled, and went on, going back a little to pick up his words where he had left off. 

"Quite a genius, Vane--yes, I repeat it, quite a genius. "

"Oh, no, sir; it will be easy enough. "

"After once doing, Vane, " said the rector, "but the first invention--thecontriving--is, I beg to say, hard. However, I am intensely gratifiedto see that you are putting your little--little--little--what shall Icall them?"

"Dodges, sir, " suggested Macey, deferentially. 

"No, Mr Macey, that is too commonplace--too low a term for the purpose, and we will, if you please, say schemes. "

"Yes, sir, " said Macey, seriously--"schemes. "

"Schemes to so useful a purpose, " continued the rector; "and I shall askyou to superintend the fitting up of my conservatory upon similarprinciples. "

"Really, sir, I--" began Vane; but the rector smiled and raised aprotesting hand. 

"Don't refuse me, Vane, " he said. "Of course I shall beg that you donot attempt any of the manual labour--merely superintend; but I shallexact one thing, if you consent to do it for me. That is, if the one atthe manor succeeds. "

"Of course I will do it, if you wish, sir, " said Vane. 

"I felt sure you would. I said so to your uncle, and your aunt said shewas certain you would, " continued the rector; "but, as I was saying, Ishall exact one thing: as my cook is a very particular woman, and wouldlook startled if I even proposed to go into the kitchen--"

He paused, and Vane, who was in misery, glanced at Macey--to see that hewas thoroughly enjoying it all, while Distin's countenance expressed themost sovereign contempt. 

"I say, Vane Lee, " said the rector again, as if he expected an answer, "I shall exact one thing. "

"Yes, sir. What?"

"That the rule of the queen of the kitchen be respected; but--ah, let mesee, Mr Distin, I think we were to take up the introductory remarksmade on the differential calculus. "

And the morning's study at the rectory went on. 

"Best bit of fun I've had for a long time, " cried Macey, as he strolledout with Vane when the readings were at an end. 

"Yes, at my expense, " cried Vane sharply. "My leg hurts still with thatkick. "

"Oh, that's nothing, " cried Macey; "I kicked old Distie twice as hard bymistake, and he's wild with Gilmore because he thinks it's he. "

Vane gripped him by the collar. 

"No, no, don't. I apologise, " cried Macey. "Don't be a coward. "

"You deserve a good kicking, " cried Vane, loosing his grasp. 

"Yes, I know I do, but be magnanimous in your might, oh man of genius. "

"Look here, " cried Vane, grinding his teeth, "if you call me a geniusagain, I will kick you, and hard too. "

"But I must. My mawmaw said I was always to speak the truth, sir. "

"Yes, and I'll make you speak the truth, too. Such nonsense! Genius!Just because one can use a few tools, and scheme a little. It'sabsurd. "

"All right. I will not call you a genius any more. But I say, oldchap, shall you try and make a boat go by machinery?"

"I should like to, " said Vane, who became dreamy and thoughtfuldirectly. "But I have no boat. "

"Old Rounds would lend you his. There was a jolly miller lived down bythe Greythorpe river, " sang Macey. 

"Nonsense! He wouldn't lend me his boat to cut about. "

"Sell it you. "

Vane shook his head. "Cost too much. "

"Then, why cut it? You ought to be able to make a machine that wouldfit into a boat with screws, or be stuck like a box under the thwarts. "

"Yes, so I might. I didn't think of that, " cried Vane, eagerly. "I'lltry it. "

"There, " said Macey, "that comes of having a clever chap at your elbowlike yours most obediently. Halves!"

"Eh?"

"I say, halves! I invented part of the machine, and I want to share. But when are you going to begin old Syme's conservatory?"

"Oh, dear!" sighed Vane. "I'd forgotten that. Come along. Let's tryand think out the paddles as you propose. I fancy one might getsomething like a fish's tail to propel a boat. "

"What, by just waggling?"

"It seems to me to be possible. "

"Come on, and let's do it then, " cried Macey, starting to trot along theroad. "I want to get the taste of Distin out of my mouth. --I say--"

"Well?"

"Don't I wish his mother wanted him so badly that he was obliged to goback to the West Indies at once. --Hallo! Going to the wood?"

"Yes, I don't mean to be beaten over those fungi we had the other day, "cried Vane; and to prove that he did not, he inveigled Macey intoaccompanying him into the woods that afternoon, to collect anotherbasketful--his companion assisting by nutting overhead, while Vanebusied himself among the moss at the roots of the hazel stubs. 

"Going to have those for supper?" said Macey, as they were returning. 

Vane shook his head. "I suppose I mustn't take these home to-day afterall. "

"Look here, come on with me to the rectory, and give 'em to Mr Syme. "

"Pooh!--Why, he laughed at them. "

"But you can tell him you had some for dinner at the Little Manor. Iwon't say anything. "

"I've a good mind to, for I've read that they are delicious if properlycooked, " cried Vane. "No, I don't like to. But I should like to givethem to someone, for I don't care to see them wasted. "

"Do bring them to the rectory, and I'll coax Distie on into eating some. He will not know they are yours; and, if they upset him, he will not beof so much consequence as any one else. "

But Vane shook his head as they walked thoughtfully back. 

"I know, " he cried, all at once; "I'll give them to Mrs Bruff. "

"But would she cook them?"

"Let's go and see. What time is it?"

"Half-past four, " said Macey. 

"Plenty of time before he gets home from work. "

Vane started off at such a rate that Macey had to cry out for respite asthey struck out of the wood, and reached a lane where, to theirsurprise, they came plump upon the gipsies camped by the roadside, witha good fire burning, and their miserable horse cropping the grass inpeace. 

The first objects their eyes lit upon were the women who were busilycooking; and Vane advanced and offered his basket of vegetabletreasures, but they all laughed and shook their heads, and the oldestwoman of the party grunted out the word "poison. "

"There, " said Macey, as they went along the lane, "you hear. They oughtto know whether those are good or no. If they were nice, do you thinkthe gipsies would let them rot in the woods. "

"But, you see, they don't know, " said Vane quietly, and then he grippedhis companion's arm. "What's that?" he whispered. 

"Some one talking in the wood. "

"Poaching perhaps, " said Vane, as he peered in amongst the trees. 

Just then the voice ceased, and there was a rustling in amongst thebushes at the edge of the wood, as if somebody was forcing his waythrough, and resulting in one of the gipsy lads they had before seen, leaping out into the narrow deep lane, followed by the other. 

The lads seemed to be so astonished at the encounter that they stoodstaring at Vane and Macey for a few moments, then looked at each other, and then, as if moved by the same impulse, they turned and rushed backinto the wood, and were hidden from sight directly. 

"What's the matter with them?" said Vane. "They must have been at somemischief. "

"Mad, I think, " said Macey. "All gipsies are half mad, or they wouldn'tgo about, leading such a miserable life as they do. Song says a gipsy'slife is a merry life. Oh, is it? Nice life in wet, cold weather. Theydon't look very merry, then. "

"Never mind: it's nothing to do with us. Come along. "

Half-an-hour's walking brought them into the open fields, and as theystood at the end of the lane in the shade of an oak tree, Macey saidsuddenly:

"I say, there's old Distie yonder. Where has he been? Bet twopence itwas to see the gipsies and get his fortune told. "

"For a walk as far as here, perhaps, and now he is going back. "

Macey said it "seemed rum, " and they turned off then to reach Bruff'scottage, close to the little town. 

"I don't see anything rum in it, " Vane said, quietly. 

"Don't you? Well, I do. Gilmore was stopping back to keep him company, wasn't he? Well, where is Gilmore? And why is Distie cutting alongso--at such a rate?"

Vane did not reply, and Macey turned to look at him wonderingly. 

"Here! Hi! What's the matter?"

Vane started. 

"Matter?" he said, "nothing. "

"What were you thinking about? Inventing something?"

"Oh, no, " said Vane, confusedly. "Well, I was thinking about somethingI was making. "

"Thought so. Well, I am glad I'm not such a Hobby-Bob sort of a fellowas you are. Syme says you're a bit of a genius, ever since you made hisstudy clock go; but you're the worst bowler, batter, and fielder I know;you're not worth twopence at football; and if one plays at anything elsewith you--spins a top, or flies a kite, or anything of that kind--you'renever satisfied without wanting to make the kite carry up a load, ormaking one top spin on the top of another, and--"

"Take me altogether, I'm the most cranky, disagreeable fellow you everknew, eh?" said Vane, interrupting. 

"Show me anyone who says so, and I'll punch his head, " cried Macey, eagerly. 

"There he goes. No; he's out of sight now. "

"What, old Distie? Pooh! he's nobody, only a creole, and don't count. "

The gardener's cottage stood back from the road; its porch covered withroses, and the little garden quite a blaze of autumn flowers; and asthey reached it, Vane paused for a moment to admire them. 

"Hallo!" cried Macey, "going to improve 'em?"

"They don't want it, " said Vane, quietly. "I was thinking that youalways see better flowers in cottage gardens than anywhere else. "

At that moment the gardener's wife came to the door, smiling at hervisitors, and Vane recollected the object of his visit. 

"I've brought you these, Mrs Bruff, " he said. 

"Toadstools, sir?" said the woman, opening her eyes widely. 

"No; don't call them by that name, " cried Macey, merrily; "they'rephilogustators. "

"Kind of potaters, sir?" said the woman, innocently. "Are they for Ebento grow?"

"No, for you to cook for his tea. Don't say anything, but stew themwith a little water and butter, pepper and salt. "

"Oh, thank you, sir, " cried the woman. "Are they good?"

"Delicious, if you cook them well. "

"Indeed I will, sir. Thank you so much. "

She took the basket, and wanted to pay for the present with someflowers, but the lads would only take a rosebud each, and went theirway, to separate at the turning leading to the rectory gate. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

A PROFESSIONAL VISIT. 

"Not going up to the rectory?" said the Doctor, next morning. 

"No, uncle, " said Vane, looking up from a book he was reading. "Josephcame with a note, before breakfast, to say that the rector was goingover to Lincoln to-day, and that he hoped I would do a little privatestudy at home. "

"Then don't, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah. "You read and study too much. Get the others to go out with you for some excursion. "

Vane looked at her in a troubled way. 

"He was going to excursion into the workshop. Eh, boy?" said thedoctor. 

"Yes, uncle, I did mean to. "

"No, no, no, my dear; get some fresh air while it's fine. Yes, Eliza. "

"If you please, ma'am, cook says may she speak to you. "

"Yes; send her in, " was the reply; and directly after Martha appeared, giving the last touches to secure the clean apron she had put on betweenkitchen and breakfast-room. 

"Cook's cross, " said Vane to himself, as his aunt looked up with--

"Well, cook?"

"Sorry to trouble you, ma'am, but I want to know what I'm to do about myvegetables this morning. "

"Cook them, " said Vane to himself, and then he repeated the words aloud, and added, "not like you did my poor chanterelles. "

"Hush, Vane, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, as the cook turned upon himfiercely. "I do not understand what you mean, Martha. "

"I mean, ma'am, " said the cook, jerkily, but keeping her eyes fixed uponVane, "that Bruff sent word as he's too ill to come this morning; and Ican't be expected to go down gardens, digging potatoes and cuttingcauliflowers for dinner. It isn't my place. "

"No, no, certainly not, Martha, " said Aunt Hannah. "Dear me! I amsorry Bruff is so ill. He was quite well yesterday. "

"But I want the vegetables now, ma'am. "

"And you shall have them, Martha, " said the doctor, rising, bowing, andopening the door for the cook to pass out, which she did, lookingwondering and abashed at her master, as if not understanding what hemeant. 

"Dear me!" continued the doctor, rubbing one ear, and apostrophising hisnephew, "what a strange world this is. Now, by and by, Vane, that womanwill leave here to marry and exist upon some working man's income, andnever trouble herself for a moment about whether it's her place to godown the garden `to cut a cabbage to make an apple-pie, ' as the poetsaid--or somebody else; but be only too glad to feel that there is acabbage in the garden to cut, and a potato to dig. Vane, my boy, willyou come and hold the basket?"

"No, uncle; I'll soon dig a few, and cut the cauliflower, " said Vane, hastily; and he hurried toward the door. 

"I'll go with you, my boy, " said the doctor; and he went out with hisnephew, who was in a state of wondering doubt, respecting the gardener'sillness. For suppose that chanterelles were, after all, not good toeat, and he had poisoned the man!

"Come along, Vane. We can find a basket and fork in the tool-house. "

The doctor took down his straw hat, and led the way down the garden, looking very happy and contented, but extremely unlike the Savile Rowphysician, whom patients were eager to consult only a few years before. 

Then the tool-house was reached, and he shouldered a four-pronged fork, and Vane took the basket; the row of red kidney potatoes was selected, and the doctor began to dig and turn up a root of fine, well-ripenedtubers. 

"Work that is the most ancient under the sun, Vane, my boy, " said theold gentleman, smiling. "Pick them up. "

But Vane did not stir. He stood, basket in hand, thinking; and the morehe thought the more uneasy he grew. 

"Ready? Pick them up!" cried the doctor. "What are you thinking about, eh?"

Vane gave a jump. 

"I beg your pardon, uncle, I was thinking. "

"I know that. What about?"

"Bruff being ill. "

"Hum! Yes, " said the doctor, lifting the fork to remove a potato whichhe had accidentally impaled. "I think I know what's the matter withMaster Bruff. "

"So do I, uncle. Will you come on and see him, as soon as we have gotenough vegetables?"

"Physician's fee is rather high for visiting a patient, my boy; andBruff only earns a pound a week. What very fine potatoes!"

"You will come on, won't you, uncle? I'm sure I know what's the matterwith him. "

"Do you?" said the doctor, turning up another fine root of potatoes. "Without seeing him?"

"Yes, uncle;" and he related what he had done on the previous afternoon. 

"Indeed, " said the doctor, growing interested. "But you ought to know achanterelle if you saw one. Are you sure what you gave Mrs Bruff wereright?"

"Quite, uncle; I am certain. "

"Dear me! But they are reckoned to be perfectly wholesome food. Idon't understand it. There, pick up the potatoes, and let's cut thecauliflowers. I'll go and see what's wrong. "

Five minutes after the basket was handed in to Martha; and then thedoctor washed his hands, changed his hat, and signified to Aunt Hannahwhere they were going. 

"That's right, my dear, I thought you would, " said the old lady, beaming. "Going too, Vane, my dear?"

"Yes, aunt. "

"That's right. I hope you will find him better. "

Vane hoped so, too, in his heart, as he walked with his uncle to thegardener's cottage, conjuring up all kinds of suffering, and wonderingwhether the man had been ill all the night; and, to make matters worse, a deep groan came from the open bedroom window as they approached. 

Vane looked at his uncle in horror. 

"Good sign, my boy, " said the doctor cheerfully. "Not very bad, or hewould not have made that noise. Well, Mrs Bruff, " he continued, as thewoman appeared to meet them at the door, "so Ebenezer is unwell?"

"Oh, yes, sir, dreadful. He was took badly about two o'clock, and hehas been so queer ever since. "

"Dear me, " said the doctor. "Do you know what has caused it?"

"Yes, sir, " said the woman, beginning to sob; "he says it's those nastytoadstools Master Vane brought, and gave me to cook for his tea. Ah, Master Vane, you shouldn't have played us such a trick. "

Vane looked appealingly at his uncle, who gave him a reassuring nod. 

"You cooked them then?" said the doctor. 

"Oh, yes, sir, and we had them for tea, and the nasty things were sonice that we never thought there could be anything wrong. "

"What time do you say your husband was taken ill?"

"About two o'clock, sir. "

"And what time were you taken ill?"

"Me, sir?" said the woman staring. "I haven't been ill. "

"Ah! You did not eat any of the--er--toadstools then?"

"Yes, sir, I did, as many as Ebenezer. "

"Humph! What time did your husband come home last night?"

"I don't know, sir, I was asleep. But I tell you it was about two whenhe woke me up, and said he was so bad. "

"Take me upstairs, " said the doctor shortly; and he followed the womanup to her husband's room, leaving Vane alone with a sinking heart, andwishing that he had not ventured to give the chanterelles to thegardener's wife. 

He could not sit down but walked about, listening to the steps andmurmur of voices overhead, meaning to give up all experiments in ediblefungi for the future, and ready to jump as he heard the doctor's heavystep again crossing the room, and then descending the stairs, followedby Bruff's wife. 

"Do you think him very bad, sir?" she faltered. 

"Oh, yes, " was the cheerful reply; "he has about as splitting a headacheas a poor wretch could have. "

"But he will not die, sir?"

"No, Mrs Bruff, " said the doctor. "Not just yet; but you may tell him, by-and-by, when you get him downstairs, feeling penitent and miserable, that, if he does not leave off going to the Chequers, he'll have toleave off coming to the Little Manor. "

"Why, sir, you don't think that?" faltered the woman. 

"No, I do not think, because I am quite sure, Mrs Bruff. He was nothurt by your cookery, but by what he took afterward. You understand?"

"Oh, sir!"

"Come along, Vane. Good-morning, Mrs Bruff, " said the doctor, loudenough for his voice to be heard upstairs. 

"I am only too glad to come and help when any one is ill; but I don'tlike coming upon a fool's errand. "

The doctor walked out into the road, looking very stern and leaving thegardener's wife in tears, but he turned to Vane with a smile before theyhad gone far. 

"Then you don't think it was the fungi, uncle?" said the lad, eagerly. 

"Yes, I do, boy, the produce of something connected with yeast fungi;not your chanterelles. "

Vane felt as if a load had been lifted off his conscience. 

"Very tiresome, too, " said the doctor, "for I wanted to have a chat withBruff to-day about that greenhouse flue. He says it is quite useless, for the smoke and sulphur get out into the house and kill the plants. Now then, sir, you are such a genius at inventing, why can't youcontrive the way to heat the greenhouse without causing me so muchexpense in the way of fuel, eh? I mean the idea you talked aboutbefore. I told Mr Syme it was to be done. "

Vane was not ready with an answer to that question, and he set himselfto think it out, just as they encountered the gipsy vans again, and thetwo lads driving the lame pony, at the sight of which the doctorfrowned, and muttered something about the police, while the ladsfavoured Vane with a peculiar look. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

HOW TO HEAT THE GREENHOUSE. 

"Vane, my boy, you are like my old friend Deering, " said the doctor onemorning. 

"Am I, uncle?" said the lad. "I'll have a good look at him if ever Isee him. "

The doctor laughed. 

"I mean he is one of those men who are always trying to invent somethingfresh; he is a perfect boon to the patent agents. "

Vane looked puzzled. 

"You don't understand the allusion?"

"No, uncle, I suppose it's something to do with my being fond of--"

"Riding hobbies, " said the doctor. 

"Oh, I don't want to ride hobbies, uncle, " said Vane, in rather anill-used tone. "I only like to be doing things that seem as if theywould be useful. "

"And quite right, too, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, "only I do wish youwouldn't make quite such a mess as you do sometimes. "

"Yes, it's quite right, mess or no mess, " said the doctor pleasantly. "I'm glad to see you busy over something or another, even if it does notalways answer. Better than wasting your time or getting into mischief. "

"But they always would answer, uncle, " said Vane, rubbing one ear in avexed fashion--"that is, if I could get them quite right. "

"Ah, yes, if you could get them quite right. Well, what about thegreenhouse? You know I was telling the parson the other day about yourplans about the kitchen-boiler and hot-water. "

Vane looked for a moment as if he had received too severe a check tocare to renew the subject on which he had been talking; but his unclelooked so pleasant and tolerant of his plans that the boy fired up. 

"Well, it was like this, uncle: you say it is a great nuisance for anyone to have to go out and see to the fire on wet, cold, dark nights. "

"So it is, boy. Any one will grant that. "

"Yes, uncle, and that's what I want to prevent. "

"Well, how?"

"Stop a moment, " said Vane. "I've been thinking about this a good dealmore since you said you must send for the bricklayer. "

"Well, well, " said the doctor, "let's hear. "

"I expect you'll laugh at me, " said Vane; "but I've been trying somehowto get to the bottom of it all. "

"Of course; that's the right way, " said the doctor; and Aunt Hannah gavean approving nod. 

"Well, " said Vane; "it seems to me that one fire ought to do all thework. "

"So it does, my boy, " said the doctor; "but it's a devouring sort ofmonster and eats up a great deal of coal. "

"But I mean one fire ought to do for both the kitchen and thegreenhouse, too. "

"What, would you have Martha's grate in among the flowers, and let herroast and fry there? That wouldn't do. "

"No, no, uncle. Let the greenhouse be heated with hot-water pipes. "

"Well?"

"And connect them, as I said before, with the kitchen-boiler. "

"As I told Syme, " said the doctor. 

"No, no, no, " cried Aunt Hannah, very decisively. "I'm quite sure thatwouldn't do; and I'm certain that Martha would not approve of it. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the doctor. "I'm afraid our Martha does not approveof doing anything but what she likes. But that would not do, boy. Itold Syme so, but he was hot over it--boiler-hot. "

"Well, then, let it be by means of a small boiler fitted somewhere atthe side of the kitchen range, uncle; then the one fire will doeverything; and, with the exception of a little cost at first, thegreenhouse will always afterwards be heated for nothing. "

"Come, I like that idea, " said the doctor, rubbing his nose. "There'ssomething in that, eh, my dear? Sounds well. "

"Yes, " said Aunt Hannah, "it sounds very well, but so do all Vane'splans; and, though I like to encourage him so long as he does not maketoo much mess, I must say that they seldom do anything else but sound. "

"Oh, aunt!"

"Well, it's quite true, my dear, and you know it. I could name a dozenthings. "

"No, no, don't name 'em, aunt, " said Vane hurriedly. "I know I havemade some mistakes; but then everyone does who tries to invent. "

"Then why not let things be as they are, my dear. I'm sure the oldcorkscrew was better to take out corks than the thing you made. "

"It would have been beautiful, aunt, " cried Vane, "if--"

"It hadn't broken so many bottles, " said the doctor with a humorous lookin his eyes. "It wouldn't have mattered if it had been aunt's cowslipwine, but it always chose my best port and sherry. "

"And then there was that churn thing, " continued Aunt Hannah. 

"Oh, come, aunt, that was a success. "

"What, a thing that sent all the cream flying out over Martha when sheturned the handle! No, my dear, no. "

"But you will not see, aunt, that it was because the thing was notproperly made. "

"Of course I do, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah. "That's what I say. "

"No, no, aunt, I mean made by a regular manufacturer, with tight lids. That was only a home-made one for an experiment. "

"Yes, I know it was, my dear; and I recollect what a rage Martha was inwith the thing. I believe that if I had insisted upon her going onusing that thing, she would have left. "

"I wish you wouldn't keep on calling it a thing, aunt, " said Vane, in anill-used tone; "it was a patent churn. "

"Never mind, boy, " said the doctor, "yours is the fate of all inventors. People want a deal of persuading to use new contrivances; they alwaysprefer to stick to the old ones. "

"Well, my dear, and very reasonably, too, " said Aunt Hannah. "You knowI like to encourage Vane, but I cannot help thinking sometimes that heis too fond of useless schemes. "

"Not useless, aunt. "

"Well, then, schemes; and that it would be better if he kept more to hisLatin and Greek and mathematics with Mr Syme, and joining the otherpupils in their sports. "

"Oh, he works hard enough at his studies, " said the doctor. 

"I'm very glad to hear you say so, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah; "and asto the rather unkind remark you made about the churn--"

"No, no, my dear, don't misunderstand me. I meant that people generallyprefer to keep to the old-fashioned ways of doing things. "

"But, my dear, " retorted Aunt Hannah, who had been put out that morningby rebellious acts on the part of Martha, "you are as bad as anyone. See how you threw away Vane's pen-holder that he invented, and in quitea passion, too. I did think there was something in that, for it is verytiresome to have to keep on dipping your pen in the ink when you have along letter to write. "

"Oh, aunty, don't bring up that, " said Vane, reproachfully. 

But it was too late. 

"Hang the thing!" cried the doctor, with a look of annoyance andperplexity on his countenance; "that was enough to put anyone out oftemper. The idea was right enough, drawing the holder up full like asyringe, but then you couldn't use it for fear of pressing it byaccident, and squirting the ink all over your paper, or on to yourclothes. 'Member my new shepherd's-plaid trousers, Vane?"

"Yes, uncle; it was very unfortunate. You didn't quite know how tomanage the holder. It wanted studying. "

"Studying, boy! Who's going to learn to study a pen-holder. Goose-quill's good enough for me. They don't want study. "

Vane rubbed his ear, and looked furtively from one to the other, as AuntHannah rose, and put away her work. 

"No, my dear, " she said, rather decisively; "I'm quite sure that Marthawould never approve of anyone meddling with her kitchen-boiler. "

She left the room, and Vane sat staring at his uncle, who returned hisgaze with droll perplexity in his eyes. 

"Aunt doesn't take to it, boy, " said the doctor. 

"No, uncle, and I had worked it out so thoroughly on paper, " cried Vane. "I'm sure it would have been a great success. You see you couldn't doit anywhere, but you could here, because our greenhouse is all againstthe kitchen wall. You know how well that rose grows because it feelsthe heat from the fireplace through the bricks?"

"Got your plans--sketches--papers?" said the doctor. 

"Yes, uncle, " cried the boy, eagerly, taking some sheets of note-paperfrom his breast. "You can see it all here. This is where the pipewould come out of the top of the boiler, and run all round three sidesof the house, and go back again and into the boiler, down at thebottom. "

"And would that be enough to heat the greenhouse?"

"Plenty, uncle. I've worked it all out, and got a circular from London, and I can tell you exactly all it will cost--except the bricklayers'work, and that can't be much. "

"Can't it?" cried the doctor, laughing. "Let me tell you it just can bea very great deal. I know it of old. There's a game some people arevery fond of playing at, Vane. It's called bricks and mortar. Don'tyou ever play at it much; it costs a good deal of money. "

"Oh, but this couldn't cost above a pound or two. "

"Humph! No. Not so much as building a new flue, of course. But, lookhere: how about cold, frosty nights? The kitchen-fire goes out whenMartha is off to bed. "

"It does now, uncle, " said the lad; "but it mustn't when we want to heatthe hot-water pipes. "

"But that would mean keeping up the fire all night. "

"Well, you would do that if you had a stove and flue, uncle. "

"Humph, yes. "

"And, in this case, the fire on cold winters' nights would be indoors, and help to warm the house. "

"So it would, " said the doctor, who went on examining the papers verythoughtfully. 

"The pipes would be nicer and neater, too, than the brick flue, uncle. "

"True, boy, " said the doctor, still examining the plans veryattentively. "But, look here. Are you pretty sure that this hot-waterwould run all along the pipes?"

"Quite, uncle, and I did so hope you would let me do it, if only to showold Bruff that he does not know everything. "

"But you don't expect me to put my hand in my pocket and pay pounds onpurpose to gratify your vanity, boy--not really?" said the doctor. 

"No, uncle, " cried Vane; "it's only because I want to succeed. "

"Ah, well, I'll think it over, " said the doctor; and with that promisethe boy had to rest satisfied. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

VANE'S WORKSHOP. 

But Vane went at once to the kitchen with the intention of making somebusiness-like measurements of the opening about the range, and to seewhere a boiler could best be placed. A glance within was sufficient. Martha was busy about the very spot; and Vane turned back, making up hismind to defer his visit till midnight, when the place would be solitary, and the fire out. 

There was the greenhouse, though; and, fetching a rule, he went inthere, and began measuring the walls once more, to arrive at the exactlength of piping required, when he became conscious of a shadow castfrom the open door; and, looking up, there stood Bruff, with a grin uponhis face--a look so provocative that Vane turned upon him fiercely. 

"Well, what are you laughing at?" he cried. 

"You, Mester. "

"Why?"

"I was thinking as you ought to hev been a bricklayer or carpenter, sir, instead of a scollard, and going up to rectory. Measuring for thatthere noo-fangle notion of yours?"

"Yes, I am, " cried Vane; "and what then?"

"Oh, nowt, sir, nowt, only it wean't do. Only throwing away money. "

"How do you know, Bruff?"

"How do I know, sir? Why, arn't I been a gardener ever since I was bornamost, seeing as my father and granfa' was gardeners afore me. You tak'my advice, sir, as one as knows. There's only two ways o' heatingplaces, and one's wi' a proper fireplace an' a flue, and t'other'svarmentin wi' hot manner. "

"Varmentin with hot manner, as you call it. Why, don't they heat thevineries at Tremby Court with hot-water?"

"I've heered you say so, sir, but I niver see it. Tak' my advice, sir, and don't you meddle with things as you don't understand. Remember themtaters?"

"Oh, yes, I remember the potatoes, Bruff; and I daresay, if the truthwas known, you cut all the eyes out, instead of leaving the strongest, as I told you. "

"I don't want no one to teach me my trade, " said the man, sulkily; andhe shuffled away, leaving Vane wondering why he took so much trouble, only to meet with rebuffs from nearly everyone. 

"I might just as well be fishing, or playing cricket, or lying on myback in the sun, like old Distin does. Nobody seems to understand me. "

He was standing just inside the door, moodily tapping the side-post withthe rule, when he was startled by a step on the gravel, and, looking upsharply, he found himself face to face with a little, keen, dark, well-dressed man, who had entered the gate, seen him standing in thegreenhouse, and walked across the lawn, whose mossy grass had silencedhis footsteps till he reached the path. 

"Morning, " he said. "Doctor at home?"

"Yes, " replied Vane, looking at the stranger searchingly, and wonderingwhether he was a visitor whom his uncle would be glad to see. 

The stranger was looking searchingly at him, and he spoke at once:--

"You are the nephew, I suppose?"

Vane looked at him wonderingly. 

"Yes, I thought so. Father and mother dead, and the doctor bringing youup. Lucky fellow! Here, what does this mean?" and he pointed to therule. 

"I was measuring, " said Vane, colouring. 

"Ah! Thought you were to be a clergyman or a doctor. Going to be acarpenter?"

"No, " replied Vane sharply, and feeling full of resentment at beingquestioned so by a stranger. "I was measuring the walls. "

"What for?" said the stranger, stepping into the greenhouse and makingthe lad draw back. 

"Well, if you must know, sir--"

"No, I see. Old flue worn-out;--measuring for a new one. "

Vane shook his head, and, in spite of himself, began to speak outfreely, the stranger seeming to draw him. 

"No; I was thinking of hot-water pipes. "

"Good! Modern and better. Always go in for improvements. Use largeones. "

"Do you understand heating with hot-water, sir?"

"A little, " said the stranger, smiling. "Where are you going to makeyour furnace?"

"I wasn't going to make one. "

"Going to do it with cold hot-water then?" said the stranger, smilingagain. 

"No, of course not. The kitchen-fireplace is through there, " said Vane, pointing with his rule, "and I want to put a boiler in, so that the onefire will answer both purposes. "

"Good! Excellent!" said the stranger sharply. "Your own idea?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Do it, then, as soon as you can--before the winter. Now take me in toyour uncle. "

Vane looked at him again, and now with quite a friendly feeling for theman who could sympathise with his plans. 

He led the stranger to the front door, and was about to ask him hisname, when the doctor came out of his little study. 

"Ah, Deering, " he said quietly, "how are you? Who'd have thought ofseeing you. "

"Not you, I suppose, " said the visitor quietly. "I was at Lincoln onbusiness, and thought I would come round your way as I went back totown. "

"Glad to see you, man: come in. Vane, lad, find your aunt, and tell herMr Deering is here. "

"Can't see that I'm much like him, " said Vane to himself, as he went insearch of his aunt, and saw her coming downstairs. 

"Here's Mr Deering, aunt, " he said, "and uncle wants you. "

"Oh, dear me!" cried Aunt Hannah, looking troubled, and beginning toarrange her collar and cuffs. 

"Why did uncle say that I was like Mr Deering, aunt?" whispered Vane. "I'm not a bit. He's dark and I'm fair. "

"He meant like him in his ways, my dear: always dreaming about newinventions, and making fortunes out of nothing. I do hope your unclewill not listen to any of his wild ideas. "

This description of the visitor excited Vane's curiosity. One whoapproved of his plans respecting the heating of the greenhouse wasworthy of respect, and Vane was in no way dissatisfied to hear that MrDeering was quite ready to accept the doctor's hospitality for a day ortwo. 

That afternoon, as Aunt Hannah did not show the least disposition toleave the doctor and his guest alone, the latter rose and looked atVane. 

"I should like a walk, " he said. "Suppose you take me round the garden, squire. "

Vane followed him out eagerly; and as soon as they were in the garden, the visitor said quickly:--

"Got a workshop?"

Vane flushed a little. 

"Only a bit of a shed, " he said. "It was meant to be a cow-house, butuncle lets me have it to amuse myself in. "

"Show it to me, " said the visitor. 

"Wouldn't you rather come round the grounds to have a look at uncle'sfruit?" said Vane hurriedly. 

"No. Why do you want to keep me out of your den?"

"Well, it's so untidy. "

"Workshops generally are. Some other reason. "

"I have such a lot of failures, " said Vane hurriedly. 

"Blunders and mistakes, I suppose, in things you have tried to make?"

"Yes. "

"Show me. "

Vane would far rather have led their visitor in another direction, butthere was a masterful decided way about him that was not to be denied, and the lad led him into the large shed which had been floored withboards and lined, so as to turn it into quite a respectable workshop, inwhich were, beside a great heavy deal table in the centre, a carpenter'sbench, and a turning lathe, while nails were knocked in everywhere, shelves ran from end to end, and the place presented to the eye about asstrange a confusion of odds and ends as could have been seen out of amuseum. 

Vane looked at the visitor as he threw open the door, expecting to heara derisive burst of laughter, but he stepped in quietly enough, andbegan to take up and handle the various objects which took hisattention, making remarks the while. 

"You should not leave your tools lying about like this: the edges getdulled, and sometimes they grow rusty. Haven't you a tool-chest?"

"There is uncle's old one, " said Vane. 

"Exactly. Then, why don't you keep them in the drawers?--Humph!Galvanic battery!"

"Yes; it was uncle's. "

"And he gives it to you to play with, eh?"

Vane coloured again. 

"I was trying to perform some experiments with it. "

"Oh, I see. Well, it's a very good one; take care of it. Littlechemistry, too, eh?"

"Yes: uncle shows me sometimes how to perform experiments. "

"But he does not show you how to be neat and orderly. "

"Oh, this is only a place to amuse oneself in!" said Vane. 

"Exactly, but you can get ten times the amusement out of a shop whereeverything is in its place and there's a place for everything. Now, suppose I wanted to perform some simple experiment, say, to show whatconvection is, with water, retort and spirit lamp?"

"Convection?" said Vane, thoughtfully, as if he were searching in hismind for the meaning of a word he had forgotten. 

"Yes, " said the visitor, smiling. "Surely you know what convection is. "

"I've forgotten, " said Vane, shaking his head. "I knew once. "

"Then you have not forgotten. You've got it somewhere packed away. Head's untidy, perhaps, as your laboratory. "

"I know, " cried Vane--"convection: it has to do with water expanding andrising when it is hot and descending when it is cold. "

"Of course it has, " said the visitor, laughing, "why you were lecturingme just now on the art of heating greenhouses by hot-water circulatingthrough pipes; well, what makes it circulate?"

"The heat. "

"Of course, by the law of convection. "

Vane rubbed one ear. 

"You had not thought of that?"

"No. "

"Ah, well, you will not forget it again. But, as I was saying--supposeI wanted to try and perform a simple experiment to prove, on a smallscale, that the pipes you are designing would heat. I cannot see thethings I want, and I'll be bound to say you have them somewhere here. "

"Oh, yes: I've got them all somewhere. "

"Exactly. Take my advice, then, and be a little orderly. I don't meanbe a slave to order. You understand?"

"Oh, yes, " said Vane, annoyed, but at the same time pleased, for he feltthat the visitor's remarks were just. 

"Humph! You have rather an inventive turn then, eh?"

"Oh, no, " cried Vane, disclaiming so grand a term, "I only try to make afew things here sometimes on wet days. "

"Pretty often, seemingly, " said the visitor, peering here and there. "Silk-winding, collecting. What's this? Trying to make a steamengine?"

"No, not exactly an engine; but I thought that perhaps I might make alittle machine that would turn a wheel. "

"And supply you with motive-power. Well, I will tell you at once thatit would not. "

"Why not?" said Vane, with a little more confidence, as he grew used tohis companion's abrupt ways. 

"Because you have gone the wrong way to work, groping along in the dark. I'll be bound to say, " he continued, as he stood turning over therough, clumsy contrivance upon which he had seized--a bit of mechanismwhich had cost the boy a good many of his shillings, and the blacksmithmuch time in filing and fitting in an extremely rough way--"thatNewcomen and Watt and the other worthies of the steam engine's earlydays hit upon exactly the same ideas. It is curious how men indifferent places, when trying to contrive some special thing, all startworking in the same groove. "

"Then you think that is all stupid and waste of time, sir?"

"I did not say so. By no means. The bit of mechanism is of no use--never can be, but it shows me that you have the kind of brain that oughtto fit you for an engineer, and the time you have spent over this hasall been education. It will teach you one big lesson, my lad. When youtry to invent anything again, no matter how simple, don't begin at thevery beginning, but seek out what has already been done, and begin whereothers have left off--making use of what is good in their work as afoundation for yours. "

"Yes, I see now, " said Vane. "I shall not forget that. "

Their visitor laughed. 

"Then you will be a very exceptional fellow, Vane Lee. But, there, Ihope you will not forget. Humph!" he continued, looking round, "Youhave a capital lot of material here: machinery and toys. No, I will notcall them toys, because these playthings are often the parents of veryuseful machines. What's that--balloon?"

"An attempt at one, " replied Vane. 

"Oh, then, you have been trying to solve the flying problem. "

"Yes, " cried Vane excitedly; "have you?"

"Yes, I have had my season of thought over it, my lad; and I cannot helpthinking that it will some day be mastered or discovered by accident. "

Vane's lips parted, and he rested his elbows on the workbench, placedhis chin in his hands, and gazed excitedly in his companion's face. 

"And how do you think it will be done?"

"Ah, that's a difficult question to answer, boy. There is the problemto solve. All I say is, that if we have mastered the water and cancontrive a machine that will swim like a fish--"

"But we have not, " said Vane. 

"Indeed! Then what do you call an Atlantic liner, with the propeller inits tail?"

"But that swims on the top of the water. "

"Of course it does, because the people on board require air to breathe. Otherwise it could be made to swim beneath the water as a fish does, andat twenty miles an hour. "

"Yes: I did not think of that. "

"Well, as we have conquered the water to that extent, I do not see whywe should not master the air. "

"We can rise in balloons. "

"Yes, but the balloon is clumsy and unmanageable. It will not do. "

"What then, sir?"

"That's it, my boy, what then? It is easy to contrive a piece ofmechanism with fans that will rise in the air, but when tried on a largescale, to be of any real service, I'm afraid it would fail. "

"Then why not something to fly like a bird or a bat?" said Vane eagerly. 

"No; the power required to move the great flapping wings would be tooweighty for it; and, besides, I always feel that there is a something ina bird or bat which enables it to make itself, bulk for bulk, the sameweight as the atmosphere. "

"But that seems impossible, " said Vane. 

"Seems, but it may not be so. Fifty years ago the man would have beenlaughed at who talked about sending a message to Australia and gettingthe answer back the same day, but we do not think much of it now. Wewould have thought of the Arabian Nights, and magicians, if a man hadspoken to some one miles away, then listened to his tiny whisperanswering back; but these telephonic communications are getting to becommon business matters now. Why, Vane, when I was a little boyphotography or light-writing was only being thought of: now people buyaccurate likenesses of celebrities at a penny a piece on barrows inLondon streets. "

Vane nodded. 

"To go back to the flying, " continued his companion, "I have thought anddreamed over it a great deal, but without result. I am satisfied, though, of one thing, and it is this, that some birds possess the powerof gliding about in the air merely by the exercise of their will. Ihave watched great gulls floating along after a steamer at sea, bymerely keeping their wings extended. At times they would give a slightflap or two, but not enough to affect their progress--it has appeared tome more to preserve their balance. And, again, in one of the greatAlpine passes, I have watched the Swiss eagle--the Lammergeyer--risefrom low down and begin sailing round and round, hardly beating with hiswings, but always rising higher and higher in a vast spiral, till he wasabove the mountain-tops which walled in the sides of the valley. Then Ihave seen him sail right away. There is something more in natureconnected with flight, which we have not yet discovered. I will not saythat we never shall, for science is making mighty strides. There, " headded, merrily, "end of the lecture. Let's go out in the open air. "

Vane sighed. 

"I came from London, my boy, where all the air seems to be second-hand. Out here on this slope of the wolds, the breeze gives one life andstrength. Take me for a walk, out in the woods, say, it will do megood, and make me forget the worries and cares of life. "

"Are you inventing something?"

Mr Deering gave the lad a sharp look, and nodded his head. 

"May I ask what, sir?"

"No, my boy, you may not, " said Mr Deering, sadly. "Perhaps I am goingstraightway on the road to disappointment and failure; but I must go onnow. Some day you will hear. Now take me where I can breathe. Oh, youhappy young dog!" he cried merrily. "What a thing it is to be a boy!"

"Is it?" said Vane, quietly. 

"Yes, it is. And you, sir, think to yourself, like the blind young moleyou are, what a great thing it is to be a man. There, come out into theopen air, and let's look at nature; I get very weary sometimes of art. "

Vane looked wonderingly at his new friend and did not feel so warmlytoward him as he had a short time before, but this passed off when theywere in the garden, where he admired the doctor's fruit, waxed eloquentover the apples and pears, and ate one of the former with as muchenjoyment as a boy. 

He was as merry as could be, too, and full of remarks as the doctor'sJersey cow and French poultry were inspected, but at his best in thewoods amongst the gnarled old oaks and great beeches, seeming neverdisposed to tire. 

That night Mr Deering had a very long consultation with the doctor; andVane noted that his aunt looked very serious indeed, but she saidnothing till after breakfast the next morning, when their visitor hadleft them for town, and evidently in the highest spirits. 

"Let that boy go on with his whims, doctor, " he said aloud, in Vane'shearing. "He had better waste a little money in cranks and eccentricsthan in toffee and hard-bake. Good-bye. "

And he was gone as suddenly, so it seemed to Vane, as he had come. 

It was then that Vane heard his aunt say:

"Well, my dear, I hope it is for the best. It will be a very seriousthing for us if it should go wrong. "

"Very, " said the doctor drily; and Vane wondered what it might be. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

OILING THE CLOCK. 

The plan of the town of Mavis Greythorpe was very simple, being one longstreet with houses on either side, placed just as the builders pleased. Churchwarden Rounds' long thatched place stood many yards back, whichwas convenient, for he liked to grow roses that his neighbours could seeand admire. Crumps the cowkeeper's, too, stood some distance back, butthat was handy, for there was room for the cowshed and the dairy closeto the path. Dredge, the butcher, had his open shop, too--a separatebuilding from the house at the back--close to the path, where customerscould see the mortal remains of one sheep a week, sometimes two, and inthe cold weather a pig, and a half or third of a "beast, " otherwise asmall bullock, the other portions being retained by neighbouringbutchers at towns miles away, where the animal had been slain. But atfair time and Christmas, Butcher, or, as he pronounced it, ButtcherDredge, to use his own words, "killed hissen" and a whole bullock was onexhibition in his open shop. 

The houses named give a fair idea of the way in which architecture wasarranged for in Mavis; every man who raised a house planted it where itseemed good in his own eyes; and as in most cases wayfarers stepped downout of the main street into the front rooms, the popular way of buildingseemed to have been that the builder dug a hole and then put a house init. 

Among those houses which were flush with the main street was that ofMichael Chakes, clerk and sexton, who was also the principal shoemakerof Mavis, and his place of business was a low, open-windowed room withbench and seat, where, when not officially engaged, he sat at work, surrounded by the implements and products of his trade, every now andthen opening his mouth and making a noise after repeating a couple oflines, under the impression that he was singing. Upon that pointopinions differed. 

Vane Lee wanted a piece of leather, and as there was nothing at homethat he could cut up, saving one of the doctor's Wellington boots, whichwere nearly new, he put on his cap, thrust his hands in his pockets, andset off for the town street, as eagerly as if his success in lifedepended upon his obtaining that piece of leather instanter. 

The place was perfectly empty as he reached the south end, the shopslooked nearly the same, save that at Grader the baker's there were fourcovered glasses, containing some tasteless looking biscuits full ofholes; a great many flies, hungry and eager to get out, walking in alldirections over the panes; and on the lowest shelf Grader's big tom-cat, enjoying a good sleep in the sun. 

Vane did not want any of those biscuits, but just then he caught sightof Distin crossing the churchyard, and to avoid him he popped in at thebaker's, to be saluted by a buzz from the flies, and a slow movement onthe part of the cat who rose, raised his back into a high arch, yawnedand stretched, and then walked on to the counter, and rubbed his headagainst Vane's buttons, as the latter thrust his hands into his pocketfor a coin, and tapped on the counter loudly once, then twice, then thethird time, but there was no response, for the simple reason that MrsGrader had gone to talk to a neighbour, and John Grader, having risen atthree to bake his bread, and having delivered it after breakfast, wastaking a nap. 

"Oh, what a sleepy lot they are here!" muttered Vane, as he went to thedoor which, as there was no sign of Distin now, and he did not want anybiscuits, he passed, and hurried along the street to where MichaelChakes sat in his open window, tapping away slowly at the heavy sole ofa big boot which he was ornamenting with rows of hob-nails. 

Vane stepped in at once, and the sexton looked up, nodded, and went onnailing again. 

"Oughtn't to put the nails so close, Mike. "

"Nay, that's the way to put in nails, Mester Vane!" said the sexton. 

"But if they were open they'd keep a man from slipping in wet andfrost. "

"Don't want to keep man from slipping, want to make 'em weer. "

"Oh, all right; have it your own way. Here, I want a nice strong newbit of leather, about six inches long. "

"What for?"

"Never you mind what for, get up and sell me a bit. "

"Nay, I can't leave my work to get no leather to-day, Mester. Soon asI've putt in these here four nails, I'm gooing over to belfry. "

"What for? Some one dead?"

"Nay, not they. Folk weant die a bit now, Mester Vane. I dunno whetherit's Parson Syme's sarmints or what, but seems to me as if they thinkit's whole dooty a man to live to hundred and then not die. "

"Nonsense, cut me my bit of leather, and let me go. "

"Nay, sir, I can't stop to coot no leather to-day. I tellee I'm gooin'to church. "

"But what for?"

"Clock's stopped. "

"Eh! Has it?" cried Vane eagerly. "What's the matter with it?"

"I d'know sir. Somethin' wrong in its inside, I spect. I'm gooing tosee. "

"Forgotten to wind it up, Mike. "

"Nay, that I arn't, sir. Wound her up tight enew. "

"Then that's it. Wound up too tight, perhaps. "

"Nay, she's been wound up just the same as I've wound her thesefive-and-twenty year, just as father used to. She's wrong inside. "

"Goes stiff. Wants a little oil. Bring some in a bottle with a featherand I'll soon put it right. "

The sexton pointed with his hammer to the chimney-piece where a smallphial bottle was standing, and Vane took it up at once, and beganturning a white fowl's feather round to stir up the oil. 

"You mean to come, then?" said the sexton. 

"Of course. I'm fond of machinery, " cried Vane. 

"Ay, you be, " said the sexton, tapping away at the nails, "and you'dlike to tak' that owd clock all to pieces, I know. "

"I should, " cried Vane with his eyes sparkling. "Shall I?"

"What?" cried the sexton, with his hammer raised. "Why, you'd never getit put together again. "

"Tchah! that I could. I would somehow, " added the lad. "Ay somehow;but what's the good o' that! Suppose she wouldn't goo when you'd putther together somehow. What then?"

"Why, she won't go now, " cried Vane, "so what harm would it do?"

"Well, I don't know about that, " said the sexton, driving in the lastnail, and pausing to admire the iron-decorated sole. 

"Now, then, cut my piece of leather, " cried Vane. 

"Nay, I can't stop to coot no pieces o' leather, " said the sexton. "Church clock's more consekens than all the bits o' leather in atanner's yard. I'm gooing over yonder now. "

"Oh, very well, " said Vane, as the man rose, untied his leathern apron, and put on a very ancient coat, "it will do when we come back. "

"Mean to go wi' me, then?"

"Of course I do. "

The sexton chuckled, took his hat from behind the door, and stepped outon to the cobble-stone pathway, after taking the oil bottle and a bunchof big keys from a nail. 

The street looked as deserted as if the place were uninhabited, and nota soul was passed as they went up to the church gate at the west end ofthe ancient edifice, which had stood with its great square stonefortified tower, dominating from a knoll the tiny town for five hundredyears--ever since the days when it was built to act as a stronghold towhich the Mavis Greythorpites could flee if assaulted by enemies, andshoot arrows from the narrow windows and hurl stones from thebattlements. Or, if these were not sufficient, and the enemy proved tobe very enterprising indeed, so much so as to try and batter in thehugely-thick iron-studded belfry-door, why there were those pleasantopenings called by architects machicolations, just over the entrance, from which ladlesful of newly molten lead could be scattered upon theirheads. 

Michael Chakes knew the bunch of keys by heart, but he always wentthrough the same ceremony--that of examining them all four, and blowingin the tubes, as if they were panpipes, keeping the one he wanted to thelast. 

"Oh, do make haste, Mike, " cried the boy. "You are so slow. "

"Slow and sewer's my motter, Mester Vane, " grunted the sexton, as heslowly inserted the key. "Don't you hurry no man's beast; you may hevan ass of your own some day. "

"If I do I'll make him go faster than you do. I say, though, Mike, doyou think it's true about those old bits of leather?"

As he spoke, Vane pointed to a couple of scraps of black-looking, curl-edged hide, fastened with broad headed nails to the belfry-door. 

"True!" cried the sexton, turning his grim, lined, and not over-cleanface to gaze in the frank-looking handsome countenance beside him. "True! Think o' that now, and you going up to rectory every day, to doyour larning along with the other young gents, to Mester Syme. Well, that beats all. "

"What's that got to do with it?" cried Vane, as the sexton ceased fromturning the key in the door, and laid one hand on the scraps of hide. 

"Got to do wi' it, lad? Well I am! And to call them leather. "

"Well, so they are leather, " said Vane. "And do you mean to say, standing theer with the turn-stones all around you as you think anythingbout t'owd church arn't true?"

"No, but I don't think it's true about those bits of leather. "

"Leather, indeed!" cried the sexton. "I'm surprised at you, MesterVane--that I am. Them arn't leather but all that's left o' the skins o'the Swedums and Danes as they took off 'em and nailed up on church doorto keep off the rest o' the robbin', murderin' and firin' wretches ascome up river in their ships and then walked the rest o' the way acrossthe mash?"

"Oh, but it might be a bit of horse skin. "

"Nay, nay, don't you go backslidin' and thinking such a thing as that, mester. Why, theer was a party o' larned gentlemen come one day allt'way fro' Lincoln, and looked at it through little tallerscope things, and me standing close by all the time to see as they didn't steal nowt, for them sort's terruble folk for knocking bits off wi' hammers as theycarries in their pockets and spreadin' bits o' calico over t' brasses, and rubbin' 'em wi' heel balls same as I uses for edges of soles; andfirst one and then another of 'em says--`Human. ' That's what they says. Ay, lad, that's true enough, and been here to this day. "

"Ah, well, open the door, Mike, and let's go in. I don't believe peoplewould have been such wretches as to skin a man, even if he was a Dane, and then nail the skin up there. But if they did, it wouldn't havelasted. "

The sexton shook his head very solemnly and turned the great key, therusty lock-bolt shooting back reluctantly, and the door turning slowlyon its hinges, which gave forth a dismal creak. 

"Here, let's give them a drop of oil, " cried Vane; but the sexton heldthe bottle behind him. 

"Nay, nay, " he said; "they're all right enew. Let 'em be, lad. "

"How silent it seems without the old clock ticking, " said Vane, lookingup at the groined roof where, in place of bosses to ornament thehandsome old ceiling of the belfry, there were circular holes intendedto pour more lead and arrows upon besiegers, in case they made their waythrough the door, farther progress being through a narrow lancet archwayand up an extremely small stone spiral staircase toward which Vanestepped, but the sexton checked him. 

"Nay, Mester, I go first, " he said. 

"Look sharp then. "

But the only thing sharp about the sexton were his awls and cuttingknives, and he took an unconscionably long time to ascend to the floorabove them where an opening in the staircase admitted them to a squarechamber, lighted by four narrow lancet windows, and into which hung downfrom the ceiling, and through as many holes, eight ropes, portions ofwhich were covered with worsted to soften them to the ringers' hands. 

Vane made a rush for the rope of the tenor bell, but the sexton uttereda cry of horror. 

"Nay, nay, lad, " he said, as soon as he got his breath, "don't pull:'twould make 'em think there's a fire. "

"Oh, all right, " said Vane, leaving the rope. 

"Nay, promise as you weant touch 'em, or I weant go no further. "

"I promise, " cried Vane merrily. "Now, then, up you go to the clock. "

The sexton looked relieved, and went to a broad cupboard at one side ofthe chamber, opened it, and there before them was the great pendulum ofthe old clock hanging straight down, and upon its being startedswinging, it did so, but with no answering _tic-tac_. 

"Where are the weights, Mike?" cried Vane, thrusting in his head, andlooking up. "Oh, I see them. "

"Ay, you can see 'em, lad, wound right up. There, let's go and see. "

The sexton led the way up to the next floor, but here they were stoppedby a door, which was slowly opened after he had played his tune upon thekey pipes. 

"Oh I say, Mike, what a horrible old bore you are, " cried the boy, impatiently. 

"Then thou shouldstna hev coom, lad, " said the sexton as they stood nowin a chamber through which the bell ropes passed and away up througheight more holes in the next ceiling, while right in the middle stoodthe skeleton works of the great clock, with all its wheels andescapements open to the boy's eager gaze, as he noted everything, fromthe portion which went out horizontally through the wall to turn thehands on the clock's face, to the part where the pendulum hung, and oneither side the two great weights which set the machine in motion, andruled the striking of the hours. 

The clock was screwed down to a frame-work of oaken beams, and looked, in spite of its great age and accumulation of dust, in the best ofcondition, and, to the sexton's horror, Vane forgot all about the eightbig bells overhead, and the roof of the tower, from which there was amagnificent view over the wolds, and stripped off his jacket. 

"What are you going to do, lad?" cried the sexton. 

"See what's the matter. Why the clock won't go. "

"Nay, nay, thou must na touch it, lad. Why, it's more than my plaace isworth to let anny one else touch that theer clock. "

"Oh, nonsense! Here, give me the oil. "

Vane snatched the bottle, and while the sexton looked on, trembling atthe sacrilege, as it seemed to him, the lad busily oiled every bearingthat he could reach, and used the oil so liberally that at last therewas not a drop left, and he ceased his task with a sigh. 

"There, Mike, she'll go now, " he cried. "Can't say I've done any harm. "

"Nay, I wean't say that you hev, mester, for I've been standing ready tostop you if you did. "

Vane laughed. 

"Now, then, start the pendulum, " he said; "and then put the handsright. "

He went to the side to start the swinging regulator himself but thesexton again stopped him. 

"Nay, " he said; "that's my job, lad;" and very slowly and cautiously heset the bob in motion. 

"There, I told you so, " cried Vane; "only wanted a drop of oil. "

For the pendulum swung _tic_--_tac_--_tic_--_tac_ with beautifulregularity. Then, as they listened it went _tic_--_tic_. Then _tic_two or three times over, and there was no more sound. 

"Didn't start it hard enough, Mike, " cried Vane; and this time, to thesexton's horror, he gave the pendulum a good swing, the regular_tic_--_tac_ followed, grew feeble, stopped, and there was an outburstas if of uncanny laughter from overhead, so real that it was hard tothink that it was only a flock of jackdaws just settled on thebattlements of the tower. 

"Oh, come, I'm not going to be beaten like this, " cried Vane, "I know Ican put the old clock right. "

"Nay, nay, not you, " said the sexton firmly. 

"But I took our kitchen clock to pieces, and put it together again; andnow it goes splendidly--only it doesn't strike right. "

"Mebbe, " said the sexton, "but this arn't a kitchen clock. Nay, MasterVane, the man 'll hev to come fro Lincun to doctor she. "

"But let me just--"

"Nay, nay, you don't touch her again. "

The man was so firm that Vane had to give way and descend, forgettingall about the piece of leather he wanted, and parting from the sexton atthe door as the key was turned, and then walking back home, to go atonce to his workshop and sit down to think. 

There was plenty for him to do--any number of mechanical contrivances togo on with, notably the one intended to move a boat without oars, sails, or steam, but they were not church clocks, and for the time beingnothing interested him but the old clock whose hands were pointingabsurdly as to the correct time. 

All at once a thought struck Vane, and he jumped up, thrust a pair ofpliers, a little screw-wrench and a pair of pincers into his pockets andwent out again. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

THOSE TWO WHEELS. 

As Vane walked along the road the tools in his pocket rattled, and theyset him thinking about Mr Deering, and how serious he had made hisuncle look for a few days. Then about all their visitor had said aboutflying, and that set him wondering whether it would be possible tocontrive something which might easily be tested. 

"I could go up on to the leads of the tower, step off and float downinto the churchyard. "

Vane suddenly burst out laughing. 

"Why, if I had said that yonder, " he thought, "old Macey would tell methat it would be just in the right place, for I should be sure to breakmy neck. "

Then he began thinking about Bruff the gardener, for he passed hiscottage; and about his coming to work the next day after being ill, andnever saying another word about the chanterelles. 

Directly after his thoughts turned in another direction, for he cameupon the two gipsy lads, seated under the hedge, with their legs in theditch, proof positive that the people of their tribe were somewhere notvery far away. 

The lads stared at him very hard, and Vane stared back at them, thinkingwhat a curious life it seemed--for two big strong boys to be alwayshanging about, doing nothing but drive a few miserable worn-out horsesfrom fair to fair. 

Just as he was abreast of the lads, one whispered something to theother, but what it was Vane could not understand, for it sounded meregibberish. 

Then the other replied, without moving his head, and Vane passed on. 

"I don't believe it's a regular language they talk, " he said to himself. "Only a lot of slang words they've made up. What do they call it?Rum--Rum--Romany, that is it. Well, it doesn't sound Roman-like to me. "

About a hundred yards on he looked back, to see that the two gipsy ladswere in eager converse, and one was gesticulating so fiercely, that itlooked like quarrelling. 

But Vane had something else to think about, and he went on, holding thetools inside his pockets, to keep them from clicking together as heturned up toward the rectory, just catching sight of the gipsy ladsagain, now out in the road and slouching along toward the town. 

"Wonder whether Mr Symes is at home again, " thought Vane, but he didnot expect that he would be, as it was his hour for being from therectory, perhaps having a drive, so that he felt pretty easy about him. But he kept a sharp look-out for Gilmore and the others. 

"Hardly likely for them to be in, " he thought; and then he felt annoyedwith himself because his visit seemed furtive and deceptive. 

As a rule, he walked up to the front of the house, feeling quite athome, and as if he were one of its inmates, whereas now there was thefeeling upon him that he had no business to go upon his present mission, and that the first person he met would ask him what right he had to comesneaking up there with tools in his pockets. 

For a moment he thought he would go back, but he mastered that, and wenton, only to hesitate once more, feeling sure that he had heard faintlythe rector's peculiar clearing of his voice--"Hah-errum!"

His active brain immediately raised up the portly figure of his tutorbefore him, raising his eyebrows, and questioning him about why he wasthere; but these thoughts were chased away directly after, as he came toan opening in the trees, through which he could look right away to wherethe river went winding along through the meadows, edged with pollardwillows, and there, quite half-a-mile away, he could see a solitaryfigure standing close to the stream. 

"That's old Macey, " muttered Vane, "fishing for perch in his favouritehole. "

Feeling pretty certain that the others would not be far away, he stoodpeering about till he caught sight of another figure away to his right. 

"Gilmore surely, " he muttered; and then his eyes wandered again tillthey lighted upon a figure seated at the foot of a tree close by the onehe had settled to be Gilmore. 

"Old Distie, " said Vane, with a laugh. "What an idle fellow he is. Never happy unless he is sitting or lying down somewhere. I supposeit's from coming out of a hot country, where people do lie about a greatdeal. "

"That's all right, " he thought, "they will not bother me, and I needn'tmind, for it's pretty good proof that the rector is out. "

Feeling fresh confidence at this, but, at the same time, horriblyannoyed with himself because of the shrinking feeling which troubledhim, he went straight up the path to the porch and rang. 

Joseph, the rector's footman, came hurrying into the hall, pulling downthe sides of his coat, and looked surprised and injured on seeing thatit was only one of "Master's pupils. "

"I only wanted the keys of the church, Joe, " said Vane, carelessly. 

"There they hang, sir, " replied the man, pointing to a niche in theporch. 

"Yes, I know, but I didn't like to take them without speaking, " saidVane; and the next minute he was on his way to the churchyard throughthe rectory garden, hugging the duplicate keys in his pocket, andsatisfied that he could reach the belfry-door without being seen by thesexton. 

It was easy enough to get there unseen. Whether he could open the doorunheard was another thing. 

There was no examining each key in turn, and no whistling in the pipes, but the right one chosen at once and thrust in. 

"_Tah_!" came from overhead loudly; and Vane started back, when quite achorus arose, and the flock of jackdaws flew away, as if rejoicing atmocking one who was bent upon a clandestine visit to the church. 

"How stupid!" muttered Vane; but he gave a sharp glance round to see ifhe were observed before turning the key, and throwing open the door. 

"Why didn't he let me oil it?" he muttered, for the noise seemed to betwice as loud now, and after dragging out the key the noise was louderstill, he thought, as he thrust to the door, and locked it on theinside. 

Then, as he withdrew the key again, he hesitated and stood listening. 

Everything look strange and dim, and he felt half disposed to draw back, but laughing to himself at his want of firmness, he ran up the windingstairs again, as fast as the worn stones would let him, passed theringers' chamber, and went on up to the locked door, which creakeddismally, as he threw it open. The next moment he was by the clock. 

But he did not pause here. Drawing back into the winding staircase heascended to where the bells hung, and had a good look at the one withthe hammer by it--that on which the clock struck the hours--noted howgreen it was with verdigris, and then hurried down to the clock-chamber, took out his tools, pulled off his jacket and set to work. 

For there was this peculiarity about the doctor's nephew--that he gavethe whole of his mind and energies to any mechanical task which took hisfancy, and, consequently, there was neither mind nor energy left tobestow upon collateral circumstances. 

Another boy would have had a thought for the consequences of what he wasattempting--whether it was right for him to meddle, whether the rectorwould approve. Vane had not even the vestige of a thought on suchmatters. He could only see wheels and pinions taken out after theremoval of certain screws, cleaned, oiled, put back, and the old clockpointing correctly to the time of day and, striking decently and inorder, as a church clock should. 

Pincers, pliers and screw-driver were laid on the floor and thescrew-wrench was applied here and there, after which a cloth or rag wasrequired to wipe the different wheels, and pivots; but unfortunatelynothing of the kind was at hand, so a clean pocket-handkerchief wasutilised, not to its advantage--and the work went on. 

Vane's face was a study as he used his penknife to scrape and pare offhardened oil, which clogged the various bearings; and as some pieces ofthe clock, iron or brass, was restored to its proper condition ofbrightness, the lad smiled and looked triumphant. 

Time went on, though that clock stood still, and all at once, as he setdown a wheel and began wishing that he had some one to help him removethe weights, it suddenly dawned upon him that it was getting towardssunset, that he had forgotten all about his dinner, and that if hewanted any tea, he must rapidly replace the wheels he had taken out, andscrew the frame-work back which he had removed. 

He had been working at the striking part of the clock, and he set to atonce building up again, shaking his head the while at the parts he hadnot cleaned, having been unable to remove them on account of the linecoiled round a drum and attached to a striking weight. 

"A clockmaker would have had that weight off first thing, I suppose, " hesaid to himself, as he toiled away. "I'll get Aleck to come and help meto-morrow and do it properly, while I'm about it. "

"It's easy enough, " he said half-aloud at the end of an hour. "Ibelieve I could make a clock in time if I tried. There you are, " hemuttered as he turned the final screw that he had removed. "Hullo, whata mess I'm in!"

He looked at his black and oily hands, and began thinking of soap andsoda with hot-water as he rose from his knees after gathering up histools, and then he stopped staring before him at a ledge beneath theback of the clock face. 

"Why, I forgot them, " he said, taking from where they lay a couple ofsmall cogged wheels which he had cleaned very carefully, and put on oneside early in his task. 

"Where do they belong to?" he muttered, as he looked from them to theclock and back again. 

There seemed to be nothing missing: every part fitted together, but itwas plain enough that these two wheels had been left out, and that tofind out where they belonged and put them back meant a serious task goneover again. 

"Well, you two will have to wait, " said the boy at last. "It doesn't somuch matter as I'm going to take the clock to pieces again, but all thesame, I don't like missing them. "

He hesitated for a few moments, as to what he should do with the wheels, and ended by reaching in and laying them just beneath the works on oneof the squared pieces of oak to which the clock was screwed. 

Ten minutes later he was at the rectory porch, where he hung up the keysjust inside the hall, and then trotted home with his hands in hispockets to hide their colour. 

He was obliged to show them in the kitchen though, where he went to bega jug of hot-water and some soda. 

"Why, where have you been, sir?" cried Martha; "and the dinner keptwaiting a whole hour, and orders from your aunt to broil chicken foryour tea, as if there wasn't enough to do, and some soda? I haven't gotany. "

"But you've got some, cookie, " said Vane. 

"Not a bit, if you speak to me in that disrespectful way, sir. Myname's Martha, if you please. Well, there's a bit, but how a younggentleman can go on as you do making his hands like a sweep's I don'tknow, and if I was your aunt I'd--"

Vane did not hear what, for he had hurried away with the hot-water andsoda, the odour of the kitchen having had a maddening effect upon him, and set him thinking ravenously of the dinner he had missed and thegrilled chicken to come. 

But there was no reproof for him when, clean and decent once more, hesought the dining-room. Aunt Hannah shook her head, but smiled as shemade the tea, and kissed him as he went to her side. 

"Why, Vane, my dear, you must be starving, " she whispered. But hisuncle was deep in thought over some horticultural problem and did notseem to have missed him. He roused up, though, over the evening meal, while Vane was trying to hide his nails, which in spite of all hisefforts looked exceedingly black and like a smith's. 

It was the appetising odour of the grilled chicken that roused thedoctor most, for after sipping his tea and partaking of one piece oftoast he gave a very loud sniff and began to look round the table. 

Vane's plate and the dish before him at once took his attention. 

"Meat tea?" he said smiling pleasantly. "Dear me! and I was under theimpression that we had had dinner just as usual. Come, Vane, my boy, don't be greedy. Remember your aunt; and I'll take a little of that. It smells very good. "

"But, my dear, you had your dinner, and Vane was not there, " cried AuntHannah. 

"Oh! bless my heart, yes, " said the doctor. "Really I had quiteforgotten all about it. "

"Hold your plate, uncle, " cried Vane. 

"Oh, no, thank you, my boy. It was all a mistake, I was thinking aboutthe greenhouse, my dear, you know that the old flue is worn-out, andreally something must be done to heat it. "

"Oh, never mind that, " said Aunt Hannah, but Vane pricked up his ears. 

"But I must mind it, my dear, " said the doctor. "It does not matternow, but the cold weather will come, and it would be a pity to have thechoice plants destroyed. "

"I think it is not worth the trouble, " said Aunt Hannah. "See howtiresome it is for someone to be obliged to come to see to that firelate on cold winter nights. "

"There can be no pleasure enjoyed, my dear, without some trouble, " saidthe doctor. "It is tiresome, I know, all that stoking and poking whenthe glass is below freezing point, and once more, I say I wish therecould be some contrivance for heating the greenhouse without farthertrouble. "

Vane pricked up his ears again, and for a few moments his uncle's wordsseemed about to take root; but those wheels rolled into his minddirectly after, and he was wondering where they could belong to, and howit was that he had not missed them when he put the others back. 

Then the grilled chicken interfered with his power of thinking, and thegreenhouse quite passed away. 

The evenings at the Little Manor House were very quiet, as a rule. Thedoctor sat and thought, or read medical or horticultural papers; AuntHannah sat and knitted or embroidered and kept looking up to nod at Vanein an encouraging way as he was busy over his classics or mathematics, getting ready for reading with the rector next day; and the big catblinked at the fire from the hearthrug. 

But, on this particular night, Vane hurried through the paper he had toprepare for the next day, and fetched out of the book-cases two or threeworks which gave a little information on horology, and he was soon deepin toothed-wheels, crown-wheels, pinions, ratchets, pallets, escapements, free, detached, anchor, and half-dead. Then he read onabout racks, and snails; weights, pendulums, bobs, and compensations. 

Reading all this was not only interesting, but gave the idea that takinga clock to pieces and putting it together again was remarkably easy; butthere was no explanation about those missing wheels. 

Bedtime at last, and Vane had another scrub with the nail-brush at hishands before lying down. 

It was a lovely night, nearly full-moon, and the room looked so lightafter the candle was out that Vane gave it the credit of keeping himawake. For, try how he would, he could not get to sleep. Now he was onhis right side, but the pillow grew hot and had to be turned; now on hisleft, with the pillow turned back. Too many clothes, and thecounterpane stripped back. Not enough: his uncle always said thatwarmth was conducive to sleep, and the counterpane pulled up. But nosleep. 

"Oh, how wakeful I do feel!" muttered the boy impatiently, as he tossedfrom side to side. "Is it the chicken?"

No; it was not the chicken, but the church clock, and those two wheels, which kept on going round and round in his mind without cessation. Hetried to think of something else: his studies, Greek, Latin, themathematical problems upon which he was engaged; but, no: ratchets andpinions, toothed-wheels, free and detached, pendulums and weights, hadit all their own way, and at last he jumped out of bed, opened thewindow and stood there, looking out, and cooling his heated, weary headfor a time. 

"Now I can sleep, " he said to himself, triumphantly, as he returned tohis bed; but he was wrong, and a quarter of an hour after he was at thewashstand, pouring himself out a glass of water, which he drank. 

That did have some effect, for at last he dropped off into a fitfulunrefreshing sleep, to be mentally borne at once into the chamber of thebig stone tower, with the clockwork tumbled about in heaps all roundhim; and he vainly trying to catch the toothed-wheels, which keptrunning round and round, while the clock began to strike. 

Vane started up in bed, for the dream seemed real--the clock wasstriking. 

No: that was not a clock striking, but one of the bells, tolling rapidlyin the middle of the night. 

For a moment the lad thought he was asleep, but the next he had sprungout of bed and run to the window to thrust out his head and listen. 

It was unmistakable: the big bell was going as he had never heard itbefore--not being rung, but as if someone had hold of the clapper andwere beating it against the side--_Dang, dang, dang, dang_--strokefollowing stroke rapidly; and, half-confused by the sleep from which hehad been awakened, Vane was trying to make out what it meant, whenfaintly, but plainly heard on the still night air, came that moststartling of cries--

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"

The Weathercock--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

A DISTURBED NIGHT. 

Just as Vane shivered at the cry, and ran to hurry on some clothes, there was the shape of the door clearly made out in lines of light, anddirectly after a sharp tapping. 

"Vane, my boy, asleep?"

"No, uncle; dressing. "

"You heard the bell, then. I'm afraid it means fire. "

"Yes, fire, fire! I heard them calling. "

"I can't see anything, can you?"

"No, uncle, but I shall be dressed directly, and will go and find outwhere it is?"

"O hey! Master Vane!" came from the outside. "Fire!"

It was the gardener's voice, and the lad ran to the window. 

"Yes, I heard. Where is it?"

"Don't know yet, sir. Think it's the rectory. "

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" came from Vane's door. "Hi, Vane, lad, I'll dressas quickly as I can. You run on and see if you can help. Whatever youdo, try and save the rector's books. "

Vane grunted and went on dressing, finding everything wrong in the dark, and taking twice as long as usual to get into his clothes. 

As he dressed, he kept on going to the window to look out, but not toobtain any information, for the gardener had run back at a steady trot, his steps sounding clearly on the hard road, while the bell kept up itsincessant clamour, the blows of the clapper following one anotherrapidly as ever, and with the greatest of regularity. But thrust hishead out as far as he would, there was no glare visible, as there hadbeen the year before when the haystack was either set on fire or ignitedspontaneously from being built up too wet. Then the whole of thewestern sky was illumined by the flames, and patches of burning hay rosein great flakes high in air, and were swept away by the breeze. 

"Dressed, uncle. Going down, " cried Vane, as he walked into thepassage. 

"Shan't be five minutes, my boy. "

"Take care, Vane, dear, " came in smothered and suggestive tones. "Don'tgo too near the fire. "

"All right, aunt, " shouted the boy, as he ran downstairs, and, catchingup his cap, unfastened the front door, stepped out, ran down the path, darted out from the gate, and began to run toward where the alarm bellwas being rung. 

It was no great distance, but, in spite of his speed, it seemed to belong that night; and, as Vane ran, looking eagerly the while for theglow from the fire, he came to the conclusion that the brilliancy of themoon was sufficient to render it invisible, and that perhaps the blazewas yet only small. 

"Hi! Who's that?" cried a voice, whose owner was invisible in theshadow cast by a clump of trees. 

"I--Vane Lee. Is the rectory on fire, Distin?"

"I've just come out of it, and didn't see any flames, " said the youthcontemptuously. 

"Here, hi! Distie!" came from the side-road leading to the rectorygrounds. "Wait for us. Who's that? Oh, you, Vane. What's thematter?"

"I don't know, " replied Vane. "I jumped out of bed when I heard thealarm bell. "

"So did we, and here's Aleck got his trousers on wrong way first. "

"I haven't, " shouted Macey; "but that's my hat you've got. "

As he spoke, he snatched the hat Gilmore was wearing, and tossed the onehe held toward his companion. 

"Are you fellows coming?" said Distin, coldly. 

"Of course we are, " cried Macey. "Come on, lads; let's go and help themget out the town squirt. "

They started for the main street at a trot, and Vane panted out:--

"I'll lay a wager that the engine's locked up, and that they can't findthe keys. "

"And when they do, the old pump won't move, " cried Gilmore. 

"And the hose will be all burst, " cried Macey. 

"I thought we were going to help, " said Distin, coldly. "If you fellowschatter so, you'll have no breath left. "

By this time they were among the houses, nearly everyone of which showeda light at the upper window. 

"Here's Bruff, " cried Vane, running up to a group of men, four of whomwere carrying poles with iron hooks at the end--implements bearing astriking family resemblance to the pole drags said to be "kept inconstant readiness, " by wharves, bridges, and docks. 

"What have you got there, gardener?" shouted Gilmore. 

"Hooks, sir, to tear off the burning thack. "

"But where is the burning thatch?" cried Vane. 

"I dunno, sir, " said the gardener. "I arn't even smelt fire yet. "

"Have they got the engine out?"

"No, sir. They arn't got the keys yet. Well, did you make him hear?"continued Bruff, as half-a-dozen men came trotting down the street. 

"Nay, we can't wacken him nohow. "

"What, Chakes?" cried Vane. 

"Ay; we've been after the keys. "

"But he must be up at the church, " said Vane. "It's he who is ringingthe bell. "

"Nay, he arn't theer, " chorused several. "We went theer first, anddoors is locked. "

By this time there was quite a little crowd in the street, whosecomponents were, for the most part, asking each other where the firewas; and, to add to the confusion, several had brought their dogs, someof which barked at the incessant ringing of the big bell, while threetook part in a quarrel, possibly induced by ill-temper consequent upontheir having been roused from their beds. 

"Then he must have locked himself in, " cried Vane. 

"Not he, " said Distin. "Go and knock him up; he's asleep still. "

"Well, " said Bruff, with a chuckle, as he stood his hook pole on end, "owd Mike Chakes can sleep a bit, I know; but if he can do it throughall this ting dang, he bets me. "

"Come and see, " cried Vane, making for the church-tower. 

"No; come and rout him out of bed, " cried Distin. 

Just then a portly figure approached, and the rector's smooth, quickvoice was heard asking:--

"Where is the fire, my men?"

"That's what we can't none on us mak' out, Parson, " said a voice. "Hey!Here's Mester Rounds; he's chutch-waarden; he'll know. "

"Nay, I don't know, " cried the owner of the name; "I've on'y just gotout o' bed. Who's that pullin' the big bell at that rate?"

"We think it's saxton, " cried a voice. 

"Yes, of course. He has locked himself in. "

"Silence!" cried the rector; and, as the buzz of voices ceased, hecontinued, "Has anyone noticed a fire?"

"Nay, nay, nay, " came from all directions. 

"But at a distance--at either of the farms?"

"Nay, they're all right, parson, " said the churchwarden. "We could seeif they was alight. Hi! theer! How'd hard!" he roared, with both handsto his mouth. "Don't pull the bell down. "

For the clangour continued at the same rate, --_Dang, dang dang, dang_. 

"Owd Mikey Chakes has gone mad, I think, " said a voice. 

"Follow me to the church, " said the rector; and, leading the way withhis pupils, the rector marched the little crowd up the street, amidst abuzz of voices, many of which came from bedroom windows, now allwide-open, and with the occupants of the chambers gazing out, andshouting questions to neighbours where the fire might be. 

A few moments' pause was made at the sexton's door, but all was silentthere, and no response came to repeated knocks. 

"He must be at the church, of course, " said the rector; and in a fewminutes all were gathered at the west door, which was tried, and, asbefore said, found to be fastened. 

"Call, somebody with a loud voice. "

"We did come and shout, sir, and kicked at the door. "

"Call again, " said the rector. "The bell makes so much clamour theringer cannot hear. Hah! he has stopped. "

For, as he spoke, the strokes on the bell grew slower, and suddenlyceased. 

A shout was raised, a curious cry, composed of"Mike"--"Chakes!"--"Shunk" and other familiar appellations. 

"Hush, hush!" cried the rector. "One of you--Mr Rounds, will you havethe goodness to summon the sexton. "

"Hey! hey! Sax'on!" shouted the miller in a voice of thunder; and hesupplemented his summons by kicking loudly at the door. 

"Excuse me, Mr Rounds, " said the rector; "the call will suffice. "

"But it don't suffice, Parson, " said the bluff churchwarden. "Hi, Chakes, man, coom down an' open doooor!"

"Straange and queer, " said the butcher. "Theer arn't nobody, or they'dsay summat. "

There was another shout. 

"Plaace arn't harnted, is it?" said a voice from the little crowd. 

"Will somebody have the goodness to go for my set of the church keys, "said the rector with dignity. "You? Thank you, Mr Macey. You knowwhere they hang. "

Macey went off at a quick pace; and, to fill up the time, the rectorknocked with the top of his stick. 

By this time the doctor had joined the group. 

"It seems very strange, " he said. "The sexton must have gone uphimself, nobody else had keys. "

"And there appears to be nothing to cause him to raise an alarm, " saidthe rector. "Surely the man has not been walking in his sleep. "

"Tchah!" cried the churchwarden; "not he, sir. Wean't hardly walk adozen steps, even when he's awake. Why, hallo! what now?"

"Here he is! Here he is!" came excitedly from the crowd, as the sextonwalked deliberately up with a lantern in one hand, a bunch of keys inthe other. 

"Mr Chakes, " said the rector sternly, "what is the meaning of this?"

"Dunno, sir. I come to see, " replied the sexton. "I thowt I heerd belltolling, and I got up and as there seems to be some'at the matter Icomed. "

"Then, you did not go into the belfry to ring the alarm, " cried thedoctor. 

"Nay, I ben abed and asleep till the noise wackened me. "

"It is very strange, " said the rector. "Ah, here is Mr Macey. Havethe goodness to open the door; and, Mr Rounds, will you keep watch overthe windows to see if any one escapes. This must be some trick. "

As the door was opened the rector turned to his pupils. 

"Surely, young gentlemen, " he said in a whisper, "you have not beenguilty of any prank. "

They all indignantly disclaimed participation, and the rector led theway into the great silent tower, where he paused. 

"I'm afraid I must leave the search to younger men, " he said. "Thatwinding staircase will be too much for me. "

Previously all had hung back out of respect to the rector, but at this arush was made for the belfry, the rectory pupils leading, and quite acrowd filling the chamber where the ropes hung perfectly still. 

"Nobody here, sir, " shouted Distin, down the staircase. 

"Dear me!" exclaimed the rector; who was standing at the foot, almostalone, save that he had the companionship of the doctor and that theywere in close proximity to the churchwarden and the watchers outside thedoor. 

"Go up higher. Perhaps he is hiding by the clock or among the bells. "

This necessitated Chakes going up first, and unlocking the clock-chamberdoor, while others went higher to see if any one was hidden among thebells or on the roof. 

"I know'd there couldn't be no one in here, " said Chakes solemnly, as heheld up his lantern, and peered about, and round the works of the clock. 

"How did you know?" said Distin suspiciously. 

"That's how, " replied the sexton, holding up his keys. "No one couldn'tget oop here, wi'out my key or parson's. "

This was received with a solemn murmur, and after communications hadbeen sent to and fro between the rector and Distin, up and down thespiral staircase, which made an excellent speaking-tube, the rectorcalled to everyone to come back. 

He was obeyed, Chakes desiring the pupils to stay with him while he didthe locking up; and as he saw a look exchanged between Macey andGilmore, he raised his keys to his lips, and blew down the pipes. 

"Here, hallo!" cried Gilmore, "where's the show and the big drum? He'sgoing to give us Punch and Judy. "

"Nay, sir, nay, I always blows the doost out. You thought I wanted youto stay because--Nay, I arn't scarred. On'y thought I might wantsomeone to howd lantern. "

He locked the clock-chamber door, and they descended to the belfry, where several of the people were standing, three having hold of theropes. 

"Nay, nay, you mustn't pull they, " shouted Chakes. "Bell's been ringing'nuff to-night. Latt 'em be. "

"Why, we never looked in those big cupboards, " cried Macey suddenly, pointing to the doors behind which the weights hung, and the pendulum, when the clock was going, swung to and fro. 

"Nay, there's nowt, " said the sexton, opening and throwing back the doorto show the motionless ropes and pendulum. 

Vane had moved close up with the others, and he stood there in silenceas the doors were closed again, and then they descended to join thegroup below, the churchwarden now coming to the broad arched door. 

"Well?" he cried; "caught 'em?"

"There's no one there, " came chorused back. 

"Then we must all hev dreamed we heard bell swing, " said thechurchwarden. "Let's all goo back to bed. "

"It is very mysterious, " said the rector. 

"Very strange, " said the doctor. "The ringing was of so unusual acharacter, too. "

"Owd place is harnted, " said a deep voice from the crowd, the speakerhaving covered his mouth with his hand, so as to disguise his voice. 

"Shame!" said the rector sternly. "I did not think I had a parishionerwho could give utterance to such absurd sentiments. "

"Then what made bell ring?" cried another voice. 

"I do not know yet, " said the rector, gravely; "but there must have beensome good and sufficient reason. "

"Perhaps one of the bells was left sticking up, " said Macey--a remarkwhich evoked a roar of laughter. 

"It is nearly two o'clock, my good friends, " said the rector, quietly;"and we are doing no good discussing this little puzzle. Leave it tilldaylight, and let us all return home to our beds. Chakes, have thegoodness to lock the door. Good-night, gentlemen. Doctor, you arecoming my way; young gentlemen, please. "

He marched off with the doctor, followed by his four pupils, till Distinincreased his pace a little, and contrived to get so near that thedoctor half turned and hesitated for Distin to come level. 

"Perhaps you can explain it, my young friend, " he said; and Distinjoined in the conversation. 

Meanwhile Gilmore and Macey were talking volubly, while Vane seemed tobe listening. 

"It's all gammon about haunting and ghosts and goblins, " said Gilmore. "Chaps who wrote story-books invented all that kind of stuff, same asthey did about knights in full armour throwing their arms roundbeautiful young ladies, and bounding on to their chargers and gallopingoff. "

"Oh, come, that's true enough, " said Macey. 

"What!" cried Gilmore, "do you mean to tell me that you believe a fellowdressed in an ironmonger's shop, and with a big pot on his head, and agirl on his arm, could leap on a horse?"

"Yes, if he was excited, " cried Macey. 

"He couldn't do it, without the girl. "

"But they did do it. "

"No, they didn't. It's impossible. If you want the truth, read some ofthe proper accounts about the armour they used to wear. Why, it was soheavy that--"

"Yes, it was heavy, " said Macey, musingly. 

"Yes, so heavy, that when they galloped at each other with bigclothes-prop things, and one of 'em was knocked off his horse, and layflat on the ground, he couldn't get up again without his squires to helphim. "

"You never read that. "

"Well, no, but Vane Lee did. He told me all about it. I suppose, then, you're ready to believe that the church-tower's haunted?"

"I don't say that, " said Macey, "but it does seem very strange. "

"Oh, yes, of course it does, " said Gilmore mockingly. "Depend upon itthere was a tiny chap with a cloth cap, ending in a point sitting up onthe timbers among the bells with a big hammer in his hands, and he waspounding away at the bell till he saw us coming, and then off he went, hammer and all. "

"I didn't say I believed that, " said Macey; "but I do say it's verystrange. "

"Well, good-night, Syme, " said the doctor, who had halted at the turningleading up to the rectory front door. "It is very curious, but I can'thelp thinking that it was all a prank played by some of the town lads toannoy the sexton. Well, Vane, my boy, ready for bed once more?"

Vane started out of a musing fit and said good-night to his tutor andfellow-pupils to walk back with his uncle. 

"I can't puzzle it out, Vane. I can't puzzle it out, " the doctor said, and the nephew shivered, for fear that the old gentleman should turnupon him suddenly and say, "Can you?"

But no such question was asked, for the doctor began to talk aboutdifferent little mysteries which he had met with in his career, all ofwhich had had matter-of-fact explanations that came in time, and thenthey reached the house, to find a light in the breakfast-room, whereAunt Hannah was dressed, and had prepared some coffee for them. 

"Oh, I have been so anxious, " she cried. "Whose place is burned?"

"No one's, " said the doctor, cheerily; and then he related theirexperience. 

"I'm very thankful it's no worse, " said Aunt Hannah. "Some scamps ofboys must have had a string tied to the bell, I suppose. "

Poor old lady, she seemed to think of the great tenor bell in the oldtower as if it were something which could easily be swung by hand. 

They did not sit long; and, ill at ease, and asking himself whether hewas going to turn into a disingenuous cowardly cur, Vane gladly soughthis chamber once more to sit down on the edge of his bed, and ponderover his day's experience. 

"It must have been through leaving out those two wheels, " he muttered, "that made something go off, and start the weight running down as fastas it could. I must speak about it first thing to-morrow morning, orthe people will think the place is full of ghosts. Yes, I'll tell unclein the morning and he can do what he likes. "

On coming to this resolve Vane undressed and slipped into bed once more, laid his head on the pillow, and composed himself to sleep; but no sleepcame, and with his face burning he glided out of bed again, put on a fewthings, and then stole out of his bedroom into the passage, where hestood hesitating for a few minutes. 

"No, " he muttered as he drew a deep breath, "I will not be such acoward;" and, creeping along the passage, he tapped softly on the nextbedroom door. 

"Eh? Yes. Someone ill?" cried the doctor. "Down directly. "

"No, no, uncle, don't get up, " cried Vane hoarsely. "I only wanted totell you something. "

"Tell me something? Well, what is it?"

"I wanted to say that I had been trying to clean the church clock thisafternoon, and I left out two of the wheels. "

"What!" roared the doctor. "Hang it all, boy, I think nature must haveleft out two of your wheels. "

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

MACEY IN DIFFICULTIES. 

"Well, no, " said the doctor emphatically, after hearing Vane'sconfession at breakfast next morning. "No harm was done, so I think wewill make it a private affair between us, Vane, for the rector wouldlook upon it as high treason if he knew. "

"I'll go and tell him if you say I am to, uncle. "

"Then I do not say you are to, boy. By the way, do yourschool-fellows--I beg their pardons--your fellow-pupils know?"

"I have only told you and aunt, sir. "

"Ah, well, let it rest with us, and I daresay the clockmaker will havehis own theory about how the two wheels happened to be missing from theworks of the clock. Only don't you go meddling with things which do notbelong to your department in future or you may get into very serioustrouble indeed. "

The doctor gave his nephew a short sharp nod which meant dismissal, andVane went off into the conservatory to think about his improvement ofthe heating apparatus. 

But the excitement of the previous night and the short rest he had hadinterfered with his powers of thought, and the greenhouse was soon leftfor the laboratory, and that place for the rectory, toward which Vanemoved with a peculiarly guilty feeling. 

He wished now that the doctor had given him leave to speak out, for thenhe felt that he could have gone more comfortably to the study, insteadof taking his seat imagining that the rector suspected him, or that hehad been told that his pupil had been seen going into the church-towerwith Chakes, and afterwards alone. 

"He can't help knowing, " Vane said to himself, as he neared the grounds;"and I shall have to confess after all. "

But he did not, for on reaching the rectory Joseph met him with theannouncement that master was so unwell that he had decided not to getup. 

"Then there will be no study this morning, Joseph?"

"No, sir, not a bit, and the young gents have gone off--rabbiting, Ithink. "

"Which way?"

"Sowner's woods, sir. I think if you was to look sharp you'd ketch 'emup. "

Vane felt quite disposed to "look sharp, " and overtake the others, onereason being that he hoped to find Distin more disposed to becomefriendly again, for he argued it was so stupid for them, workingtogether at the same table, to be separated and to carry on a kind offeud. 

It was about a couple of miles to Sowner's wood, and with the intentionof taking all the short cuts, and getting there in less than half anhour, Vane hurried on, feeling the soft sweet breeze upon his cheeks andrevelling in the joy of being young, well and hearty. The drowsysensations he had felt at breakfast were rapidly passing off, and hisspirits rose as he now hoped that there would be no trouble about hisescapade with the clock, as he had done the right thing in explainingmatters to the doctor. 

It was a glorious morning, with the country round looking lovely in thewarm mellow light of early autumn, and, gaze which way he would, somescene of beauty met his eye. 

His course was along the main road for some distance, after which hewould have to turn down one of the many narrow lanes of that part of thecountry--lanes which only led from one farm to another, and for the mostpart nearly impassable in winter from the scarcity of hard material forrepairing the deep furrows made by the waggon-wheels. 

But these lanes were none the less beautiful with their narrow bordersof grass in the place of paths, each cut across at intervals, to act asa drain to the road, though it was seldom that they did their duty andfreed the place from the pools left by the rain. 

The old Romans, when they made roads, generally drew them straight. TheLincolnshire farmers made them by zigzagging along the edge of a man'sland, so that there was no cause for surprise to Vane when after goingalong some distance beneath the overhanging oak trees he came suddenlyupon his old friends the gipsies once more, with the miserable horsesgrazing, the van and cart drawn up close to the hedge, and the womencooking at their wood fire as of old. 

They saluted him with a quiet nod, and as Vane went on, he was cognisantof the fact that they were watching him; but he would not look back tillhe had gone some distance. When he did the little camp was out ofsight, but the two gipsy lads were standing behind as if following him. As soon as they saw that they were observed, they became deeply intentupon the blackberries and haws upon the hedges, picking away with greateagerness, but following again as Vane went on. 

"I suppose they think I'm going rabbiting or fishing, and hope to get ajob, " thought Vane. "Well, they'll be disappointed, but they must findit out for themselves. "

He was getting hot now, for the sun came down ardently, and there was nowind down in the deeply-cut lane, but he did not check his pace for hewas nearing Sowner's woods now, and eager to find out the object whichhad brought his three fellow-pupils there. 

"What are they after?" he said. "Distin wouldn't stoop to goblackberrying or nutting. He doesn't care for botany. Rabbiting! I'llbe bound to say they've got a gun and are going to have a day at them. 

"Well, I don't mind, " he concluded after a pause, "but I don't believeold Distin would ever hit a rabbit if he tried, and--"

He stopped short, for, on turning a corner where the lane formed twosides of a square field, he saw that the two great hulking lads wereslouching along after him still, and had lessened the distance betweenthem considerably. 

Vane's musings had been cut short off and turned into another track. 

"Well, " he said, "perhaps they may have a chance to hunt out woundedrabbits, or find dead ones, and so earn sixpence a piece. "

Then, as he hurried on, taking off his hat now to wipe his steamingbrow, he began to wonder who had given the pupils leave for a day'srabbit-shooting, and came to the conclusion at last that ChurchwardenRounds, who had some land out in this direction had obtained permissionfor them. 

"Don't matter, " he said; "perhaps they're not after rabbits after all. "

Soon after the lane turned in another direction and, as he passed roundthe corner, thinking of what short cuts any one might make who did notmind forcing his way through or leaping hedges, he once more glancedback at the gipsy lads, and found that he was only being followed byone. 

"The other has given it up as a bad job, " he said to himself, and then, "How much farther is it? and what a wild-goose chase I am coming. Theymay have gone in quite another direction, for Joseph couldn't be sure. "

Just then, though, an idea occurred to him--That he would easily findout where they were when they fired. 

"I wonder whose gun they have borrowed?" For, knowing that they ownednone, he began to run over in his mind who would be the most ready tolend a gun in the expectation of getting half a crown for its use. 

"Gurner's got one, because he goes after the wild geese in the winter, "thought Vane; "and Bruff has that big flint-lock with the pan lined withsilver. He'd lend it to anybody for a shilling and be glad of it. --Well, look at that! Why he must have made a regular short cut so as toget there. Why did he do that?"

This thought was evoked by Vane suddenly catching sight of the secondgipsy lad turned into the first. In other words, the one whom hesupposed to have gone back, had gone on, and Vane found himself in thatnarrow lane with high banks and hedges on either side and with one ofthese great lawless lads in front, and the other behind. 

For the first time it now occurred to Vane that the place was verylonely, and that the nearest farm was quite a mile away, right beyondSowner wood, whose trees now came in view, running up the slope of agreat chalk down. 

"Whatever do they mean?" thought Vane, for the gipsy lad in front hadsuddenly stopped, turned round, and was coming toward him. 

"Why, he has a stick, " said Vane to himself, and looking sharply roundhe saw that the other one also carried a stick. 

For a moment a feeling of dread ran through him, but it passed off onthe instant, and he laughed at himself for a coward. 

"Pooh!" he said, "they want to beat for rabbits and that's why they havegot their sticks. "

In spite of himself Vane Lee wondered why the lads had not been seen tocarry sticks before; then, laughing to himself as he credited them withhaving had them tucked up somewhere under their clothes, he walked onboldly. 

"What nonsense!" he thought; "is it likely that those two fellows wouldbe going to attack me!"

But all the same their movements were very suggestive, for there was afurtive, peculiar action on the part of the one in front, who wasevidently uneasy, and kept on looking behind him and to right and left, as if in search of danger or a way of escape, and in both a peculiarhesitancy that struck Vane at once. 

Under the circumstances, he too, had hard work to keep from lookingabout for a way of escape, should the lads mean mischief: but he didnot, for fear that they should think him cowardly, and walked steadilyon, with the result that the boy in front stopped short and then beganslowly to retreat. 

"They are up to some game, " thought Vane with his heart beginning tobeat hard, and a curious feeling of excitement running through him as hethought of his chances against two strong lads armed with sticks if theydid dare to attack him. But again he cast aside the thought as beingtoo absurd, and strode boldly on. 

"These are not the days for footpads and highwaymen, " he said tohimself, and just then the lad in front gave vent to a peculiar whistle, made a rush up the bank on his left, looked sharply round, ducked down, whistled again, and disappeared. 

"I'd give something to know what game they call this, " said Vane tohimself, as he watched the spot where the lad had disappeared; and thenhe turned sharply round to question the one who was following him, but, to his astonishment, he found that the lane behind him was vacant. 

Vane paused for a few moments and then made a dash forward till hereached the trampled grass and ferns where the first boy had scrambledup the bank, climbed to the top, and stood looking round for him. Buthe was gone, and there was not much chance for anyone not gifted withthe tracking power of an Indian to follow the fugitive through the roughtangle of scrub oak, ferns, brambles and gorse which spread away rightto the borders of the wood. 

Just as he was standing on the highest part of the bank looking sharplyround, he heard a shout. Then--

"Weathercock, ahoy! Coo-ee!"

He looked in the direction, fully expecting to see Macey, whose voice herecognised, but for some minutes he was invisible. Then he saw the tallferns moving, and directly after he caught sight of his fellow-pupil'sround face, and then of his arms waving, as he literally waded throughthe thick growth. 

Vane gave an answering shout, and went to meet him, trying the while toarrive at a settlement of the gipsy lads' conduct, and feeling bound tocome to the conclusion that they had meant mischief; but heard Maceycoming, perhaps the others, for he argued that they could not be veryfar away. 

Vane laughed to himself, as he advanced slowly, for he knew the part hewas in well enough, and it amused him as he fought his way on, to thinkof the struggles Macey, a London boy, was having to get through thetangle of briar and furze. For he had often spent an hour in the placewith the doctor, collecting buckthorn and coral-moss, curious lichens, sphagnum, and the round, and long-leaved sundews, or butterwort: for allthese plants abounded here, with the bramble and bracken. There wereplenty of other bog plants, too, in the little pools and patches ofwater, while the dry, gravelly and sandy mounds here and there were wellknown to him as the habitat of the long-legged parasol mushrooms, whoseedible qualities the doctor had taught him in their walks. 

"Poor old Macey!" he said, as he leaped over or parted the great thornystrands of the brambles laden with their luscious fruit which grew herein abundance, and then he stopped short and laughed, for a yell camefrom his fellow-pupil, who had also stopped. 

"Come on, " cried Vane. 

"Can't! I'm caught by ten million thorns. Oh, I say, do come and helpa fellow out. "

Vane backed a little way, and selecting an easier path, soon reached thespot where Macey was standing with his head and shoulders only visible. 

"Why didn't you pick your way?" he cried. 

"Couldn't, " said Macey dolefully; "the thorns wouldn't let me. I say, do come. "

"All right, " said Vane, confidently, but the task was none too easy, forMacey had floundered into the densest patch of thorny growth anywherenear, and the slightest movement meant a sharp prick from blackberry, rose, or furze. 

"Whatever made you try to cross this bit?" said Vane, who had taken outhis knife to divide some of the strands. 

"I was trying to find the lane. Haven't seen one about anywhere, haveyou?"

"Why, of course I have, " said Vane, laughing at his friend's dolefulplight. "It's close by. "

"I began to think somebody had taken it away. Oh! Ah! I say--do mind;you're tearing my flesh. "

"But I must cut you out. Now then, lift that leg and put your foot onthis bramble. "

"It's all very fine to talk, but I shall be in rags when I do get out. "

"That's better: now the other. There, now, put your hand on my shoulderand give a jump. "

"I daren't. "

"Nonsense--why?"

"I should leave half my toggery behind. "

"You wouldn't: come along. Take my hands. "

Macey took hold of his companion's hands, there was a bit of a struggle, and he stood bemoaning his injuries; which consisted of pricks andscratches, and a number of thorns buried deeply beneath his clothes. 

"Nice place this is, " he said dolefully. 

"Lovely place for botanists, " said Vane, merrily. 

"Then I'm thankful I'm not a botanist. "

"Where are the others?" asked Vane. 

"I don't know. Distin wanted to lie down in the shade as soon as wereached the edge of the wood, and Gil wouldn't leave him, out ofcivility. "

"Then you didn't come rabbit-shooting?"

"Rabbit-grandmothering! We only came for a walk, and of course I didn'twant to sit down and listen to Distin run down England and puff the WestIndies, so I wandered off into the wood and lost myself. "

"What, there too?"

"Yes, and spent my time thinking about you. "

"What! Because you wanted me to act as guide?"

"No, I didn't: it was because I got into a part where the oak trees andfir trees were open, and there was plenty of grass. And there I kept onfinding no end of toadstools such as you delight in devouring. "

"Ah!" exclaimed Vane eagerly. "Where was it?"

"Oh, you couldn't find the place again. I couldn't, but there were suchbig ones; and what do you think I said?"

"How should I know?" said Vane, trampling down the brambles, so as tomake the way easier for his companion. 

"I said I wish the nasty pig was here, and he could feast for a month. "

"Thank you, " said Vane. "I don't care. I can only pity ignorantpeople. But whereabouts did you leave Gil and Distin?"

"I don't know, I tell you. Under an oak tree. "

"Yes, but which?"

"Oh, somewhere. I had a pretty job to find my way out, and I didn'ttill I had picked out a great beech tree to sleep in to-night, and beganthinking of collecting acorns for food. "

"Why didn't you shout?"

"I did, till I was so hoarse I got down to a whisper. Oh, I say, whydid you let that bit of furze fly back?"

"Couldn't help it. "

"I'm getting sick of Greythorpe. No police to ask your way, no gaslamps, no cabs. "

"None at all. It's a glorious place, isn't it, Aleck?"

"Well, I suppose it is when you know your way, and are not being prickedwith thorns. "

"Ah, you're getting better, " cried Vane. "What shall we do--go backalone, or try and find them?"

"Go back, of course. I'm not going through all that again to-day tofind old Distin, and hear him sneer about you. He's always going on. Says Syme has no business to have you at the rectory to mix withgentlemen. "

"Oh, he says that, does he?"

"Yes, and I told him you were more of a gentleman than he was, and hegave me a back-handed crack over the mouth. "

"And what did you do--hit him back?"

"Not with my fist. With my tongue. Called him a nigger. That hits himhardest, for he's always fancying people think there's black blood inhis veins, though, of course, there isn't, and it wouldn't matter ifthere were, if he was a good fellow. Let's get on. Where's the lane?"

"Just down there, " said Vane; and they reached it directly after, butthere were no signs of the gipsies, and Vane said nothing about themthen, feeling that he must have been mistaken about their intentions, which could only have been to beg. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

TWO BUSY DAYS. 

It is curious to study the different things which please boys. 

Anything less likely to form a fortnight's amusement for a lad than theiron-pipes, crooks, bends, elbows, syphons and boiler delivered bywaggon from the nearest railway, it would be hard to conceive. But toVane they were a source of endless delight, and it thoroughly puzzledhim to find Bruff, the gardener, muttering and grumbling about theirweight. 

"It arn't gardener's work, sir, that's why I grumbled, " said the man. "My work's flowers and vegetables and sech. I arn't used to such jobsas that. "

"Why, what difference does it make?" cried Vane. 

"A deal, sir. Don't seem respectful to a man whose dooty's flowers andvegetables and sech, to set him hauling and heaving a lot o' iron-pipesjust got down for your pranks. "

"Well, of all the ungrateful, grumbling fellows!" cried Vane. "Isn't itto save you from coming up here on cold, frosty nights to stoke thefire?"

"Nay, bud it wean't, " said Bruff, with a grin. "Look here, Mester Vane, I've sin too many of your contraptions not to know better. You're goingto have the greenhouse pulled all to pieces, and the wall half knockeddown to try your bits o' tricks, and less than a month they'll all haveto be pulled out again, and a plain, good, old English flue 'll have tobe put up as ought to be done now. "

"You're a stubborn old stick-in-the-way, Bruff. Why, if you could havedone as you liked, there would never have been any railway down here. Mind! don't break that. Cast-iron's brittle. "

"Brittle! It's everything as is bad, sir. But you're right, theere. Niver a bit o' railway would I hev hed. Coach and waggon was good enewfor my feyther, and it was good enew for me. "

"Come along, " said Vane; "let's get all in their places, as they'll bein the greenhouse. "

"Ay, we'll get 'em in, I suppose, " grumbled the gardener, "bud you markmy words, Mester Vane; them water pipes 'll nivver get hot, and, whenthey do, they'll send out a nasty, pysonous steam as'll kill iveryplahnt in the greenhouse. Now, you see?"

"Grumble away, " said Vane; and Bruff did grumble. He found fault atbeing taken away from his work to help in Master Vane's whims, murmuredat having to help move the boiler, and sat down afterwards, declaringthat he had hurt his back, and could do no more that day; whereuponVane, who was much concerned, was about to fetch the doctor, but Bruffsuddenly felt a little better, and gradually came round. 

Matters had gone as far as this when voices were heard in the avenue, and Gilmore and Macey made their appearance. 

Vane's first movement was to run and get his jacket to put on; but hestopped himself, and stood fast. 

"I don't mind their seeing me, " he muttered. But he did, and winced asthe joking began, Gilmore taking a high tone, and asking Vane for anestimate for fitting up a vinery for him. 

Gilmore and Macey both saw that their jokes gave annoyance; and, to turnthem off, offered to help, Macey immediately taking off his coat, hanging it over the greenhouse door, and seizing the end of a pipe tomove it where it was not wanted. 

"Don't be jealous, Bruff, " he cried, as he saw the gardener stare. "I'll leave a little bit of work for you to do. "

Bruff grinned and scratched his head. 

"Oh, if it comes to that, Mester Macey, " he said, "you come here anytime, and I'll give you some sensible work to do, diggin' or sweeping. "

"I say, " whispered Vane, the next minute, when he had contrived to getMacey alone, "what made you take off your coat?"

"So as to help. "

"No, it wasn't, or not alone for that. You were thinking about whatDistin said about my not being fit to associate with gentlemen. "

Macey flushed a little, like a girl. 

"Nonsense!" he said. 

"Now, confess. The truth!"

"Oh, I don't know. Well, perhaps. Here, come along, or we shan't getdone to-day. "

They did not get done that day; in fact they had hardly begun when itwas time to leave off; and though there was plenty of fun and joking andbanging together of pieces of iron-pipe and noise which brought out thedoctor to see, and Aunt Hannah in a state of nervousness to make surethat nobody was hurt, Vane did not enjoy his work, for he could not helpglancing at his dirty hands, and asking himself whether Distin was notright. And at these times his fellow-pupil's fastidiously clean handsand unruffled, prim and dandified aspect came before him, making himfeel resolved to be more particular as to the character of the hobbieshe rode. 

At parting, when Gilmore and Macey were taking leave after a visit toVane's room and a plenteous application of soap and nail-brushes, inspite of their declaration that they had had a jolly day, their leader--their foreman of the works, as Gilmore called him--had quite made up hismind that he would let the bricklayer and blacksmith finish the job. Inconsequence of his resolve, he was up by six o'clock next morning whenthe men came, meaning to superintend, but he soon lapsed, and was asbusy as either of them. 

Vane fully expected a severe encounter with Martha apropos of herkitchen-fire being left unlit, and the litter of brick and mortarrubbish made by the bricklayer; but to his surprise the cook did notcome into the kitchen, and during breakfast Vane asked why this was. 

"Aunt's diplomancy, " said the doctor, merrily. 

"No, no, my dear. Your uncle's, " cried Aunt Hannah. 

"Ah, well, halves, " cried the doctor. "Martha wanted a holiday to visither friends, and she started last night for two days. Can you get theboiler set and all right for Mrs Bruff to clean up before Martha comesback?"

"You must, my dear, really, " cried Aunt Hannah. "You must. "

"Oh, very well, aunt, if the bricklayer will only work well, it shall bedone. "

"Thank you, my dear, for really I should not dare to meet Martha ifeverything were not ready; and pray, pray, my dear, see that nothing isdone to interfere with her kitchen-fire. "

The doctor laughed. Vane promised, and forgetful entirely ofappearances he deputed his uncle to go to the rectory and excuse him fortwo days, and worked like a slave. The result was that not only was theboiler set in the wall behind the kitchen-fire, and all put perfectlystraight before the next night, but the iron-pipes, elbows, and syphonswere joined together with their india-rubber rings, and supported onbrick piers, the smith having screwed in a couple of taps for turningoff the communication in hot weather, and the fitting of the boiler; andpipes through the little iron cistern at the highest point completingthe work. 

"Ought by rights, sir, to stand for a few days for the mortar to set, "said the bricklayer on leaving; and this opinion being conveyed to AuntHannah, she undertook that Martha, should make shift in the back kitchenfor a day or two--just as they had during her absence. 

"She will not like it, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, "but as there is nomuddle to clean up, and all looks right, I don't mind making her dothat. "

"Real tyrant of the household, Vane, " said the doctor. "Don't you everstart housekeeping and have a cook. "

Everything had been finished in such excellent time, consequent uponcertain bribery and corruption in the shape of half-crowns, that earlyin the evening, Vane, free from all workmanlike traces, was able topoint triumphantly to the neat appearance of the job, and explain theworking of the supply cistern, and of the stop-cocks between the boilerand the pipes to his aunt and uncle. 

"I thought there ought only to be one tap, " said Vane; "but they bothdeclared that there ought to be one to each pipe, so as to stop thecirculation; and as it only cost a few shillings more I didn't stop thesmith from putting it in. "

"Humph!" said the doctor as Vane turned first one and then the other tapon and off, "seems to work nice and easy. "

"And it does look very much neater than all those bricks, " said AuntHannah. "But I must say one thing, my dear, though I don't like to dampyour project, it does smell very nasty indeed. "

"Oh, aunt, dear, " cried Vane merrily; "that's nothing: only theBrunswick black with which they have painted the pipes. That smell willall go off when it's hard and dry. That wants to dry slowly, too, soyou'll be sure and tell Martha about not lighting the fire. "

"Oh, yes, my dear, I'll see to that. "

"Then now I shall go up to the rectory and tell them I'm coming tolessons in the morning, and--" he hesitated--"I think I shall give updoing rough jobs for the future. "

"Indeed, " said the doctor with a humorous twinkle in his eye; "wouldn'tyou like to take the church clock to pieces, and clean it and set itgoing again?"

Vane turned sharply on his uncle with an appealing look. 

"Now really, my dear, you shouldn't, " cried Aunt Hannah. "Don't, don't, pray, set the boy thinking about doing any more such dirty work. "

"Dirty work? quite an artist's job. I only mentioned it because MrSyme told me that a man would be over from Lincoln to-morrow to see tothe clock. Quite time it was done. "

Vane hurried off to escape his uncle's banter, and was soon after in thelane leading up to the rectory, where, as luck had it, he saw Distinwalking slowly on in front, and, acting on the impulse of the moment, heran after him. 

"Evening, " he cried. 

Distin turned his head slowly, and looked him coldly in the face. 

"I beg your pardon, " he drawled, "were you speaking to me?"

"Oh, hang it, Distie, yes, " cried Vane. "What's the good of us twobeing out. Shake hands. I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you andhope you'll forgive me if there is anything to forgive. "

Distin stared at him haughtily. 

"Really, " he said in rather a drawling manner, "I am at a loss tounderstand what you mean by addressing me like this, sir. "

"Oh, I say, Distie, don't take that queer tone to a fellow, " cried Vane, who could not help feeling nettled. "Here, shake hands--there's a goodfellow. "

He held out his own once more for the other to take, but Distin ignoredit, and half turning away he said:--

"Have the goodness to address me next time when I have spoken to you. Icame down here to read with Mr Syme, and I shall go on doing so, but Ipresume it is open to me to choose whom I please for my associates, andI shall select gentlemen. "

"Well, " said Vane, shortly, "my father was a gentleman; and do you meanto insinuate that my uncle and aunt are not a gentleman and lady?"

"I refuse to discuss matters with every working-class sort of boy I amforced to encounter, " said Distin, haughtily. "Have the goodness tokeep yourself to yourself, and to associate with people of your ownclass. Good-evening. "

"Have the goodness to associate with people of your own class!" saidVane, unconsciously repeating his fellow-pupil's words. "I don't likefighting, but, oh, how he did make my fingers itch to give him one goodsolid punch in the head. "

Vane stood looking at the retiring figure thoroughly nettled now. 

"Ugh!" he exclaimed, "what a nasty mean temper to have. It isn't manly. It's like a spiteful boarding-school girl. Well, I'm not going down onmy knees to him. I can get on without Distin if he can get on withoutme. But it is so petty and mean to go on about one liking to do a bitof mechanical work. One can read classics and stick to one'smathematics all the same, and if I can't write a better paper than hecan it's a queer thing. "

Vane turned to go back to the Little Manor, for, in spite of hisdefiant, careless way of treating Distin's words, he could not helpfeeling too much stung to care about continuing his journey to therectory, for the feeling would come to the front that his fellow-pupilhad some excuse for what he had said. 

"I suppose I did look like a blacksmith's or bricklayer's boy to-day, "he said to himself. "But if I did, what business is it of his? There'snothing disgraceful in it, or uncle would soon stop me. And, besides, Gilmore and Macey don't seem to mind, and their families are far higherthan Distin's. There: I don't care. I was going to give up all kind ofwork that dirties one's hands, but now I will not, just out of spite. Dirty work, indeed! I'll swear I never looked half so dirty over mycarpentering and turning and scheming as I've seen him look after a gameat football on a wet day. "

But all the same, the evening at the Little Manor seemed to be a verydull one; and when, quite late, the carrier's cart stopped at the gate, and cook got down, Vane felt no interest in knowing what she would sayabout the alterations in her kitchen, nor in knowing whether Aunt Hannahhad spoken to her about not lighting the kitchen-fire. 

But he revived a little after his supper, and was eager to take a candleand go out of the hall-door and along the gravel-path, shading thelight, on his way to the greenhouse, where he had a good quietinspection of his work, and was delighted to find that the india-rubberjoints hardly leaked in the least, and no more than would be cured bythe swelling of the caoutchouc, as soon as the pipes were made hot, andthe rings began to fit more tightly, by filling up the uneven places inthe rough iron. 

Everything looked delightfully fresh and perfect; the pipes glistened ofan ebon blackness; the two brass taps shone new and smooth; and thevarious plants and flowers exhaled their scent and began to master thatof the Brunswick black. 

Soon after satisfying himself that all was right, he made his way up tohis bedroom, so thoroughly tired out by the bodily exertion of the twopast days that he dropped off at once into a heavy, dreamless sleep, which was brought to an end about eight o'clock the next morning by asensation of his having been seized by a pair of giant hands and thrownsuddenly and heavily upon the bedroom floor. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

A LESSON ON STEAM. 

Half-stunned, confused, and wondering, Vane Lee awoke to the fact thathe really was lying upon the carpet at the side of his bed, and for afew moments, he felt that he must have fallen out; but, in an indistinctfashion, he began to realise that he had heard a tremendous noise in hissleep, and started so violently that he had rather thrown himself thanfallen out of bed, while to prove to him that there was somethingterribly wrong, there were loud shrieks from the lower part of thehouse, and from the passage came his uncle's voice. 

"Vane, my lad, quick! jump up!"

"It's an earthquake, " panted Vane, as he hurried on his clothes, listening the while with fear and trembling, to the screams which stillrose at intervals from below. 

"That's Eliza's voice, " he thought, and directly after as he waited, full of excitement, for the next shock, and the crumbling down of thehouse, "That's cook. "

Almost at the same moment a peculiar odour came creeping in beneath andround the door; and Vane, as he forced a reluctant button through thecorresponding hole with fumbling fingers took a long sniff. 

"'Tisn't an earthquake, " he thought; "that's gunpowder!"

The next moment, after trying to think of what gunpowder there was onthe premises, and unable to recall any, he was for attributing theexplosion, for such he felt it to be, to some of the chemicals in thelaboratory. 

That idea he quickly dismissed, for the screams were from the kitchen, and he was coming round to the earthquake theory again, when a thoughtflashed through his brain, and he cried aloud in triumph, just as thedoctor threw open his door:--

"It is gunpowder. "

"Smells like it, boy, " cried the doctor, excitedly, "but I had none. Had you?"

"No, uncle, " cried Vane, as a fresh burst of screaming, arose; "but it'scook. She has been blowing up the copper hole to make the fire draw. "

"Come along! That's it!" cried the doctor. "Stupid woman! I hope sheis not much burned. "

This all took place as they were hurrying down into the hall, where theodour was stifling now: that dank, offensive, hydrogenous smell which ispretty familiar to most people, and as they hurried on to the kitchenfrom which the cries for help came more faintly now, they entered upon adimly-seen chaos of bricks, mortar, broken crockery, and upset kitchenfurniture. 

"A pound of powder at least, " cried the doctor, who then began to sneezeviolently, the place being full of steam, and dust caused by the ceilinghaving been pretty well stripped of plaster. "Here, cook--Eliza--whereare you?"

"Oh, master, master, master!"

"Help!--help!--help!"

Two wild appeals for aid from the back kitchen, where the copper wasset, and into which uncle and nephew hurried, expecting to find the twomaids half buried in _debris_. But, to the surprise of both, thatoffice was quite unharmed, and cook was seated in a big Windsor chair, sobbing hysterically, while Eliza was on the floor, screaming faintlywith her apron held over her face. 

"How could you be so foolish!--how much powder?--where did you get it?--where are you hurt?" rattled out the doctor breathlessly. 

"Anything the matter, cook?" said Bruff, coming to the door. 

"Matter? Yes, " cried the doctor, growing cool again. "Here, help melift Eliza into a chair. "

"No, no, don't touch me; I shall fall to pieces, " sobbed the maidwildly. 

"Nonsense! Here, let me see where you are hurt, " continued the doctor, as Eliza was lifted carefully. 

"Oh, Master Vane--oh, Master Vane! Is it the end of the world?" groanedcook, as the lad took one of her hands, and asked her where she wasinjured. 

"No, no, " cried Vane. "Tell me where you are harmed. "

"I don't know--I don't know--I don't know, " moaned the trembling woman, beginning in a very high tone and ending very low. "It's all over--It'sall over now. "

"Give her water, " said the doctor. "She's hysterical. Here, cook, " hecried sternly, "how came you to bring powder into the house?"

"I don't know--I don't know--I don't know, " moaned the trembling woman. "Oh, master, give me something. Don't let me die just yet. "

"Die! nonsense!" cried the doctor. "Be quiet, Eliza. Hang it, women, Ican't do anything if you cry out like this. Wherever are you hurt?You, Eliza, speak. "

His firm way had its effect; and as Bruff and Vane stood looking on, themaid faltered:--

"I was a-doing the breakfast-room, sir, when it went off; and, soon as Iheered cook scream, I tried to get to her, but had to go round by theback. "

"Did you know she was going to blow up the copper hole with gunpowder?"

"No, sir. Last time I see her, she was lighting the kitchen-fire. "

"What!" yelled Vane. 

"Yes, sir, " cried cook, sitting up suddenly, and speaking indignantly:"and I won't stop another day in a house where such games is allowed. I'd got a good fire by half-past six, and was busy in the back kitchenwhen it went off. Me get powder to blow up copper holes? I scorn thevery idee of it, sir. It's that master Vane put powder among the coalsto play me a trick. "

"I didn't, " cried Vane. 

"Don't say that, sir, " interposed Bruff, "why, I see the greenhousechockfull o' smoke as I come by. "

Vane had turned quite cold, and was staring at his uncle, while hisuncle with his face full of chagrin and perplexity was staring at him. 

"You've done it this time, my boy, " said the doctor, sadly. 

"Is anybody killed?--is anybody killed?" cried Aunt Hannah from thehall. "I can't come through the kitchen. My dear Vane! oh, do speak. "

"No one hurt, " shouted the doctor. "Come, Vane. "

He led the way through the shattered kitchen, which was a perfect wreck;but before he could reach the hall, Vane had passed him. 

"Aunt! Aunt!" he cried; "did you tell cook not to light thekitchen-fire?"

"Oh, dear me!" cried Aunt Hannah; "what a head I have. I meant to, butI quite forgot. "

There was silence in the hall for a few moments, only broken by a sob ortwo from the back kitchen. Then Aunt Hannah spoke again. 

"Oh, I am so sorry, my dear. But is anybody very badly hurt?"

"Yes, " said the doctor, dryly. "Vane is--very. "

"My dear, my dear! Where?" cried Aunt Hannah, catching the lad by thearm. 

"Only in his _amour propre_" said the doctor, and Vane ran out of thehall and through the front door to get round to the greenhouse, but ashe opened the door of the glass building the doctor overtook him, andthey entered in silence, each looking round eagerly for the mischiefdone. 

Here it was not serious: some panes of glass were broken, and two orthree pipes nearest to the wall were blown out of their places; butthere was the cause of all mischief, the two taps in the small tubeswhich connected the flow and return pipes were turned off, with theconsequence, that there was no escape for the steam, and the closedboiler had of course exploded as soon as sufficient steam had generated, with the consequences seen. 

"Pretty engineer you are, sir, " cried the doctor, "to have both thosestop-cocks turned. "

"There ought not to have been a second one, uncle, " said Vane dolefully. "I let them get the better of me yesterday, and put in the second. Ifit had not been for that, one pipe would have been always open, andthere could have been no explosion. "

"Humph! I see, " said the doctor. 

"But I ought to have left them turned on, and I should have done so, only I did not think that there was going to be any fire this morning. "

"Here, come back, and let's see the extent of the mischief in thekitchen. That piece of new wall is blown out, you see. "

He pointed to the loose bricks and mortar thrust out into quite a bow;and then they walked sadly back into the house, where cook's voice couldbe heard scolding volubly, mingled with Aunt Hannah's milder tones, though the latter could hardly be heard as they entered the devastatedkitchen, from which the smoke and dust had now pretty well disappeared, making the damage plain to see. And very plain it was: the new boilerstood in front of the grate, with a hole ripped in one side, the wroughtiron being forced out by the power of the steam, just as if it had beencomposed of paper; the kitchen range was broken, and the crockery on thedresser exactly opposite to the fireplace looked as if it had been sweptfrom the shelves and smashed upon the floor. Chairs were overturned;the table was lying upon its side; tins, coppers, graters, spoons andladles were here, there, and everywhere. The clock had stopped, and theculinary implements that ornamented the kitchen chimney-piece hadevidently flown up to the ceiling. In short, scarcely a thing in theplace had escaped some damage, while dust and fragments of plastercovered every object, and the only witness of the explosion, the cat, which had somehow been sheltered and escaped unhurt, was standing on thetop of the cupboard, with its eyes glowering and its tail standingstraight up, feathered out like a plume. 

"Oh, my dear, my dear, what a scene!" cried Aunt Hannah, piteously. "Vane must never perform any more experiments here. "

She had just come to the back kitchen-door, and was looking in. 

"Oh, Aunt! Aunt!" cried Vane. 

"All very well to blame the poor boy, " said the doctor with mockseverity. "It was your doing entirely. "

"Mine, Thomas!" faltered Aunt Hannah. 

"Of course it was. You were told not to have the kitchen-fire lit. "

"Yes--yes, " wailed Aunt Hannah; "and I forgot it. "

"It was not only that, Aunt, dear, " said Vane, going to her side, andtaking her hand. "It was my unlucky experiment was the principalcause. "

"Not another day, Eliza, " came from the back kitchen. "No, no, not ifthey went down on their bended knees and begged me to stop. "

"What, amongst all this broken crockery?" cried the doctor. "Hold yourtongue, you stupid woman, and send Bruff to ask his wife to come andhelp clear up all this mess. "

Cook, invisible in the back, uttered a defiant snort. 

"Ah!" shouted the doctor. "Am I master here. See to a fire there atonce, and I should like one of those delicious omelettes for mybreakfast, cook. Let's have breakfast as soon as you can. There, nomore words. Let's be very thankful that you were neither of you badlyscalded. You heard what I said, Bruff?"

"Yes, sir, of course. "

"Then go and fetch your wife directly. Cook will give you somebreakfast here. "

Bruff scurried off, and Eliza entered the kitchen, wiping her eyes. 

"Bit of a fright for you, eh, my girl?" said the doctor, taking herhand, and feeling her pulse. "Well done! Brave little woman. You areas calm as can be again. You're not going to run away at a moment'snotice. "

"Oh, no, sir, " cried Eliza eagerly. 

"Nor cook neither, " said the doctor aloud. "She's too fond of us to gowhen we are in such a state as this. "

There was a sniff now from the back kitchen and the doctor gave Vane ahumorous look, as much as to say, "I can manage cook better than youraunt. "

"There, my dear, " he said, "it's of no use for you to cry over spiltmilk. Better milk the cow again and be more careful. See what isbroken by and by, and then come to me for a cheque. Vane, my boy, senda letter up at once for another boiler. "

"But surely, dear--" began Aunt Hannah. 

"I am not about to have the boiler set there again? Indeed I am. Vaneis not going to be beaten because we have had an accident throughtrusting others to do what we ought to have done for ourselves. There, come and let's finish dressing; and cook!"

"Yes, sir, " came very mildly from the back kitchen, in company with thecrackling of freshly-lit wood. 

"You'll hurry the breakfast all you can. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Don't feel any the worse now, do you?"

"No, sir, only a little ketchy about the throat. "

"Oh, I'll prescribe for that. "

"Thank you, sir, but it will be better directly, " said cook hastily. 

"After you've taken my dose, make yourself a good strong cup of tea. Come along, my dear. Now, Vane, your face wants washing horribly, myboy. Hannah, my dear, you understand now the tremendous force ofsteam. "

"Yes, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, sorrowfully. "I do indeed. "

"And if ever in the future you see anyone sitting upon the safety valveto get up speed, don't hesitate for a moment, go and knock him off. "

"My dear Thomas, " said Aunt Hannah, dolefully, "this is no subject formirth. "

"Eh? Isn't it? I think it is. Why, some of us might have been scaldedto death, and we have all escaped. Don't you call that a cause forrejoicing? What do you say, Vane?"

"I say, sir, that I shall never forgive myself, " replied the lad sadly. 

"Not your place, Weathercock, but mine, and your aunt's. I'll forgiveyou freely, and as for your aunt, she can't help it because she waspartly to blame. "

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

ANXIETIES. 

"Hallo, boiler-burster, " cried Gilmore, next time they met, while Maceyran into a corner of the study to turn his face to the wall and keep onexploding with laughter, "when are you going to do our conservatory uphere?"

"Oh, I say, don't chaff me, " cried Vane, "I have felt so vexed about itall. "

"Distie has been quite ill ever since with delight at your misfortune. It has turned him regularly bilious. "

"Said it was a pity you weren't blown up, too, " cried Macey. 

"Bah! don't tell ugly tales, " said Gilmore. 

"I wish I could feel that he did not, " thought Vane, who had a weaknessfor being good friends with everybody he knew. 

He had to encounter plenty of joking about the explosion, and for sometime after, Bruff used to annoy him by turning away when they met, andshaking his shoulders as if convulsed with mirth, but after a sharpencounter with Vane, when he had ventured to say he knew how it wouldbe, he kept silence, and later on he was very silent indeed. 

For the new boiler came down, and was set without any objection beingmade by cook, who was for some time, however, very reluctant to go nearthe thing for fear it should go off; but familiarity bred contempt, andshe grew used to it as it did not go off, and to Bruff's great disgustit acted splendidly, heating the greenhouse in a way beyond praise, andwith scarcely any trouble, and an enormous saving of fuel. 

Vane was so busy over the hot-water apparatus, and had so much to thinkabout with regard to the damages in connection with the explosion, thathe had forgotten all about the adventure in the lane just prior tomeeting Macey, till one day, when out botanising with the doctor, theycame through that very lane again, and in their sheltered corner, therewere the gipsies, looking as if they had never stirred for weeks. There, too, were the women cooking by the fire, and the horses andponies grazing on the strips of grass by the roadside. 

But closer examination would have proved that the horses which drew cartand van were different, and several of the drove of loose ones had beensold or changed away. 

There, too, were the boys whose duty it was to mind the horses slouchingabout the lane, and their dark eyes glistened as the doctor and Vanecame along. 

"Dear me!" said the doctor suddenly. 

"What, uncle?"

"I thought I saw someone hurry away through the furze bushes as we cameup, as if to avoid being seen. Your friend Macey I think. "

"Couldn't have been, uncle, or he would have stopped. "

"I was mistaken perhaps. --A singular people these, so wedded to theirrestless life. I should like to trace them back and find out theirorigin. It would be a curious experience to stay with them for a yearor two, " continued the doctor, after a long silence, "and so find outexactly how they live. I'm afraid that they do a little stealing attimes when opportunity serves. Fruit, poultry, vegetables, any littlething they can snap up easily. Then, too, they have a great knowledgeof herbs and wild vegetables, with which, no doubt, they supplementtheir scanty fare. Like to join them for a bit, Vane?"

"Oh, no, " said the boy laughing. "I don't think I should care for that. Too fond of a comfortable bed, uncle, and a chair and table for mymeals. "

"If report says true, their meals are not bad, " continued the doctor. "Their women are most clever at marketing and contrive to buy verycheaply of the butchers, and they are admirable cooks. They do notstarve themselves. "

"Think there's any truth about the way they cook fowls or pheasants, uncle?"

"What, covering them all over with clay, and then baking them in the hotembers of a wood fire? Not a doubt about it, boy. They serve squirrelsand hedgehogs in the same way, even a goose at times. When they thinkit is done, the clay is burned into earthenware. Then a deft blow witha stick or stone cracks the burnt clay and the bird or animal is turnedout hot and juicy, the feathers or bristles remaining in the clay. "

"Don't think I could manage hedgehog or squirrel, uncle. "

"I should not select them for diet. They are both carnivorous, and thesquirrel, in addition, has its peculiar odorous gland like the pole-cattribe. "

"But a squirrel isn't carnivorous, uncle, " said Vane, "he eats nuts andfruit. "

"And young birds, too, sometimes, my boy. Flesh-eating things are notparticularly in favour for one's diet. Even the American backwoodsmanwho was forced to live on crows did not seem very favourably impressed. You remember?"

"No, uncle; it's new to me. "

"He was so short of food, winter-game being scarce, that he had to shootand eat crows. Someone asked him afterwards whether they were nice, andhe replied that he `didn't kinder hanker arter 'em. '"

"Well, I don't `kinder hanker arter' squirrel, " said Vane, merrily, "andI don't `kinder hanker arter' being a gipsy king ha--ha--as the old songsays. You'll have to make me an engineer, uncle. "

"Steam engineer, boy?" said the doctor, smiling. 

"Oh, anything, as long as one has to be contriving something new. Couldn't apprentice me to an inventor, could you?"

"To Mr Deering, for instance?"

Vane shook his head. 

"I don't know, " he said, dubiously. "I liked--You don't mind myspeaking out, uncle?"

"No, boy, speak out, " said the doctor, looking at him curiously. 

"I was going to say that I liked Mr Deering for some things. He was soquick and clever, but--"

"You didn't like him for other things?"

Vane nodded, and the doctor looked care-worn and uneasy; his voicesounded a little husky, too, as he said sharply:--

"Oh, he is a very straightforward, honourable man. We were at schooltogether, and I could trust Deering to any extent. But he has been veryunfortunate in many ways, and I'm afraid has wasted a great deal of hislife over unfruitful experiments with the result that he is still poor. "

"But anyone must have some failures, uncle. All schemes cannot besuccessful. "

"True, but there is such a large proportion of disappointment that Ishould say an inventor is an unhappy man. "

"Not if he makes one great hit, " cried Vane warmly. "Oh, I should liketo invent something that would do a vast deal of good, and set everyonetalking about it. Why, it would mean a great fortune. "

"And when you had made your great fortune, what then?"

"Well, I should be a rich man, and I could make you and aunt happy. "

"I don't know that, Vane, " said the doctor, laying his hand upon thelad's shoulder. "I saved a pleasant little competence out of my hardprofessional life, and it has been enough to keep us in this pleasantplace, and bring up and educate you. I am quite convinced that if I hadten times as much I should be no happier, and really, my boy, I don'tthink I should like to see you a rich man. "

"Uncle!"

"I mean it, Vane. There, dabble in your little schemes for a bit, andyou shall either go to college or to some big civil engineer as a pupil, but you must recollect the great poet's words. "

"What are they, uncle?" said Vane, in a disappointed tone. 

 "`There is a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we may. '

"Now let's have a little more botany. What's that?"

"Orange peziza, " said Vane, pouncing upon a little fungus cup; and thisled the doctor into a dissertation on the beauty of these plants, especially of those which required a powerful magnifying glass to seetheir structure. 

Farther on they entered a patch of fir-wood where a little searchrewarded them with two or three dozen specimens of the orange milkmushroom, a kind so agreeable to the palate that the botanists havedubbed it delicious. 

"Easy enough to tell, Vane, " said the doctor, as he carefully removedevery scrap of dirt and grass from the root end of the stem, andcarefully laid the neatly-shaped dingy-green round-table shaped fungi inhis basket upon some moss. "It is not every edible fungus that provesits safety by invariably growing among fir trees and displaying thisthick rich red juice like melted vermilion sealing-wax. "

"And when we get them home, Martha will declare that they are rankpoison, " said Vane. 

"And all because from childhood she has been taught that toadstools arepoison. Some are, of course, boy, so are some wild fruits, but it wouldbe rather a deprivation for us if we were to decline to eat every kindof fruit but one. "

"I should think it would, " cried Vane, "or two. "

"And yet, that is what people have for long years done in England. Folks abroad are wiser. There, it's time we went back. "

Vane was very silent on his homeward way, for the doctor had damped himconsiderably, and the bright career which he had pictured for himself asan inventor was beginning to be shrouded in clouds. 

"Civil engineer means a man who surveys and measures land for roads andrailways, and makes bridges, " said Vane to himself. "I don't think Ishould like that. Rather go to a balloon manufactory and--"

He stopped to think of the subject which the word balloon brought up, and at last said to himself:

"Oh, if I could only invent the way how to fly. "

"The boy has too much gas in his head, " the doctor said to himself, asthey reached home; "and he must be checked, but somehow he has spoiledmy walk. "

He threw himself into an easy chair after placing his basket on thetable, and into which Aunt Hannah peeped as Vane went up to his room. 

"Botanical specimens, my dear, " she said. 

"Yes, for the cook, " said the doctor dreamily. 

"Oh, my dear, you should not bring them home. You know how Marthadislikes trying experiments. My dear, what is the matter?"

"Oh, nothing--nothing, only Vane was talking to me, and it set methinking whether I have done right in trusting Deering as I have. "

Aunt Hannah looked as troubled as the doctor now, and sighed and shookher head. 

"No, " cried the doctor firmly, "I will not doubt him. He is agentleman, and as honest as the day. "

"Yes, " said Aunt Hannah quietly, "but the most honourable people are notexempt from misfortune. "

"My dear Hannah, " cried the doctor, "don't talk like that. Why it wouldruin Vane's prospects if anything went wrong. "

"And ours too, " said Aunt Hannah sadly, just as Vane was still thinkingof balloons. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

A TELL-TALE SHADOW. 

"What's going on here?" said Vane to himself, as he was walking up thetown, and then, the colour rose to his cheeks, and he looked sharplyround to see if he was observed. 

But Greythorpe town street was as empty as usual. There was Grader'scat in the window, a dog asleep on a step, and a few chickens pickingabout in front of the carrier's, while the only sounds were the clink, clink of the blacksmith's hammer upon his anvil, and the brisk tappingmade by Chakes, as he neatly executed repairs upon a pair of shoes. 

A guilty conscience needs no accuser, and, if it had not been for thatfurtive visit to the clock, Vane would not have looked round to see ifhe was observed before hurrying up to the church, and entering thetower, for the open door suggested to him what was going on. 

He mounted the spiral staircase, and, on reaching the clock-chamber, itsdoor being also open, Vane found himself looking at the back of abald-headed man in his shirt-sleeves, standing with an oily rag in hishand, surrounded by wheels and other portions of the great clock. 

Vane stopped short, and there was a good deal of colour in his facestill, as he watched the man till he turned. 

"Come to put the clock right, Mr Gramp?" he said. 

"How do, sir; how do? Yes, I've come over, and not before it waswanted. Clocks is like human beings, sir, and gets out of ordersometimes. Mr Syme sent word days ago, but I was too busy to comesooner. "

"Ah!" said Vane, for the man was looking at him curiously. 

"I hear she went a bit hard the other night, and set all the bellsa-ringing. "

"No, only one, " said Vane, quickly. 

"And no wonder, when folks gets a-meddling with what they don'tunderstand. Do you know, sir--no, you'll never believe it--watch andclock making's a hart?"

"A difficult art, too, " said Vane, rather nervously. 

"Eggs--actly, sir, and yet, here's your shoemaker--bah! your cobbler, just because the church clock wants cleaning, just on the strength ofhis having to wind it up, thinks he can do it without sending for me. No, you couldn't believe it, sir, but, as true as my name's Gramp, hedid; and what does he do? Takes a couple of wheels out, and leaves 'emtucked underneath. But, as sure as his name's Chakes, I'm goingstraight up to the rectory as soon as I'm done, and if I don't--"

"No, no, don't, " cried Vane, excitedly, for the turn matters had takenwas startling. "It was not Chakes, Mr Gramp; it was I. "

"You, Mr Lee, sir? You?" cried the man, aghast with wonder. "Whateverput it into your head to try and do such a thing as that? Mischief?"

"No, no, it was not that; the clock wouldn't go, and I came up here allalone, and it did seem so tempting that I began to clean a wheel or two, and then I wanted to do a little more, and a little more, and I got theclock pretty well all to pieces; and then--somehow--well, two of thewheels were left out. "

The clockmaker burst into a hearty fit of laughter. 

"I should think they were left out, " he cried. "Then I must use yourname instead of Chakes, eh?"

"No, no, Mr Gramp; pray don't do that; the rector doesn't know. I onlytold my uncle, and I wasn't thinking about you when I tried to set itgoing. "

"But, you see, sir, it was such a thing to do--to meddle with a bigchurch clock. If it had been an old Dutch with wooden works and sausageweights, or a brass American, I shouldn't have said a word; but mychurch clock, as I've tended for years! really, sir, you know it's toobad a deal. "

"Yes, Mr Gramp, it was too bad; a great piece of--of--assumption. "

"Assumption, sir; yes, sir, that's the very word. Well, really, Ihardly know what to say. "

"Say nothing, Mr Gramp. "

"You did tell the doctor, sir?"

"Yes, I told uncle. "

"Hum! I'm going to call at the Little Manor to see the doctor about thetall eight-day. Perhaps I'd better consult him. "

"Well, yes, speak to uncle if you like, but go by what he says. "

The clockmaker nodded, and went on with his work, and from looking on, Vane came to helping, and so an hour passed away, when it suddenlyoccurred to him that Aunt Hannah had said something about a message shewanted him to take, so he had unwillingly to leave the clock-chamber. 

"Good-day, sir, good-day. I shall see you this evening. "

"Yes, of course, " said Vane; and then, as he hurried down the stairs, itseemed as if there was to be quite a vexatious re-opening of the case. 

"I do wish I had not touched the old thing, " muttered Vane, as he wentback. "I couldn't offer him half-a-crown to hold his tongue. Clockmaker's too big. "

But he did not see the clockmaker again that day, for, as he entered thelittle drawing-room--

"My dear, " cried Aunt Hannah, "I was wishing that you would come. Iwant you to go over to Lenby for me, and take this packet--a bottle, mind, for Mrs Merry. It's a liniment your uncle has made up for herrheumatism. "

"Mrs Merry, aunt?"

"Yes, my dear, at the far end of the village; she's quite a martyr toher complaint, and I got your uncle to call and see her last time youwere out for a drive. Have the pony if you like. "

"Yes, take her, boy, " said the doctor. "She is getting too fat withgood living. No; I forgot she was to be taken to the blacksmith's to beshod this afternoon. "

"All right, uncle, I'll walk over, " cried Vane, "I shall enjoy it. "

"Well, it will not do you any harm. Go across the rough land at theedge of the forest. You may find a few ferns worth bringing for thegreenhouse. And pray try for a few fungi. "

Vane nodded, thrust the packet in his breast, and, taking trowel andbasket, he started for his three-miles cross-country walk to Lenby, atiny village, famous for its spire, which was invisible till it wasnearly reached, the place lying in a nook in the wold hills, which, inthat particular part, were clothed with high beeches of ancient growth. 

The late autumn afternoon was glorious, and the little town was soonleft behind, the lane followed for a time, but no gipsy van or cartvisible, though there was the trace of the last fire. Being deep downin the cutting-like hollow, Vane could not see over the bank, where adonkey was grazing amongst the furze, while, completely hidden in ahollow, there was one of those sleeping tents, formed by planting tworows of willow sticks a few feet apart and then bending over the tops, tying them together, and spreading a tilt over all. 

This was invisible to the boy and so were the heads of the two stoutgipsy lads, who peered down at him from a little farther on, and thendrew softly away to shelter themselves among the bushes and ferns tillthey were beyond hearing. When, stooping low, they ran off towards thewood, but in a stealthy furtive manner as if they were trying to stalksome wild animal and cut it off farther on, where the place was mostsolitary and wild. 

In happy ignorance of the interest taken in his proceedings, Vanetrudged along till it seemed to him that it was time to climb up out ofthe lane by the steep sand bank, and this he did, but paused half-waywithout a scientific or inventive idea in his head, ready to provehimself as boyish as anyone of his years, for he had come upon amagnificent patch of brambles sending up in the hot autumn sunshine coneafter cone of the blackest of blackberries such as made him drive histoes into the loose sand to get a better foothold, and long for asuitable basket, the one he carried being a mere leather bag. 

"Aunt would like a lot of these, " he thought, and resisting thetemptation to have a feast he left them on the chance of finding themnext day when he could come provided with a basket. For blackberriesfound as much favour with Aunt Hannah as the doctor's choicest plums orapples. 

A little higher, though, Vane paused again to stain his fingers and lipswith the luscious fruit, which, thanks to the American example, peoplehave just found to be worthy of cultivation in their gardens. 

"'Licious, " said Vane, with a smack of the lips, and then, mounting tothe top of the bank he stood for a few moments gazing at the gloriousprospect, all beautiful cultivation on his right, all wild grass, fern, and forest on his left. 

This last took most of his attention, as he mapped out his course by thenearest way to the great clump of beeches which towered above the oaks, and then at once strode onward, finding an easy way where a strangerwould soon have found himself stuck fast, hedged in by thorns. 

"I'll come back by the road, " thought Vane. "After all it's better andless tiring. "

But with the beeches well in view, he made light of the difficulties ofthe little trodden district, which seemed to be quite a sanctuary forthe partridges, three coveys rising, as he went on, with a tremendousrush and whirr of wing, to fly swiftly for a distance, and then glide onup and down, rising at clumps of furze, and clearing them, to descendinto hollows and rise again apparently, after the first rush, withoutbeat of wing. 

"It's very curious, that flying, " said Vane to himself, as he stoodsheltering his eyes to watch the last covey till it passed out ofsight--"ten of them, and they went along just as if they had nothing todo but will themselves over the ground. It must be a fine thing to fly. Find it out some day, " he said; and he hurried on again to reach thespot where a little rill made a demarcation between the sand and bog hehad traversed, and the chalk which rose now in a sharp slope on theother side. 

He drew back a little way, took a run and leaped right across thecress-bordered clear water, alighting on hard chalk pebbles, and causinga wild splashing and rustling as a pair of moor-hens rose from amongstthe cress, their hollow wings beating hard, their long green legs andattenuated toes hanging apparently nerveless beneath them, and giving aslight glimpse of their coral-coloured beak, and crests and a full viewof the pure white and black of their short barred tail ere theydisappeared amongst the bulrushes which studded one side of the windingstream. 

Vane watched them for a moment or two, and shook his head. 

"Partridges beat them hollow. Wonder whether I can find uncle anytruffles. "

He made for the shade of the beeches, passing at once on to a cracklingcarpet of old beech-mast and half rotten leaves, while all around himthe great trees sent up their wonderfully clean, even-lined trunks, andboughs laden with dark green leaves, and the bronzy brown-red cases ofthe tiny triangular nuts, the former ready now to gape and drop theirsweet contents where those of the past year had fallen before. 

"Pity beech-nuts are so small, " he said, as he stood looking up in themidst of a glade where the tall branches of a dozen regularly plantedtrees curved over to meet those of another dozen, and touching in thecentre, shutting out the light, and forming a natural cathedral nave, such as might very well have suggested a building to the first gothicarchitect for working the design in stone. 

"Ought to be plenty here, " said Vane to himself after drinking his fillof the glorious scene with its side aisles and verdant chapels allaround; and stooping down at the foot of one tree, he began with thelittle trowel which he had taken from his pocket to scrape away theblack coating of decayed leaves, and then dig here and there for thecurious tubers likely to be found in such a place, but without result. 

"Hope uncle hasn't bought a turkey to stuff with truffles, " he said witha laugh, as he tried another place; "the basket does not promise to bevery heavy. "

He had no better luck here, and he tried another, in each case carefullyscratching away the dead leaves to bare the soft leaf-mould, and thendig carefully. 

"Want a truffle dog, or a pig, " he muttered; and then he pounced upon atuber about twice as large as a walnut, thrusting it proudly into hisbasket. 

"Where one is, there are sure to be others, " he said; and he resumed hisefforts, finding another and another, all in the same spot. 

"Why, I shall get a basketful, " he thought, and he began to dwellpleasantly upon the satisfaction the sight of his successful foray wouldgive the doctor, who had a special penchant for truffles, and had oftentalked about what expensive delicacies they were for those who dwelt inLondon. 

Encouraged then by his success, he went on scraping and grubbing awayeagerly with more or less success, while the task grew more mechanical, and after feeling that his bottle was safe in his breast-pocket, hebegan to think that it was time to leave off, and go on his mission; butdirectly after, as he was rubbing the clean leaf-mould from off a tuber, his thoughts turned to Distin, and the undoubted enmity he displayed. 

"If it was not such a strong term, " he said to himself, "I should beready to say he hates me, and would do me any ill-turn he could. "

He had hardly thought this, and was placing his truffle in the basket, when a faint noise toward the edge of the wood where the sun poured in, casting dark shadows from the tree-trunks, made him look sharply in thatdirection. 

For a few moments he saw nothing, and he was about to credit a rabbitwith the sound, when it suddenly struck him that one of the shadows caston the ground not far distant had moved slightly, and as he fixed hiseyes upon it intently, he saw that it was not a shadow cast by a tree, unless it was one that had a double trunk for some distance up and thenthese joined. The next moment he was convinced:--for it was the shadowof a human being hiding behind a good-sized beech, probably in profoundignorance that his presence was clearly shown to the person from whom hewas trying to hide. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

VANE IS MISSING. 

Aunt Hannah had been very busy devoting herself according to her customin watching attentively while Eliza bustled about, spreading the clothfor high tea--a favourite meal at the Little Manor. She had kept onsending messages to Martha in the kitchen till that lady had snorted andconfided to Eliza, "that if missus sent her any more of them aggrawatingorders she would burn the chicken to a cinder. "

For Aunt Hannah's great idea in life was to make those about hercomfortable and happy; and as Vane would return from his long walk tiredand hungry, she had ordered roast chicken for tea with the sausages MrsRounds had sent as a present after the pig-killing. 

That was all very well. Martha said "yes, mum, " pleasantly and wasgoing to do her best; but unfortunately, Aunt Hannah made a remark whichsent the cook back to her kitchen, looking furious. 

"As if I ever did forget to put whole peppers in the bread sauce, " shecried to Eliza with the addition of a snort, and from that minute therewere noises in the kitchen. The oven door was banged to loudly;saucepans smote the burning coals with their bottoms heavily; coals wereshovelled on till the kitchen became as hot as Martha's temper, and theplates put down to heat must have had their edges chipped, so hardlywere they rattled together. 

But in the little drawing-room Aunt Hannah sat as happy and placid ascould be till it was drawing toward the time for Vane's return, when shetook her keys from her basket, and went to the store-room for a pot oflast year's quince marmalade and carried it into the dining-room. 

"Master Vane is so fond of this preserve, Eliza, " she said. "Oh, and, by the way, ask Martha to send in the open jam tart. I dare say hewould like some of that. "

"I did tell Martha so, ma'am. "

"That was very thoughtful of you, Eliza. "

"But she nearly snapped my head off, ma'am. "

"Dear, dear, dear, I do wish that Martha would not be so easily putout. "

Aunt Hannah gave a glance over the table, and placing a fresh bunch offlowers in a vase in the centre, and a tiny bowl of ornamental leaves, such as the doctor admired, by his corner of the table, smiled withsatisfaction to see how attractive everything looked. Then she wentback to her work in the drawing-room, but only to pop up again and go tothe window, open it, and look out at where the doctor was busy with hispenknife and some slips of bass, cutting away the old bindings andre-tying some choice newly-grafted pears which had begun to swell andask for more room to develop. 

"It's getting very nearly tea-time, my dear, " she cried. "Bruff wenthalf an hour ago. "

"Yes, quarter of an hour before his time, " said the doctor. "That's acurious old silver watch of his, always fast, but he believes in it morethan he does in mine. "

"But it is time to come in and wash your hands, love. "

"No. Another quarter of an hour, " said the doctor. "Vane come back?"

"No, dear, not yet. But he must be here soon. "

"I will not keep his lordship waiting, " said the doctor, quietly goingon with his tying; and Aunt Hannah toddled back to look at thedrawing-room mantel-clock. 

"Dear me, yes, " she said; "it is nearly a quarter to six. " Punctuallyto his time, the doctor's step was heard in the little hall, where hehung up his hat before going upstairs to change his coat and boots andwash his hands. Then descending. 

"Time that boy was back, isn't it?" he said going behind Aunt Hannah, who was looking out of the window at a corner which afforded a glimpseof the road. 

"Oh, my dear, how you startled me!" cried Aunt Hannah. 

"Can't help it, my dear. I always was an ugly man. "

"My dear, for shame! yes, it's quite time he was back. I am growingquite uneasy. "

"Been run over perhaps by the train. "

"Oh, my dear!" cried Aunt Hannah in horrified tones. "But how could hebe? The railway is not near where he has gone. "

"Of course it isn't. There, come and sit down and don't be such an oldfidget about that boy. You are spoiling him. "

"That I am sure I am not, my dear. "

"But you are--making a regular Molly of him. He'll be back soon. Ibelieve if you had your own way you would lead him about by a string. "

"Now that is nonsense, my dear, " cried Aunt Hannah. "How can I helpbeing anxious about him when he is late?"

"Make more fuss about him than if he was our own child. "

Aunt Hannah made no reply, but sat down working and listening intentlyfor the expected step, but it did not come, and at last she heaved asigh. 

"Yes, he is late, " said the doctor, looking at his watch. "Not goinganywhere else for you, was he?"

"Oh, no, my dear; he was coming straight back. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the doctor; "thoughtless young dog! I want my tea. "

"He can't be long now, " said Aunt Hannah. 

"Humph! Can't be. That boy's always wool-gathering instead of thinkingof his duties. "

Aunt Hannah's brow wrinkled and she looked five years older as she rosesoftly to go to the window, and look out. 

"That will not bring him here a bit sooner, Hannah, " said the doctordrily. "I dare say he has gone in at the rectory, and Syme has askedhim to stay. "

"Oh, no, my dear, I don't think he would do that, knowing that we shouldbe waiting. "

"Never did, I suppose, " said the doctor. 

Aunt Hannah was silent. She could not deny the impeachment, and she satthere with her work in her lap, thinking about how late it was; howhungry the doctor would be, and how cross it would make him, for healways grew irritable when kept waiting for his meals. 

Then she began to think about going and making the tea, and about thechicken, which would be done to death, and the doctor did not likechickens dry. 

Just then there was a diversion. 

Eliza came to the door. 

"If you please 'm, cook says shall she send up the chicken? It'shalf-past six. "

Aunt Hannah looked at the doctor, and the doctor looked at his watch. 

"Wait a minute, " he said; and then: "No, I'll give him another quarterof an hour. "

"What a tantrum Martha will be in, " muttered Eliza, as she left theroom. 

"Oh, that poor chicken!" thought Aunt Hannah, and then aloud:--

"I hope Vane has not met with any accident. "

"Pshaw! What accident could he meet with in walking to the village witha bottle of liniment and back, unless--"

"Yes?" cried Aunt Hannah, excitedly; "unless what, my dear?"

"He has opened the bottle and sat down by the roadside to drink it all. "

"Oh, my dear, surely you don't think that Vane would be so foolish. "

"I don't know, " cried the doctor, "perhaps so. He is alwaysexperimentalising over something. "

"But, " cried Aunt Hannah, with a horrified look, "it was liniment foroutward application only!"

"Exactly: that's what I mean, " said the doctor. "He has not beencontent without trying the experiment of how it would act rubbed oninside instead of out. "

"Then that poor boy may be lying somewhere by the roadside in theagonies of death--poisoned, " cried Aunt Hannah in horror; but the doctorburst out into a roar of laughter. 

"Oh, it's too bad, my dear, " cried Aunt Hannah, tearfully. "You arelaughing at me and just, too, when I am so anxious about Vane. "

"I'm not: a young rascal. He has met those sweet youths from therectory, and they are off somewhere, or else stopping there. "

The doctor rose and rang the bell. 

"Are you going to send up to see, my dear?"

"No, I am not, " said the doctor, rather tartly. "I am going to--"

Eliza entered the room. 

"We'll have tea directly, Eliza, " said the doctor; and Aunt Hannahhurried into the dining-room to measure out so many caddy spoonfuls intothe hot silver pot, and pour in the first portion of boiling water, butlistening for the expected footstep all the time. 

That meal did not go off well, for, in spite of the doctor's assumedindifference, he was also anxious about his nephew. Aunt Hannah couldnot touch anything, and the doctor's appetite was very little better;but he set this down to the chicken being, as he said, dried to nothing, and the sausages being like horn--exaggerations, both--for, in spite ofMartha's threats, she was too proud of her skill in cooking to send upanything overdone. 

The open jam tart was untouched, and the opening of that pot of lastyear's quince marmalade proved to have been unnecessary; for, thoughAunt Hannah paused again and again with her cup half-way to her lips, itwas not Vane's step that she heard; and, as eight o'clock came, shecould hardly keep back her tears. 

All at once the doctor rose and went into the hall, followed by AuntHannah, who looked at him wistfully as he put on a light overcoat, andtook hat and stick. 

"I'll walk to the rectory, " he said, "and bring him back. "

Aunt Hannah laid her hand upon his arm, as he reached the door. 

"Don't be angry with him, my dear, " she whispered. 

"Why not? Is that boy to do just as he pleases here? I'll give him agood sound thrashing, that's what I'll do with him. "

Aunt Hannah took away the doctor's walking stick, which he had madewhish through the air and knock down one of Vane's hats. 

"There, I'll do it with my fist, " cried the doctor. "You cannotamputate that. "

"My dear!" whispered Aunt Hannah, handing back the stick. 

"All right, I will not hit him, but I'll give him a most tremendoustongue thrashing, as they call it here. "

"No, no; there is some reason for his being late. "

"Very well, " cried the doctor. "I shall soon see. "

The door closed after him, and Aunt Hannah began to pace thedrawing-room, full of forebodings. 

"I am sure there is something very wrong, " she said, "or Vane would nothave behaved like this. "

She broke down here, and had what she called "a good cry. " But it didnot seem to relieve her, and she recommenced her walking once more. 

At every sound she made for the door, believing it was Vane come back, and, truth to tell, thinking very little of the doctor, but every timeshe hurried to the door and window she was fain to confess it was fancy, and resumed her weary agitated walk up and down the room. 

At last, though, there was the click of the swing-gate, and she hurriedto the porch where she was standing as the doctor came up. 

"Yes, dear, " she cried, before he reached the door. "Has he had histea?"

The doctor was silent, and came into the hall where Aunt Hannah caughthis arm. 

"There is something wrong?" she cried. 

"No, no, don't be agitated, my dear, " said the doctor gently. "It maybe nothing. "

"Then he is there--hurt?"

"No, no. They have not seen him. "

"He has not been with the pupils?"

"No. "

"Oh, my dear, my dear, what does it mean?" cried Aunt Hannah. 

"It is impossible to say, " said the doctor, "but we must be cool. Vaneis not a boy to run away. "

"Oh, no. "

"So I have sent Bruff over to ask what time he got to Lenby, and whattime he left, and, if possible, to find out which way he returned. Bruff may meet him. We don't know what may have kept him. Nothingserious, of course. "

But the doctor's words did not carry conviction; and, as if sympathisingwith his wife, he took and pressed her hand. 

"Come, come, " he whispered, "try and be firm. We have no reason forthinking that there is anything wrong. "

"No, " said Aunt Hannah, with a brave effort to keep down heremotion. --"Yes, Eliza, what is it?"

There had been a low whispering in the hall, followed by Eliza tappingat the door and coming in. 

"I beg pardon, ma'am, " said the maid, hastily, "but cook and me's thatanxious we hoped you wouldn't mind my asking about Master Vane. "

A curious sound came from the passage, something between a sigh and asob. 

"There is nothing to tell you, " said the doctor, "till Bruff comes back. Mr Vane has been detained; that's all. "

"Thank you, sir, " said Eliza. "It was only that we felt we should liketo know. "

In spite of the trouble she was in there was room for a glow ofsatisfaction in Aunt Hannah's mind on finding how great an interest wasfelt by the servants; and she set herself to wait as patiently as shecould for news. 

"It will not be so very long, will it dear?" she whispered, for shecould not trust herself to speak aloud. 

"It must be two hours, " said the doctor gravely. "It is a long way. Iam sorry I did not make Bruff drive, but I thought it would take so longto get the pony ready that I started him at once;" and then ready toreprove his wife for her anxiety and eagerness to go to door or windowfrom time to time, the doctor showed himself to be just as excited, andat the end of the first hour, he strode out into the hall. 

Aunt Hannah followed him. 

"I can't stand it any longer, my dear, " he cried. "I don't believe Icare a pin about the young dog, for I am sure he is playing us someprank, but I must go and meet Bruff. "

"Yes, do, do, " cried Aunt Hannah, hurriedly getting the doctor's hat andstick. "But couldn't I go, too?"

The doctor bent down, and kissed her. 

"No, no, my dear, you would only hinder me, " he said, tenderly, and toavoid seeing her pained and working face he hurried out and took theroad for Lenby, striking off to the left, after passing the church. 

But after walking sharply along the dark lane, for about a couple ofmiles, it suddenly occurred to the doctor that the chances were, thatBruff, who knew his way well, would take the short cuts, by the fields, and, after hesitating for a few minutes, he turned and hurried back. 

"A fool's errand, " he muttered. "I ought to have known better. "

As matters turned out, he had done wisely in returning, and the walk hadoccupied his mind, for, as he came within hearing of the Little Manoragain, he fancied that a sound in front was the click of the swing-gate. 

It was: for he reached the door just as Eliza was on her way to thedrawing-room to announce that Bruff had come back. 

"Bring him here, " said the doctor, who had entered. "No: stop: I'llcome and speak to him in the kitchen. "

But Aunt Hannah grasped his hand. 

"No, no, " she whispered firmly now. "I must know the worst. "

"Send Bruff in, " said the doctor, sternly, and the next minute thegardener was heard rubbing his boots on the mat, and came into the hall, followed by the other servants. 

"Well, Bruff, " said the doctor, in a short, stern way, "you have notfound him?"

"No, sir, arn't seen or heard nowt. "

"But he had been and left the medicine?"

"Nay, sir, not he. Nobody had seen nowt of him. He hadn't been there. "

Aunt Hannah uttered a faint gasp. 

"But didn't you ask at either of the cottages as you passed?" asked thedoctor sharply. 

"Cottages, sir? Why, there arn't none. I cut acrost the fieldswherever I could, and the only plaace nigh is Candell's farm--that'squarter of a mile down a lane. "

"Yes, yes, of course, " said the doctor. "I had forgotten. Then youhave brought no news at all?"

"Well, yes, sir; a bit as you may say. "

"Well, what is it, man? Don't keep us in suspense. "

"Seems like news to say as he arn't been nowheres near Lenby. "

"Can you form any idea of where he is likely to have gone?"

Bruff looked in his hat and pulled the lining out a little way, andpeered under that as if expecting to find some information there, butended by shaking his head and looking in a puzzled fashion at thedoctor. 

"Come with me, " said the latter, and turning to Aunt Hannah, hewhispered: "Go and wait patiently, my dear. I don't suppose there isanything serious the matter. I daresay there is a simple explanation ofthe absence if we could find it; but I feel bound to try and find him, if I can, to-night. "

"But how long will you be?"

"One hour, " said the doctor, glancing at his watch. "If I am not backthen you will have a message from me in that time, so that you will bekept acquainted with all I know. "

"Please, sir, couldn't we come and help?" said cook eagerly. "Me and'Liza's good walkers. "

"Thank you, " said the doctor; "the best help you can render is to sit upand wait, ready to attend to your mistress. "

He turned to Aunt Hannah who could not trust herself to speak, butpressed his hand as he passed out into the dark night, followed byBruff. 

"The rectory, " he said briefly; and walked there rapidly to ring andstartle Joseph, who was just thinking of giving his final look roundbefore going to bed. 

"Some one badly, sir?" he said, as he admitted the doctor and gardener, jumping at the conclusion that his master was wanted at a sick person'sbedside. 

"No. Have you seen Mr Vane since he left after lessons this morning?"

"No, sir. "

"Where is the rector?"

"In his study, sir. "

"And the young gentlemen?"

"Just gone up to bed, sir. "

"Show me into the study. "

Joseph obeyed, and the rector, who was seated with a big book beforehim, which he was not reading, jumped up in a startled way. 

"Vane Lee?" he cried. 

"Yes: I'm very anxious about Vane. He was sent over to Lenby, thisafternoon and has not returned. I want to ask Macey and Gilmore if theyknow anything of his whereabouts. "

"But some one came long ago. They have not seen him since luncheon. "

"Tut--tut--tut!" ejaculated the doctor. 

"Not been back then?"

The doctor shook his head, and the rector suggested that he had stayedat Lenby and half a dozen other things which could be answered at once. 

"Would you mind sending for the lads to come down?"

"Certainly not. Of course, " cried the rector; and he rang and sent up amessage. 

"I don't suppose they are in bed, " he said. "They always have a goodlong gossip; and, as long as they are down in good time I don't like tobe too strict. But, my dear Lee. You don't think there is anythingserious?"

"I don't know what to think, Syme, " cried the doctor, agitatedly. 

"Is it an escapade--has he run off?"

"My dear sir, you know him almost as well as I do. Is he the sort ofboy to play such a prank?"

"I should say, no. But, stop, you have had some quarrel. You have beenreproving him. "

"No--no--no, " cried the doctor. "Nothing of the kind. If there hadbeen I should have felt more easy. "

"But, what can have happened? A walk to Lenby and back by a boy whoknows every inch of the way. "

"That is the problem, " said the doctor. "Ah, here is someone. "

For there was a tap at the door, and Macey entered, to look wonderinglyfrom one to the other. 

"Aleck, my boy, " said the doctor, "Vane is missing. Can you suggestanything to help us? Do you know of any project that he had on hand orof any place he was likely to have gone to on his way to Lenby?"

"No, " said Macey, quickly. 

"Take time, my dear boy, and think, " said the rector. 

"But I can't think, sir, of anything, " cried Macey. "No. Unless--"

"Yes, " cried the doctor; "unless what?"

"He was going to Lenby, you say. "

"Yes. "

"Well, mightn't he have stopped there?"

"No, no, my boy, " cried the doctor, in disappointed tones, as Gilmorecame in, and directly after Distin, both looking wonderingly round. "Wesent there. "

"Then I don't know, " said Macey, anxiously. "He might have gone overthe bit of moor though. "

"Yes, " said the doctor; "he could have gone that way. "

"Well, sir, mightn't he have been caught among the brambles, or lost hisway?"

"No, my boy, absurd!"

"I once did, sir, and he came and helped me out. "

"Oh, no, " cried the doctor; "impossible. "

"But there are some very awkward pieces of bog and peat and water-holes, sir, " said Gilmore; and as he said this Distin drew a deep breath, andtook a step back from the shaded lamp. 

The rector also drew a deep breath, and looked anxiously at the doctor, who stood with his brow contracted for a few moments, and then shook hishead. 

"He was too clever and active for that, " he cried. "No, Gilmore, thatis not the solution. He is not likely to have come upon poachers?There are a great many pheasants about there?"

"No poachers would be about in the afternoon, " said the rector. "Mydear Lee, I do not like to suggest so terrible a thing, but I must say, I think it is our duty to get all the help we can, and search the placearmed with lanterns. "

The doctor looked at him wildly. 

"Of course we'll help. What do you say?"

"Yes, " said the doctor hoarsely. "Let us search. "

The rector rang the bell, and Joseph answered directly. 

"Wait a moment, " cried the doctor. "Mr Distin, you have not spokenyet. Tell me: what is your opinion. Do you think Vane can have come toharm in the moor strip yonder?"

Distin shrank back as he was addressed, and looked round wildly, fromone to the other. 

"I--I?" he faltered. 

"Yes, you--my dear boy, " said the rector, sharply. "Answer at once, anddo, pray, try to master that nervousness. "

Distin passed his tongue over his lips, and his voice sounded very huskyas he said, almost inaudibly at first, but gathering force as he wenton:--

"I don't know. I have not seen him since this morning. "

"We know that, " said the doctor; "but should you think it likely, thathe has met with an accident, or can you suggest anywhere likely for himto have gone?"

"No, sir, no, " said Distin, firmly now. "I can't think of anywhere, norshould I think he is likely to have sunk in either of the bog holes, though he is very fond of trying to get plants of all kinds when he isout. "

"Yes, yes, " said the doctor, hoarsely. "I taught him;" and as he spokeDistin gave a furtive look all round the room, to see that nearlyeveryone was watching him closely. 

"We must hope for the best, Lee, " said the doctor, firmly. "Joseph, take Doctor Lee's man with you, go down the town street and spread thealarm. We want men with lanterns as quickly as possible. That placemust be searched. "

The two men started at once, and the rector, after an apology, began toput on his boots once more. 

"I promised to go or send word to the Manor, " said the doctor, "but Ifeel as if I had not the heart to go. "

"To tell Mrs Lee, sir?" said Distin, quickly. 

"Yes, to say that we are all going to search for Vane, " said the doctor, "but not what we suspect. "

"I understand, " said Distin, quickly; and, as if glad to escape, hehurried out of the room, and directly after they heard the closing ofthe outer door, and his steps on the gravel as he ran. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

NO NEWS. 

"Distin seems curiously agitated and disturbed, " said the doctor. 

"Yes: he is a nervous, finely-strung youth, " replied the rector. "Theresult of his birth in a tropical country. It was startling, too, hisbeing fetched down from bed to hear such news. "

"Of course--of course, " said the doctor; and preparations having beenrapidly made by the rector, who mustered three lanterns, one being anold bull's-eye, they all started. 

"Better go down as far as the church, first, and collect our forces. Then we'll make a start for the moor. But who shall we have for guide?"

"Perhaps I know the place best, " said the doctor; and they started insilence, passing down the gravel drive, out at the gate, and then alongthe dark lane with the lights dancing fitfully amongst the trees andbushes on either side, and casting curiously weird shadows behind. 

As they reached the road, Macey, who carried one lantern, held it highabove his head and shouted. 

"Hush--hush!" cried the doctor, for the lad's voice jarred upon him inthe silence. 

"Distin's coming, sir, " said Macey. 

There was an answering hail, and then the _pat-pat_ of steps, as Distintrotted after and joined them. 

By the time the church was reached, there was plenty of proof of Vane'spopularity, for lanterns were dancing here and there, and lights couldbe seen coming from right up the street, while a loud eager buzz ofvoices reached their ears. Ten minutes after the doctor found himselfsurrounded by a band of about forty of the townsfolk, everyone of whomhad some kind of lantern and a stick or pole, and all eager to go insearch of the missing lad. 

Rounds the miller was one of the foremost, and carried the biggestlantern, and made the most noise. Chakes the sexton, was there, too, with his lantern--a dim, yellow-looking affair, whose sides were of hornsheets, with here and there fancy devices punched in the tin to supplyair to the burning candle within. 

Crumps, from the dairy, Graders the baker, and John Wrench thecarpenter, all were there, and it seemed a wonder to Macey where all thelanterns had come from. But it was no wonder, for Greythorpe was anill-lit place, where candles and oil-lamps took the place of gas even inthe little shops, and there were plenty of people who needed the use ofa stable-light. 

There were two policemen stationed in Greythorpe, but they were off ontheir nightly rounds, and it was not until the weird little processionof light-bearers had gone half a mile from the town that there was achallenge from under a dark hedge, and two figures stepped out into theroad. 

"Eh? Master Vane Lee lost?" said one of the figures, the lightsproclaiming them to be the policemen, who had just met at one of theirappointed stations; "then we'd better jyne you. "

This added two more lanterns to the bearers of light, but for a longtime they were not opened, but kept as a reserved force--ready ifwanted. 

At last, in almost utter silence, the moor was reached, the men werespread out, and the search began. But it was ended after an hour'sstruggling among the bushes, and an extrication of Chakes, and Wrenchthe carpenter, from deep bog holes into which they had suddenly stepped, and, on being drawn out, sent home. 

Then Rounds spoke out in his loud, bluff way. 

"Can't be done, doctor, by this light. It's risking the lives of goodmen and true. I want to find young Mester, and I'll try as if he was ason of my own, but we can't draw this mash to-night. "

There was a dead silence at this, and then the rector spoke out. 

"I'm afraid he is right, Lee. I would gladly do everything possible, but this place really seems impassable by night. "

The doctor was silent, and the rector spoke again:

"What do you say, constable?"

"As it can't be done, sir, with all respect to you as the head of theparish. "

"Seems to me like getting up an inquess, sir, " said Dredge the butcher, "with ooz all dodging about here with our lights, like so manywill-o'-the-wispies. "

"Ay, I was gooin' to say as theered be job for owd Chakes here 'foremorning if he gets ower his ducking. "

"I'm afraid you are right, " said the doctor, sadly. "If I were surethat my nephew was somewhere here on the moor, I should say keep on atall hazards, but it is too dangerous a business by lantern light. "

"Let's give a good shout, " cried the miller; "p'r'aps the poor lad mayhear it. Now, then, all together: one, two three, and _Ahoy_!"

The cry rang far out over the moor, and was faintly answered, so plainlythat Macey uttered a cry of joy. 

"Come on, " he cried; "there he is. "

"Nay, lad, " said the miller; "that was on'y the echo. "

"No, no, " said Macey; "it was an answer. "

"It did sound like it, " said the rector; and the doctor remained indoubt. 

"You listen, " said the miller; and, putting his hands on either side ofhis mouth, he gave utterance to a stentorian roar. 

"Vane, ho!"

There was a pause, and a "ho!" came back. 

"All right?" roared the miller. 

"Right!" came back. 

"Good-night!" shouted the miller again. 

"Night!"

"There, you see. Only an echo, " said the miller. "Wish it wasn't. Why, if it had been his voice, lads, we'd soon ha' hed him home. "

"Yes, it's an echo, Aleck, " said Gilmore, sadly. 

"But we could stop, and go on searching, sir, " cried Macey. "It's sucha pity to give up. "

"Only till daybreak, my lad, " said the doctor, sadly. "We can do nogood here, and the risk is too great. "

Gilmore uttered a low sigh, and Macey a groan, as, after a little morehesitation, it was decided to go back to the town, and wait till thefirst dawn, when the search could be resumed. 

"And, look here, my lads, " cried the miller; "all of you as can hadbetter bring bill-hooks and sickles, for it's bad going through thesebrambles, even by day. "

"And you, constables, " said the rector; "you are on duty along theroads. You will keep a sharp look-out. "

"Of course, sir, and we'll communicate with the other men we meet fromLenby and Riby, and Dunthorpe. We shall find him, sir, never fear. "

The procession of lanterns was recommenced, but in the other directionnow, and in utter despondency the doctor followed, keeping with therector and his pupils, all trying in turn to suggest some solution ofthe mystery, but only for it to close in more darkly round them, inspite of all. 

The police then left them at the spot where they had been encountered, and promised great things, in which nobody felt any faith; and at last, disheartened and weary, the churchyard was reached, and the mendismissed, all promising to be ready to go on at dawn. Then there was agood deal of opening of lanterns, the blowing out of candle and lamp, the closing of doors, and an unpleasant, fatty smell, which graduallydispersed as all the men departed but the miller. 

"Hope, gentlemen, " he said, in his big voice, "you don't think I hungback from helping you. "

"No, no, Rounds, " said the doctor, sadly; "you are not the sort of manto fail us in a pinch. "

"Thankye, doctor, " said the bluff fellow, holding out his hand. "Sameto you. I aren't forgot the way you come and doctored my missus whenshe was so bad, and you not a reg'lar doctor, but out o' practice. Butnivver you fear; we'll find the lad. I shan't go to bed, but get backand light a pipe. I can think best then; and mebbe I'll think out wheerthe young gent's gone. "

"Thank you, Rounds, " said the doctor. "Perhaps we had all better go andtry and think it out, for Heaven grant that it may not be so bad as wefear. "

"Amen to that!" cried the miller, "as clerk's not here. And say, parson, I'll goo and get key of owd Chakes, and, at the first streak o'daylight, I'll goo to belfry, and pull the rope o' the ting-tang torouse people oop. You'll know what it means. "

He went off; and the rest of the party, preceded by Joseph Bruff havingsought his cottage, walked slowly back, all troubled by the samefeeling, omitting Distin, that they had done wrong in giving up soeasily, but at the same time feeling bound to confess that they couldhave done no good by continuing the search. 

As they reached the end of the rectory lane and the doctor said"good-night, " the rector urged him to come up to the rectory and liedown on a couch till morning, but Doctor Lee shook his head. 

"No, " he said, "it is quite time I was back. There is someone sorrowingthere more deeply than we can comprehend. Till daybreak, Syme. Good-night. "

Macey stood listening to the doctor's retiring footsteps and then ranafter him. 

"Hi! Macey!" cried Gilmore. 

"Mr Macey, where are you going?" cried the rector. 

But the boy heard neither of them as he ran on till the doctor heard thefootsteps and stopped. 

"Yes, " he said, "what is it?"

"Only me--Aleck Macey, sir. "

"Yes, my lad? Have you brought a message from Mr Syme?"

"No, sir; I only wanted--I only thought--I--I--Doctor Lee, please let mecome and wait with you till it's time to start. "

Macey began falteringly, but his last words came out with a rush. 

"Why not go back to bed, my lad, and get some rest--some sleep?"

"Rest?--sleep? Who is going to sleep when, for all we know, poor oldVane's lying helpless somewhere out on the moor. Let me come and stopwith you. "

For answer the doctor laid his hand upon Macey's shoulder, and theyreached the Little Manor swing-gate and passed up the avenue without aword. 

There were lights burning in two of the front windows, and long beforethey reached the front door in the porch, it was opened, and a warm glowof light shone out upon the advancing figures. It threw up, too, thefigure of Aunt Hannah, who, as soon as she realised the fact that therewere two figures approaching, ran out and before the doctor couldenlighten her as to the truth, she flung her arms round Macey's neck, and hugged him to her breast, sobbing wildly. 

"Oh, my dear, my dear, where have you been--where have you been?"

As she spoke, she buried her face upon the lad's shoulder, while Maceylooked up speechlessly at the doctor, and he, choked with emotion as hewas, could not for some moments find a word to utter. 

Still, clinging to him in the darkness Aunt Hannah now took tightly holdof the boy's arm, as if fearing he might again escape from her, anddrawing him up toward the door from which the light shone now, showingEliza and Martha both waiting, she suddenly grasped the truth, anduttered a low wail of agony. 

"Not found?" she cried. "Oh, how could you let me, how could you! Itwas too cruel, indeed, indeed!"

Aunt Hannah's sobs broke out loudly now; and, unable to bear more, Maceyglided away, and did not stop running after passing the gate till hereached the rectory door. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

IN THE EARLY MORNING. 

Churchwarden Rounds kept his word, for at the first break of day hisvigorous arms sent the ting-tang ringing in a very different way to thatadopted by old Chakes for the last few minutes before service commencedon Sunday morning and afternoon. And he did not ring in vain, forthough the search was given up in the night the objections were verygenuine. Everyone was eager to help so respected a neighbour as thedoctor, and to a man the searchers surrounded him as he walked up to thechurch; even Wrench the carpenter, and Chakes the sexton putting in anappearance in a different suit to that worn over-night and apparentlynone the worse for the cold plunge into peaty water they had had. 

The rector was not present, and the little expedition was about tostart, when Macey came running up to say that Mr Syme was close behind. 

This decided the doctor to pause for a few minutes, and while it wasstill twilight the rector with Gilmore and Distin came up, the formerapologising for being so late. 

"I'm afraid that I fell asleep in my chair, Lee, " he whispered. "I'mvery sorry. "

"There is no need to say anything, " said the doctor sadly. "It ishardly daybreak even now. "

Gilmore looked haggard, and his face on one side was marked by theleather of the chair in which he had been asleep. Macey looked red-eyedtoo, but Distin was perfectly calm and as neat as if he had been to bedas usual to enjoy an uninterrupted night's rest. 

When the start was made, it having been decided to follow the samecourse as over-night, hardly a word was said, for in addition to thedepression caused by the object in view, the morning felt chilly, andeverything looked grim and strange in the mist. 

The rector and doctor led the way with the churchwarden, then followedthe rector's three pupils, and after them the servants and townspeoplein silence. 

Macey was the first of the rectory trio to speak, and he harked back tothe idea that Vane must be caught in the brambles just as he had beenwhen trying to make a short cut, but Gilmore scouted the notion at once. 

"Impossible!" he said, "Vane wouldn't be so stupid. If he is lost onthe moor it is because he slipped into one of those black bog holes, gottangled in the water-weeds and couldn't get out. "

"Ugh!" exclaimed Macey with a shudder. "Oh, I say: don't talk likethat. It's too horrid. You don't think so, do you, Distie? Why it hasmade you as white as wax to hear him talk like that. "

Distin shivered as if he were cold, and he forced a smile as he saidhastily:--

"No: of course I don't. It's absurd. "

"What is?" said Gilmore. 

"Your talking like this. It isn't likely. I think it's a great pieceof nonsense, this searching the country. "

"Why, what would you do?" cried Macey. 

"I--I--I don't know, " cried Distin, who was taken aback. "Yes, I do. Ishould drive over to the station to see if he took a ticket for London, or Sheffield, or Birmingham, or somewhere. It's just like him. He hasgone to buy screws, or something, to make a whim-wham to wind up thesun. "

"No, he hasn't, " said Macey sturdily; "he wouldn't go and upset thepeople at home like that; he's too fond of them. "

"Pish!" ejaculated Distin contemptuously. 

"Distie's sour because he is up so early, Gil, " continued Macey. "Don'tyou believe it. Vane's too good a chap to go off like that. "

"Bah! he is always changing about. Why, you two fellows call himWeathercock. "

"Well!" cried Gilmore; "it isn't because we don't like him. "

"No, " said Macey, "only in good-humoured fun, because he turns about so. I wish, " he added dolefully, "he would turn round here now. "

"You don't think as the young master's really drownded, do you?" said avoice behind, and Macey turned sharply, to find that Bruff had beenlistening to every word. 

"No, I don't, " he cried angrily; "and I'll punch anybody's head who sayshe is. I believe old Distie wishes he was. "

"You're a donkey, " cried Distin, turning scarlet. 

"Then keep away from my heels--I might kick. It makes me want to witheverybody going along as cool as can be, as if on purpose, to fish thebest chap I ever knew out of some black hole among the bushes. "

"Best chap!" said Distin, contemptuously. 

"Yes: best chap, " retorted Macey, whose temper was soured by the coldand sleeplessness of the past night. 

Further words were stopped by the churchwarden's climbing up the sandybank of the deep lane, and stopping half-way to the top to stretch outhis hand to the rector whom he helped till he was amongst the furze, when he turned to help the doctor, who was, however, active enough tomount by himself. 

The rest of the party were soon up in a group, and then there was apause and the churchwarden spoke. 

"If neither of you gentlemen, has settled what to do, " he said, "itseems to me the best thing is to make a line of our-sens along top ofthe bank here, and then go steady right along towards Lenby--say twentyyards apart. "

The doctor said that no better plan could be adopted, but added:--

"I should advise that whenever a pool is reached the man who comes to itshould shout. Then all the line must stop while I come to the pool andexamine it. "

"But we've got no drags or hooks, mester, " whispered the churchwarden, and the doctor shuddered. 

"No, " he said hastily, "but I think there would certainly be some marksof struggling at the edge--broken twigs, grass, or herbage torn away. "

"Look at Distie, " whispered Gilmore. 

"Was looking, " replied Macey who was gazing fixedly at hisfellow-pupil's wild eyes and hollow cheeks. "Hasn't pitched, or shovedhim in, has he?"

"Hush! Don't talk like that, " whispered Gilmore again; and just thenthe object of their conversation looked up sharply, as if conscious thathe was being canvassed, and gazed suspiciously from one to the other. 

Meanwhile the miller who had uncovered so as to wipe his brow, threw hisstaring red cotton handkerchief sharply back into the crown of his hatand knocked it firmly into its place. 

"Why, of course, " he said: "That's being a scientific gentleman. Imight have thought of that, but I didn't. "

Without further delay half the party spread out toward the wood whichformed one side of the moor, while the other half spread back toward thetown; and as soon as all were in place the doctor, who was in thecentre, with Rounds the miller on his right, and the rector on his left, gave the word. The churchwarden shouted and waved his hat and with thesoft grey dawn gradually growing brighter, and a speck or two of orangeappearing high up in the east, the line went slowly onward towardsLenby, pausing from time to time for pools to be examined and for themore luckless of the party to struggle out of awkward places. 

The rector's three pupils were on the right--the end nearest the town, Distin being the last in the line and in spite of Macey's anticipations, he struggled on as well as the best man there. 

Patches of mist like fleecy clouds, fallen during the night, lay hereand there; and every now and then one who looked along the line couldsee companions walk right into these fogs and disappear for minutes at atime to suddenly step out again on to land that was quite clear. 

Hardly a word was spoken, the toil was sufficient to keep every onesilent. For five minutes after a start had been made every one wasdrenched with dew to the waist, and as Macey afterwards said if they hadforded the river they could not have been more wet. 

Every now and then birds were startled by someone, to rise with a loud_whirr_ if they were partridges, with a rapid beating of pinions andfrightened quacking if wild-fowl; and for a few moments, more than once, both Macey and Gilmore forgot the serious nature of their mission ininterest in the various objects they encountered. 

For these were not few. 

Before they had gone a quarter of a mile there was a leap and a rush, and unable to contain himself, Bruff, who was next on Macey's leftsuddenly shouted "_loo_--_loo_--_loo_--_loo_. "

"See him, Mester Macey!" he cried. "Oh, if we'd had a greyhound. "

But they had no long-legged hound to dart off after the longer-earedanimal; and the hare started from its form in some dry tussock grass, went off with its soft fur streaked to its sides with the heavy dew, andwas soon out of reach. 

Then a great grey flapped-wing heron rose from a tiny mere and sailedheavily away. 

That pool had to be searched as far as its margin was concerned; and asit was plainly evident that birds only had visited it lately, the linemoved on again just as the red disk of the sun appeared above the mist, and in one minute the grim grey misty moor was transformed into a vastjewelled plain spangled with myriads upon myriads of tiny gems, glittering in all the colours of the prism, and sending a flash ofhopeful feeling into the boys' breasts. 

"Oh!" cried Macey; "isn't it lovely! I am glad I came. "

"Yes, " said Gilmore; and then correcting himself. "Who can feel glad ona morning like this!"

"I can, " said Macey, "for it all makes me feel now that we are stupid tothink anything wrong can have happened to poor old Weathercock. He'sall right somewhere. "

Something akin to Macey's feeling of light-heartedness had evidentlyflashed into the hearts of all in the line, for men began to shout toone another as they hurried on with more elasticity of tread; they madelighter of their difficulties, and no longer felt a chill of horrorwhenever Rounds summoned all to a halt, while the doctor passed alongthe line to examine some cotton-rush dotted margin about a pool. 

Working well now, the line pressed on steadily in the direction ofLenby, and a couple of miles must have been gone over when a halt wascalled, and after a short discussion in the centre, the churchwardencame panting along the line giving orders as he went till he reached theend where the three pupils were. 

"Now, lads, " he cried, "we're going to sweep round now, like thesoldiers do--here by this patch of bushes. You, Mr Distin, will marchright on, keeping your distance as before, and go the gainest way forthe wood yonder, where you'll find the little stream. Then you'll keepback along that and we shall sweep that side of the moor till we get tothe lane again. "

"But we shall miss ever so much in the middle, " cried Gilmore. 

"Ay, so we shall, lad, but we'll goo up along theer afterwards, andback'ards, and forwards till we've been all over. "

"But, I say, " cried Macey, "you don't think we shall find him here, doyou?"

"Nay, I don't, lad; but the doctor has a sort of idee that we may, andI'm not the man to baulk him. He might be here, you see. "

"Yes, " said Macey; "he might. There: all right, we'll go on when yougive the word. "

"Forrard, then, my lads; there it is, and I wish we may find him. Nay, I don't, " he said, correcting himself, "for, poor lad he'd be in a badcase to have fallen down here for the night. Theer's something about itI can't understand, and if I were you, Mr Distin, sir, I'd joost chuckan eye now and then over the stream towards the edge of the wood. "

Distin nodded and the line was swung round, so as to advance for somedistance toward the wood which began suddenly just beyond the stream. There another shout, and the waving of the miller's hat, altered thedirection again, and with Distin close by the flowing water, the linewas marched back toward the lane with plenty of repetitions of theiroutward progress but it was at a slower rate, for the tangle was oftenfar more dense. 

And somehow, perhaps from the brilliancy of the morning, and thedelicious nature of the pure soft air, the lads' spirits grew higher, and they had to work hard to keep their attention to the object they hadin view, for nature seemed to be laying endless traps for them, especially for Macey, who certainly felt Vane's disappearance most atheart, but was continually forgetting him on coming face to face withsomething fresh. Now it was an adder coiled up in the warm sunshine ona little dry bare clump among some dead furze. It was evidentlywatching him but making no effort to get out of his way. 

He had a stick, and it would have been easy to kill the little reptile, but somehow he had not the heart to strike at him, and he walked onquickly to overtake the line which had gone on advancing while he laggedbehind. 

Ten minutes later he nearly stepped upon a rabbit which bounded away, ashe raised his stick to hurl it after the plump-looking little animallike a boomerang. 

But he did not throw, and the rabbit escaped. He did not relax hisefforts, but swept the tangle of bushes and brambles from right to leftand back to the right, always eagerly trying to find something, if onlya footprint to act as a clue that he might follow, but there was nosign. 

All at once in a sandy spot amongst some furze bushes he stopped again, with a grim smile on his lip. 

"Very evident that he hasn't been here, " he muttered, as he looked atsome scattered specimens of a fungus that would have delighted Vane, andbeen carried off as prizes. They were tall-stemmed, symmetricallyformed fungi, with rather ragged brown and white tops, which looked asif in trying to get them open into parasol shape the moorland fairieshad regularly torn up the outer skin of the tops with their littlefingers; those unopened though showed the torn up marks as well, as theystood there shaped like an egg stuck upon a short thin stick. 

"Come on!" shouted Gilmore. "Found anything?"

Macey shook his head, and hurried once more onward to keep the line, tohear soon afterwards _scape, scape_, uttered shrilly by a snipe whichdarted off in zigzag flight. 

"Oh, how poor old Vane would have liked to be here on such a morning!"thought Macey, and a peculiar moisture, which he hastily dashed away, gathered in his eyes and excused as follows:--

"Catching cold, " he said, quickly. "No wonder with one's feet and legsso wet, why, I'm soaking right up to the waist. Hallo! what bird'sthat?"

For a big-headed, thick-beaked bird flew out of a furze bush, showing agood deal of white in its wings. 

"Chaffinch, I s'pose. No; can't be. Too big. Oh, I do wish poor oldVane was here: he knows everything of that kind. Where can he be?Where can he be?"

It was hot work that toiling through the bushes, but no one murmured orshowed signs of slackening as he struggled along. There were haltsinnumerable, and the doctor could be seen hurrying here and hurryingthere along the straggling line till at last a longer pause than usualwas made at some pool, and heads were turned toward those who seemed tobe making a more careful examination than usual; while, to relieve thetedium of the halt, Distin suddenly went splashing through the shallowstream on to the pebbly margin on the other side. 

"Shan't you get very wet?" shouted Gilmore. 

"Can't get wetter than I am, " was shouted back then. "I say it's tentimes better walking here. Look out! Moor-hens!"

"And wild ducks, " cried Gilmore, as a pair of pointed-winged mallardsflew up with a wonderfully graceful flight. 

But the birds passed away unnoticed, for just then Distin uttered a crywhich brought Macey tearing over the furze and brambles followingGilmore, who was already at the edge of the stream, and just then thesignal was given by the miller to go on. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

VANE IS TAKEN AT A DISADVANTAGE. 

Vane felt for the moment quite startled, the place being so silent andsolitary, but the idea of danger seemed to him absurd, and he stoodwatching the shadow till all doubt of its being human ceased, for an armwas raised and then lowered as if a signal was being made. 

"What can it mean?" he thought. And then:--"I'll soon see. "

Just as he had made up his mind to walk forward, there was a slightmovement and a sharp crack as of a twig of dead wood breaking under thepressure of a foot, and he who caused the sound, feeling that hispresence must be known, stepped out from behind the tree. 

"Why, I fancied it was Distie, " said Vane to himself with a feeling ofrelief that he would have found it hard to explain, for it was one ofthe gipsy lads approaching him in a slow, furtive way. 

"Thought they were gone long enough ago, " he said to himself; and thenspeaking: "Hi! you, sir; come here!--Make him try and dig some up. Wonder they don't hunt for truffles themselves, " he added. "Don't thinkthey are wholesome, perhaps. "

The lad came slowly toward him, but apparently with great unwillingness. 

"Come on, " cried Vane, "and I'll give you a penny. Hallo! Here's theother one!"

For the second lad came slouching along beneath the trees. 

"Here, you two, " cried Vane, waving his trowel; "come along and dig upsome of these. That's right. You've got sticks. You can do it withthe points. "

The second boy had come into sight from among the trees to Vane's left, and advanced cautiously now, as if doubtful of the honesty of hisintentions. 

"That's right, " cried Vane. "Come along, both of you, and I'll give youtwopence a piece. Do you hear? I shan't hurt you. "

But they did not hasten their paces, advancing very cautiously, stick inhand, first one and then the other, glancing round as if for a way ofescape, as it seemed. 

"Why, they're as shy as rabbits, " thought Vane, laughing to himself. "It's leading such a wild life, I suppose. Here, " he cried to the firstlad, who was now within a yard of him, while the other was close behind;"see these? I want some of them. Come on, and I'll show you how tofind them. Why, what did you do that for?"

Vane gave a bound forward, wincing with pain, for he had suddenlyreceived a heavy blow on the back from the short cudgel the boy behindhim bore, and as he turned fiercely upon him, thrusting the trowel intohis basket and doubling his fist to return the blow, the first boystruck him heavily across the shoulder with his stick. 

If the gipsy lads imagined that the blows would cow Vane, and make himan easy victim for the thrashing they had evidently set themselves toadminister, they were sadly mistaken. For uttering a cry of rage as thesecond blow sent a pang through him, Vane dashed down his basket andtrowel, spun round and rushed at his second assailant, but only toreceive a severe blow across one wrist while another came again frombehind. 

"You cowards!" roared Vane; "put down those sticks, or come in front. "

The lads did neither, and finding in spite of his rage the necessity forcaution, Vane sprang to a tree, making it a comrade to defend his back, and then struck out wildly at his assailants. 

So far his efforts were in vain. Sticks reach farther than fists, andhis hands both received stinging blows, one on his right, numbing it forthe moment and making him pause to wonder what such an unheard-of attackcould mean. 

Thoughts fly quickly at all times, but with the greatest swiftness inemergencies, and as Vane now stood at bay he could see that these twolads had been watching him for some time past, and that the attack hadonly been delayed for want of opportunity. 

"I always knew that gipsies could steal, " he thought, "but only in alittle petty, pilfering way. This is highway robbery, and if I givethem all I've got they will let me go. "

Then he considered what he had in his pockets--about seven shillings, including the half-pence--and a nearly new pocket-knife. He was justcoming to the conclusion that he might just as well part with thislittle bit of portable property and escape farther punishment, when oneof the boys made a feint at his head and brought his stick down with asounding crack, just above his left knee, while the other struck him onthe shoulder. 

Vane's blood was up now, and forgetting all about compromising, hedashed at one of his assailants, hitting out furiously, getting severalblows home, in spite of the stick, and the next minute would have tornit from the young scoundrel's grasp if the other had not attacked him sofuriously behind that he had to turn and defend himself there. 

This gave the boy he was beating time to recover himself, and once moreVane was attacked behind and had to turn again. 

All this was repeated several times, Vane getting far the worst of theencounter, for the gipsy lads were as active as cats and wonderfullyskilful at dealing blows; but all the same they did not escapepunishment, as their faces showed, Vane in his desperation ignoring thesticks and charging home with pretty good effect again and again. 

"It's no good; I shall be beaten, " he thought as he now protectedhimself as well as he could by the shelter afforded by the tree he hadchosen, though poor protection it was, for first one and then the otherboy would dart in feinting with his stick and playing into the other'shand and giving him an opportunity to deliver a blow. "I shall have togive in, and the young savages will almost kill me. "

And all this time he was flinching, dodging and shrinking here andthere, and growing so much exhausted that his breath came thick andfast. 

"Oh, if I only had a stick!" he panted, as he avoided a blow on one sideto receive one on the other; and this made him rush savagely at one ofthe lads; but he had to draw back, smarting from a sharp blow across theleft arm, right above the elbow, and one which half numbed the member. 

But though he cast longing eyes round, there was no sticks save thosecarried by the boys, who, with flashing eyes, kept on darting in andaiming wherever they could get a chance. There was one fact, however, which Vane noticed, and which gave him a trifle of hope just when he wasmost despairing: his adversaries never once struck at his head, contenting themselves by belabouring his arms, back and legs, whichpromised to be rendered quite useless if the fight went on. 

And all the time neither of the gipsy lads spoke a word, but kept onleaping about him, making short runs, and avoiding his blows in a waythat was rapidly wearing him out. 

Should he turn and run? No, he thought; they would run over the groundmore swiftly than he, and perhaps get him down. 

Then he thought of crying for help, but refrained, for he felt howdistant they were from everyone, and that if he cried aloud he wouldonly be expending his breath. 

And lastly, the idea came again that he had better offer the lads all hehad about him. But hardly had the thought crossed his brain, than amore vicious blow than usual drove it away, and he rushed from theshelter of the tree-trunk at the boy who delivered that blow. In tryingto avoid Vane's fist, he caught his heel, staggered back, and in aninstant his stick was wrested from his hand, whistled through the air, and came down with a sounding crack, while what one not looking on mighthave taken to be an echo of the blow sounded among the trees. 

But it was not an echo, only the real thing, the second boy havingrushed to his brother's help, and struck at Vane's shoulder, bringinghim fiercely round to attack in turn, stick-armed now, and on equalterms. For Vane's blow had fallen on the first boy's head, and he wentdown half-stunned and bleeding, to turn over and then begin rapidlycrawling away on hands and knees. 

Vane saw this, and he forgot that he was weak, that his arms were numbedand tingling, and that his legs trembled under him. If victory was notwithin his grasp, he could take some vengeance for his sufferings; andthe next minute the beechen glade was ringing with the rattle of stickagainst stick, as in a state of blind fury now, blow succeeded blow, many not being fended off by the gipsy lad's stick, but reaching him ina perfect hail on head, shoulders, arms, everywhere. They flew abouthis head like a firework, making him see sparks in a most startling waytill Vane put all his remaining strength into a tremendous blow whichtook effect upon a horizontal bough; the stick snapped in two close tohis hand, and he stood defenceless once more, but the victor after all, for the second boy was running blindly in and out among the trees, andthe first was quite out of sight. 

As he grasped the position, Vane uttered a hoarse shout and started inpursuit, but staggered, reeled, tried to save himself, and came down, heavily upon something hard, from which he moved with great rapidity andpicked up to look at in dismay. 

It was the trowel. 

A faint, rustling sound amongst the leaves overhead roused Vane to thefact that he must have been sitting there some time in a giddy, half-conscious state, and, looking up, he could see the bright eyes of asquirrel fixed upon him, while its wavy bushy tail was twitching, andthe little animal sounded as if it were scolding him for being there;otherwise all was still, and, in spite of his sufferings, it seemed verycomical to Vane that the pretty little creature should be abusing him, evidently looking upon him as a thief come poaching upon the wintersupply of beech-nuts. 

Then the giddy feeling grew more oppressive, the trees began to slowlysail round him, and there appeared to be several squirrels and severalbranches all whisking their bushy tails and uttering that peculiar soundof theirs--_chop, chop, chop_, --as if they had learned it from the noisemade by the woodman in felling trees. 

What happened then Vane did not know, for when he unclosed his eyesagain, it was to gaze at the level rays of the ruddy sun which streamedin amongst the leaves and twigs of the beeches, making them glorious tobehold. 

For a few minutes he lay there unable to comprehend anything but thefact that his head was amongst the rough, woody beech-mast, and that onehand grasped the trowel while the other was full of dead leaves; but ashis memory began to work more clearly and he tried to move, the sharppains which shot through him chased all the mental mists away and hesprang up into a sitting posture unable to resist uttering a groan ofpain as he looked round to see if either of the gipsy boys was in sight. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

WHERE VANE SPENT THE NIGHT. 

The squirrel and the squirrel only. There was not even a sound now. Vane could see the basket he had brought and the two pieces of thestrong ash stick which he had broken over the fight with the second boy. The ground was trampled and the leaves kicked up, but no enemy wasnear, and he naturally began to investigate his damages. 

"They haven't killed me--not quite, " he said, half-aloud, as he wincedin passing his hand over his left shoulder and breast; and then his eyeshalf-closed, a deathly feeling of sickness came over him and he nearlyfainted with horror, for at the touch of his hand a severe pain shotthrough his shoulder, and he could feel that his breast and armpit wassoaking wet. 

Recovering from the shock of the horrible feeling he took out hishandkerchief to act as a bandage, for he felt that he must be bleedingfreely from one of the blows, and he knew enough from his uncle's booksabout injured arteries to make him set his teeth and determine to tryand stop that before he attempted to get to his feet and start for home. 

His first effort was to unbutton his Norfolk jacket and find the injurywhich he felt sure must be a cut across the shoulder, but at the firsttouch of his hand he winced again, and the sick feeling came back with afaint sensation of horror, for there was a horrible grating sound whichtold of crushed bone and two edges grinding one upon the other. 

Again he mastered his weakness and boldly thrust his hand into hisbreast, withdrew it, and burst out into a wild hysterical laugh as hegave a casual glance at his hand before passing it cautiously into hisleft breast-pocket and bringing out, bit by bit, the fragments of thebottle of preparation which the doctor had dispensed, and that it hadbeen his mission to deliver that afternoon. For in the heat of thestruggle, a blow of one of the sticks had crushed the bottle, saturatinghis breast and side with the medicament, and suggesting to his excitedbrain a horrible bleeding wound and broken bones. 

"Oh, dear!" he groaned; and he laughed again, "how easy it is to deceiveoneself;" and he busied himself, as he spoke, in picking out the remainsof the bottle, and finally turned his pocket inside out and shook itclear. 

"Don't smell very nice, " he said with a sigh; "but I hope it's good forbruises. Well, it's of no use for me to go on now, so I may as well getback. "

He was kneeling now and feeling his arms and shoulders again, and thenhe cautiously touched his face and head. But there was no pain, notrace of injury in that direction, and he began softly passing his handsup and down his arms, and over his shoulders, wincing with agony atevery touch, and feeling that he must get on at once if he meant toreach home, for a terrible stiffness was creeping over him, and when atlast he rose to his feet, he had to support himself by the nearest tree, for his legs were bruised from hip to ankle, and refused to support hisweight. 

"It is of no good, " he said at last, after several efforts to go on, allof which brought on a sensation of faintness. "I can't walk; what shallI do?"

He took a step or two, so as to be quite clear of the broken bottle, andthen slowly lowered himself down upon the thick bed of beech-mast andleaves, when the change to a recumbent position eased some of hissufferings, and enabled him to think more clearly. And one of theresults of this was a feeling of certainty that it would be impossiblefor him to walk home. 

Then he glanced round, wondering whether his assailants had gone rightaway or were only watching prior to coming back to finish their work. 

"I don't know what it means, " he said, dolefully. "I can't see why theyshould attack me like this. I never did them any harm. It must be forthe sake of money, and they'll come back when I'm asleep. "

Vane ground his teeth, partly from rage, partly from pain, as he thrusthis hand into his pocket, took out all the money he had, and then afterlooking carefully round, he raised the trowel, scraped away the leaves, dug a little hole and put in the coins, then covered them up again, spreading the leaves as naturally as possible, and mentally making markson certain trees so as to remember the spot. 

At the same time he was haunted by the feeling that his every act wasbeing watched, and that the coins would be found. 

"Never mind, " he muttered, "they must find them, " and he lay back oncemore to think about getting home, and whether he could manage the taskafter a rest, but he grew more and more certain that he could not, forminute by minute he grew cooler, and in consequence his joints andmuscles stiffened, so that at last he felt as if he dared not stir. 

He lay quite still for a while, half-stunned mentally by his position, and glad to feel that he was not called upon to act in any way for thetime being, all of which feeling was of course the result of thetremendous exertion through which he had passed, and the physicalweakness and shock caused by the blows. 

It was a soft, deliciously warm evening, and it was restful to liethere, gazing through the trees at the glowing west, which was by slowdegrees paling. The time had gone rapidly by during the last two hoursor so, and it suddenly occurred to him in a dull, hazy way that theevening meal, a kind of high tea, would be about ready now at the littlemanor; that Aunt Hannah would be getting up from her work to look out ofthe window and see if he was coming; and that after his afternoon in thegarden, the doctor would have been up to his bedroom and just come downready to take his seat at the snug, comfortable board. 

"And they are waiting for me, " thought Vane. 

The idea seemed more to amuse than trouble him in his half-stupefiedstate, for everything was unreal and dreamy. He could not fully realisethat he was lying there battered and bruised, but found himself thinkingas of some one else in whose troubles he took an interest. 

It was a curious condition of mind to be in, and, if asked, he could nothave explained why he felt no anxiety nor wonder whether, after waitingtea for a long time, the doctor would send to meet him, and later ondespatch a messenger to the village, where no news would be forthcoming. Perhaps his uncle and aunt would be anxious and would send people insearch of him, and if these people were sent they would come along thedeep lane and over the moorland piece, thinking that perhaps he wouldhave gone that way for a short cut. 

Perhaps. It all seemed to be perhaps, in a dull, misty way, and it wasmuch more pleasant to lie listening to the partridges calling out on themoor--that curiously harsh cry, answered by others at a distance, andwatch the sky growing gradually grey, and the clouds in the west changefrom gold to crimson, then to purple, and then turn inky black, whilenow from somewhere not far away he heard the flapping of wings and ahoarse, crocketing sound which puzzled him for the moment, but as it wasrepeated here and there, he knew it was the pheasants which haunted thatpart of the forest, flying up to their roosts for the night, to be safefrom prowling animals--four-legged, or biped who walked the woods bynight armed with guns. 

For it did not matter; nothing mattered now. He was tired; and then allwas blank. 

Sleep or stupor, one or the other. Vane had been insensible for hourswhen he woke up with a start to find that lie was aching and that hishead burned. He was puzzled for a few minutes before he could grasp hisposition. Then all he had passed through came, and he lay wonderingwhether any search had been made. 

But still that did not trouble him. He wanted to lie still and listento the sounds in the wood, and to watch the bright points of light justout through the narrow opening where he had seen the broad red face ofthe sun dip down, lower and lower out of sight. The intense darkness, too, beneath the beeches was pleasant and restful, and though there wereno partridges calling now, there were plenty of sounds to lie and listento, and wonder what they could be. 

At another time he would have felt startled to find himself alone outthere in the darkness, but in his strangely dulled state now everyfeeling of alarm was absent, and a sensation akin to curiosity filledhis brain. Even the two gipsy lads were forgotten. He had once fanciedthat they might return, but he had had reasoning power enough left toargue that they would have come upon him long enough before, and to feelthat he must have beaten them completely, --frightened them away. 

And as he lay he awoke to the fact that all was not still in that blackdarkness, for there was a world of active, busy life at work. Now therecame, like a whispering undertone, a faint clicking noise as the leavesmoved. There were tiny feet passing over him; beetles of some kind thatshunned the light; wood-lice and pill millipedes, hurrying here andthere in search of food; and though Vane could not see them he knew thatthey were there. 

Again there was the soft rustling movement of a leaf, and then ofanother a short distance away on the other side of his head. And Vanesmiled as he lay there on his back staring up at the overhanging boughsthrough which now and then he could catch sight of a fine bright ray. 

For he knew that sound well enough. It was made by great earth wormswhich reached out of their holes in the cool, moist darkness, feelingabout for a soft leaf which they could seize with their round lookingmouths, hold tightly, and draw back after them into the hole from whichtheir tails had not stirred. 

Vane lay listening to this till he was tired, and then waited for someother sound of the night. 

It was not long in coming--a low, soft, booming buzz of some beetle, which sailed here and there, now close by, now so distant that its humwas almost inaudible, but soon came nearer again till it was right overhis head, when there was a dull flip, then a tap on the dry beech-mast. 

"Cockchafer, " said Vane softly, and he knew that it had blundered upagainst some twig and fallen to earth, where, though he could not seeit, he knew that it was lying upon its back sprawling about with itsawkward-looking legs, vainly trying to get on to them again and startupon another flight. 

Once more there was silence, broken only by a faint, fine hum of a gnat, and the curious wet crackling or rustling sound which rose from theleaves. 

Then Vane smiled, for in the distance there was a resonant, "Hoi, hoi, "such as might have been made by people come in search of him. But heknew better, as the shout rose up, and nearer and nearer still atintervals, for it was an owl sailing along on its soft, silent pinions, the cry being probably to startle a bird from its roost or someunfortunate young bird or mouse into betraying its whereabouts, so thata feathered leg might suddenly be darted down to seize, with four keenclaws all pointing to one centre, and holding with such a powerful gripthat escape was impossible. 

The owl passed through the dark shadowy aisles, and its cry was heardfarther and farther away till it died out; but there was no sense ofloneliness in the beech-wood. There was always something astir. 

Now it was a light tripping sound of feet over the dead leaves, thesteps striking loudly on the listener's ear. Then they ceased, as ifthe animal which made the sounds were cautious and listening for danger. Again trip, trip, trip, plainly heard and coming nearer, and fromhalf-a-dozen quarters now the same tripping sounds, followed by pauseafter pause, and then the continuation as if the animals were comingfrom a distance to meet at some central spot. 

_Rap_!

A quick, sharp blow of a foot on the ground, followed by a wild, tearingrush of rabbits among the trees, off and away to their burrows, not onestopping till its cotton-wool-like tail had followed its owner into somesandy hole. 

Another pause with the soft petillation of endless life amongst the deadleaves, and then from outside the forest, down by the sphagnum marginedpools, where the cotton-rushes grew and the frogs led a cool, softsplashing life, there came a deep-toned bellowing roar, rising andfalling with a curious ventriloquial effect as if some large animal hadlost its way, become bogged, and in its agony was calling upon its ownerfor rescue. 

No large quadruped, only a brown-ruffed, long necked, sharp-billedbittern, the now rare marsh bird which used to haunt the waterysolitudes with the heron, but save here and there driven away bydrainage and the naturalist's gun. 

And as Vane lay and listened, wondering whether the bird uttered itsstrange, bellowing song from down by a pool, or as it sailed round andround, and higher and higher, over the boggy mere, he recalled thestories Chakes had told him of the days when "bootherboomps weer asplentiful in the mash as wild ducks in winter. " And then he tried tofit the bird's weird bellowing roar with the local rustic name--"boompboomp--boother boomp!" but it turned out a failure, and he lay listeningto the bird's cry till it grew fainter and less hoarse. Then fainterstill, and at last all was silent, for Vane had sunk once more into ahalf-insensible state, it could hardly be called sleep, from which hewas roused by the singing of birds and the dull, chattering wheezingchorus kept up by a great flock of starlings, high up in the beech tops. 

The feverish feeling which had kept him from being cold had now passedoff, and he lay there chilled to the bone, aching terribly andhalf-puzzled at finding himself in so strange a place. But by degreeshe recalled everything, and feeling that unless he made some effort tocrawl out of the beech-wood he might lie there for many hours, perhapsdays, he tried to turn over so as to get upon his knees and then rise tohis feet. 

He was not long in finding that the latter was an impossibility, for atthe slightest movement the pain was intense, and he lay still once more. 

But it was terribly cold; he was horribly thirsty, and fifty yards awaythe beech trees ended and the sun was shining hotly on the chalky bank, while just below there was clear water ready for scooping up with hishand to moisten his cracked lips. In addition, there were blackberriesor, if not, dew-berries which he might reach. Only a poor apology forbreakfast, but delicious now if he could only get some between his lips. 

He tried again, then again, each time the pain turning him sick; butthere was a great anxiety upon him now. His thoughts were no longerdull and strained in a selfish stupor; he was awake, fully awake, and inmental as well as bodily agony. For his thoughts were upon those at thelittle manor, and he knew that they must have passed a sleepless nighton his account, and he knew, too, that in all probability his uncle hadbeen out with others searching for him, certain that some evil must havebefallen or he would have returned. 

It was a terrible wrench, and he felt as if his muscles were being torn;but with teeth set, he struggled till he was upon hands and knees, andthen made his first attempt to crawl, if only for a foot or two. 

At last, after shrinking again and again, he made the effort, and thestart made, he persevered, though all the time there was a singing inhis ears, the dead leaves and blackened beech-mast seemed to heave andfall like the surface of the sea, and a racking agony tortured hislimbs. But he kept on foot by foot, yard by yard, with many halts and aterrible drag upon his mental powers before he could force himself torecommence. How long that little journey of fifty or sixty yards tookhe could not tell; all he knew was that he must get out of the forestand into the sunshine, where he might be seen by those who came insearch of him; and there was water there--the pure clear water whichwould be so grateful to his parched lips and dry, husky throat. 

The feeling of chill was soon gone, for his efforts produced a burningpain in every muscle, but in a dim way he knew that he was gettingnearer the edge, for it was lighter, and a faint splashing sound and thebeating of wings told of wild-fowl close at hand in that clear water. 

On then again so slowly, but foot by foot, till the last of the hugepillar-like trunks which had seemed to bar his way was passed, and heslipped down a chalky bank to lie within sight of the water but unableto reach it, utterly spent, when he heard a familiar voice give theAustralian call--"Coo-ee!" and he tried to raise a hand but it fellback. 

Directly after a voice cried:

"Hi! Here he is!"

The voice was Distin's, and as he heard it Vane fainted dead away. 

The Weathercock--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

THE LAW ASKS QUESTIONS. 

Seeing the rush made by Gilmore and Macey, Bruff hesitated for a fewmoments, and then turned and shouted to Joseph, the next man. 

"They've fun suthin, " and ran after them. 

Joseph turned and shouted to Wrench, the carpenter. 

"They've got him, " and followed Bruff. 

Wrench shouted to Chakes and ran after Joseph, and in thisHouse-that-Jack-built fashion the news ran along the line to the doctorand rector, and right to the end, with the result that all came hurryingalong in single-file, minute by minute increasing the size of the groupabout where Vane lay quite insensible now. 

"Poor old chap, " cried Macey, dropping on his knees by his friend'sside, Gilmore kneeling on the other, and both feeling his hands andface, which were dank and cold, while Distin stood looking down grimlybut without offering to stir. 

"Don't say he's dead, sir, " panted Bruff. 

"No, no, he's not dead, " cried Macey. "Fetch some water; no, run forthe doctor. "

"He's coming, sir, " cried Joseph, shading his eyes to look along theline. "He won't be long. Hi--hi--yi! Found, found, found!" roared theman, and his cry was taken up now and once more the news flew along theline, making all redouble their exertions, even the rector, who had notdone such a thing for many years, dropping into the old football pace ofhis youth, with his fists up and trotting along after the doctor. 

But the progress was very slow. It was a case of the more haste theworst speed, for a bee-line through ancient gorse bushes and brambles isnot perfection as a course for middle-aged and elderly men notaccustomed to go beyond a walk. Every one in his excitement caught theinfection, and began to run, but the mishaps were many. Chakes, whoseusual pace was one mile seven furlongs per hour, more or less, trippedand went down; and as nobody stopped to help him, three men passed himbefore he had struggled up and began to look about for his hat. Thenext to go down was Rounds, the miller, who, after rushing severaltangles like an excited rhinoceros, came to grief over an extra toughbramble strand, and went down with a roar. 

"Are you hurt, Mr Rounds?" panted the doctor. 

"Hurt!" cried the churchwarden, "I should think I am, sir. Five hundredmillion o' thorns in me. But don't you wait. You go on, and see tothat boy, " he continued, as he drew himself into a sitting position. "Dessay he wants you more than I do. "

"Then I will go on, Mr Rounds; forgive me for leaving you. "

"All right, sir, and you too, parson; goo on, niver mind me. "

The rector seemed disposed to stay, for he was breathless, but hetrotted on, and was close to the doctor, as he reached the group on theother side of the stream. 

"Not dead?" panted the doctor. 

"Oh no, sir, " cried Macey, "but he's very bad; seems to have tumbledabout among the trees a great deal. Look at his face. "

The doctor knelt down after making the men stand back. 

"Must have fallen heavily, " he said, as he began his examination. "Headcut, great swelling, bruise across his face, and eye nearly closed. This is no fall, Mr Syme. Good heavens! look at his hand and wrist. The poor fellow has been horribly beaten with sticks, I should say. "

"But tell me, " panted the rector; "he is not--"

"No, no, not dead; insensible, but breathing. "

"Found him, gentlemen?" said a voice; and as the rector looked up, itwas to see the two police constables on their way to join them. 

"Yes, yes, " cried the rector; "but, tell me, was there any firing in thenight--any poachers about?"

"No, sir; haven't seen or heard of any lately; we keep too sharp alook-out. Why, the young gent has got it severely. Some one's beenknocking of him about. "

"Don't stop to talk, " cried the doctor. "I must have him homedirectly. "

"Here, how is he?" cried a bluff voice; and Rounds now came up, dabbinghis scratched and bleeding face with his handkerchief. 

"Bad, bad, Rounds, " said the doctor. 

"Bad? Ay, he is. But, halloo, who is been doing this?"

He looked around at his fellow-townsmen, and then at Vane'sfellow-pupils so fiercely that Gilmore said quickly:

"Not I, Mr Rounds. "

"Silence!" cried the doctor angrily. "It is of vital importance that mynephew should be carried home at once. "

"Oh, we'll manage that, sir, " said one of the constables as he slippedoff his greatcoat and spread it on the ground. "Now, if we lift him andlay him upon that, and half-a-dozen take hold of the sides and try tokeep step, we can get him along. "

"Yes, that's right, " cried the doctor, superintending the lifting, whichdrew a faint groan from Vane. "Poor lad!" he said; "but I'm glad tohear that. Now then, better keep along this side of the stream till wecan cut across to the lane. Here, I want a good runner. "

"I'll go, " said Gilmore quickly. 

"Yes, you, " said the doctor, "go and tell my wife to have Vane's bedready. Say we have found him hurt, but not very badly. "

"Why not take him to the rectory?" said Mr Syme. "It is nearer. "

"Thank you, but I'll have him at home, " said the doctor. 

"One moment, gentlemen, " said the first constable, book in hand. "Iwant to know exactly where he was found. "

"Here, man, here, " cried the doctor. "Now then, lift him carefully, andkeep step. If I say stop, lower him directly. "

"Yes, sir; go on, " said the constable. "We must have a look roundbefore we come away. P'r'aps you'd stop along with us, MrChurchwarden, sir, and maybe one of you young gents would stay, " hecontinued, addressing Distin. 

"Me--me stay!" said the lad starting, and flushing to his brow. 

"Yes, sir. Young gents' eyes are sharp and see things sometimes. "

"Yes, Distin, my dear boy, " said the rector, "stop with them. You aregoing to search?"

"Yes, sir. That young gent couldn't have got into that state all byhimself, and we want to find out who did it. "

The man glanced sharply at Distin again as he spoke, and the youngCreole avoided his eye with the result that the constable made a note inhis book with a pencil which seemed to require wetting before it wouldmark. 

"I think, " said the rector, "it is my duty to stay here, as this matteris assuming a serious aspect. "

"Thank ye, sir; I should be glad if you would, " said the constable. "Itdo begin to look serious. "

"Joseph, run on after Dr Lee, and tell him why I am staying. Say thathe is to use the carriage at once if he wishes to send for help ornurse. I shall not be very long. "

Joseph ran off at a sharp trot after the departing group, and theconstable went slowly forward after carefully examining the ground whereVane had been found. 

"Keep back, everybody, please. Plenty of footprints here, " he said, "but all over, I'm afraid. Hah! Look here, sir, " he continued, pointing down at the loose sand and pebbles; "he crawled along here onhis hands and knees. "

Distin looked sallow and troubled now, and kept on darting furtive looksat those about, several of the men having stopped back to see what theconstable might find. 

"Don't see no steps but his, " said the constable, who seemed to bekeenly observant for so rustic-looking a man. "Hah, that's where hecome down, regularly slipped, you see. "

He pointed to the shelving bank of chalk, on the top of which thebeeches began, and over which their long, lithe branches drooped. 

"Steady, please. I'll go on here by myself with you two gents. You seeas no one else follows till I give leave. "

The second constable nodded, and the bank was climbed, the rectortelling Distin to hold out a hand to help him--a hand that was very wetand cold, feeling something like the tail of a codfish. 

Here the constable had no difficulty in finding Vane's track over thedead leaves and beech-mast for some distance, and then he uttered anejaculation as he pounced upon a broken stick, one of the pieces beingstained with blood. 

"It's getting warm, " he said. "Oh, yes, don't come forward, gentlemen. Here we are: ground's all trampled and kicked up, and what's this here?Little trowel and a basket and--"

He turned over the contents of the basket with a puzzled expression. 

"Aren't taters, " he said, holding the basket to the rector. 

"No, my man, they are truffles. "

"Oh, yes, sir, I can see they're trifles. "

"Truffles, my man, troofles, " said the rector. "The poor fellow musthave been digging them up. "

"But no one wouldn't interfere with him for digging up that stuff, sir. I mean keepers or the like. And there's been two of 'em here, simminly. Oh, yes, look at the footmarks, only they don't tell no tales. I likemarks in soft mud, where you can tell the size, and what nails was inthe boots. Stuff like this shows nothing. Halloo, again. "

"Found something else?" cried the rector excitedly. 

"Bits o' broken glass, sir, --glass bottle. There's a lot of bitsscattered about. "

The constable searched about the grass of the beech grove where thestruggle had taken place, but not being gifted with the extraordinaryeyes and skill of an American Indian, he failed to find the track ofVane's assailants going and coming, and he was about to give up when therector pointed to a couple of places amongst the dead leaves whichlooked as if two hands had torn up some of the dead leaves. 

"Ay, that's someat, " said the constable quickly. "I see, sir, you'requite right. Some one went down here and--Phee-ew!" he whistled as hepicked up a leaf. "See that, sir?"

The rector looked, shuddered and turned away, but Distin pressed forwardwith a curious, half-fascinated aspect, and stared down at the leaf theconstable held out, pointing the while to several more like it which layupon the ground. 

"Blood?" said Distin in a hoarse voice. 

"Yes, sir, that's it. Either the young gent or some one else had whatmade that. Don't look nice, do it?"

Distin shuddered, and the constable made another note in his book, moistening his pencil over and over again and glancing thoughtfully atDistin as he wrote in a character that might have been calledcryptographic, for it would have defied any one but the writer to havemade it out. 

"Well, constable, " said the rector at last, "what have you discovered?"

"That the young gent was out here, sir, digging up them tater things ashe was in the habit of grubbing up--weeds and things. I've seen himbefore. "

"Yes, yes, " said the rector. "Well?"

"And then some one come and went at him. "

"Some one, " said the rector, "I thought you said two. "

"So I did, sir, and I thought so at first, but I don't kind o' findmarks of more than one, and he broke this stick about Mr Vane, and thewonder to me is as he hasn't killed him. Perhaps he has. "

"But what motive? It could not have been the keepers. "

"Not they, sir. They liked him. "

"Could it be poachers?"

"Can't say, sir. Hardly. What would they want to 'tack a young gentlike that for?"

"Have there been any tramps about who might do it for the sake ofrobbery?"

"Ha'n't been a tramp about here for I don't know how long, sir. We'requite out of them trash. Looks to me more like a bit o' spite. "

"Spite?"

"Yes, sir. Young gent got any enemies as you know on?"

The rector laughed and Distin joined in, making the constable scratchhis head. 

"Oh, no, my man, we have no enemies in my parish. You have not got theright clue this time. Try again. "

"I'm going to, sir, but that's all for to-day, " said the man, buttoningup his book in his pocket. "I think we'll go back to the town now. "

"By all means, " said the rector. "Very painful and very strange. Come, Distin. "

As he spoke he walked from under the twilight of the great beech-woodout into the sunshine, where about a dozen of the searchers were waitingimpatiently in charge of the second constable for a report of what hadbeen done. 

As the rector went on, Distin looked keenly round and then bent downover the leaves which bore the ugly stains, and without noticing thatthe constable had stolen so closely to him, that when he raised his headhe found himself gazing full in the man's searching eyes. 

"Very horrid, sir, aren't it, " he said. 

"Yes, yes, horrible, " cried Distin, hastily, and he turned sharply roundto follow the rector. 

At that moment the constable touched him on the shoulder with the brokenstick, and Distin started round and in spite of himself shivered at thesight of the pieces. 

"Yes, " he said hoarsely, as his face now was ghastly. "You want tospeak to me?"

"Yes, sir, just a word or two. Would you mind telling me where you wasyesterday afternoon--say from four to six o'clock?"

"I--I don't remember, " said Distin. "Why do you ask?"

"The law has a right to ask questions, sir, and doesn't always careabout answering of them, " said the man with a twinkle of the eye. "Yousay you don't know where you was?"

"No. I am not sure. At the rectory, I think. "

"You aren't sure, sir, but at the rectory, you think. Got rather a badmemory, haven't you, sir?"

"No, excellent, " cried Distin desperately. 

"You says as you was at the rectory yesterday afternoon when this herewas done?"

"How do you know it was done in the afternoon, " said Distin, quickly. 

"Reason one, 'cause the young gent went in the afternoon to Lenby. Reason two, 'cause he was digging them trifles o' taters, and younggents don't go digging them in the dark. That do, sir?"

"Yes. I feel sure now that I was at the rectory, " said Distin, firmly. 

"Then I must ha' made a mistake, sir--eyes nothing like so good as theywas. "

"What do you mean, " cried Distin, changing colour once more. 

"Oh, nothing, sir, nothing, only I made sure as I see you when I was outin my garden picking apples in the big old tree which is half mine, halfmy mate's. But of course it was my mistake. Thought you was going downthe deep lane. "

"Oh, no, I remember now, " said Distin, carelessly; "I go out so much tothink and study, that I often quite forget. Yes, I did go down thelane--of course, and I noticed how many blackberries there were on thebanks. "

"Ay, there are a lot, sir--a great lot to-year. The bairns gets quitebasketsful of 'em. "

"Are you coming, Distin?" cried the rector. 

"Yes, sir, directly, " cried Distin; and then haughtily, "Do you want toask me any more questions, constable?"

"No, sir, thankye; that will do. "

"Then, good-morning. "

Distin walked away with his head up, and a nonchalant expression on hiscountenance, leaving the constable looking after him. 

"Want to ask me any more questions, constable, " he said, mimickingDistin's manner. "Then good-morning. "

He stood frowning for a few minutes, and nodded his head decisively. 

"Well, " he said, "you're a gentleman, I suppose, and quite a scholard, or you wouldn't be at parson's, but if you aren't about as artful asthey make 'em, I'm as thick-headed as a beetle. Poor lad! Only a sorto' foreigner, I suppose. What a blessing it is to be born a solidEnglishman. Not as I've got a word again your Irishman and Scotchman, or your Welsh, if it comes to that, but what can you expect of a ladborn out in a hot climate that aren't good for nobody but blacks?"

He took a piece of string out of his pocket, and very carefully tied thetrowel and pieces of broken stick together as firmly as if they were tobe despatched on a long journey. Then he opened the basket, peeped in, and frowned at the truffles, closed it up and went out. 

"Any of you as likes can go in now, " he said, and shaking his headsolemnly as questions began to pour upon him from all sides respectingthe stick and basket, he strode off with his colleague in the directionof the town, gaining soon upon the rector, who was too tired and faintto walk fast, for it was not his habit to pass the night out of bed, andtake a walk of some hours' duration at early dawn. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

BATES IS OBSTINATE. 

Gilmore reached the Little Manor to find Aunt Hannah ready to hurry outand meet him, and he shrank from giving his tidings, fearing that itwould be a terrible shock. 

But he could keep nothing back with those clear, trusting eyes fixedupon him, and he gave his message. 

"You would not deceive me, Mr Gilmore?" she said. "You are sure thathe is only badly hurt; the doctor--my husband--hasn't sent you on tosoften worse news to come?"

"Indeed no, " cried Gilmore warmly. "Don't think that. He is very bad. It is not worse. "

Aunt Hannah closed her eyes, and he saw her lips move for a few moments. He could not hear the words she spoke, but he took off his hat, andbent his head till she laid her hand upon his arm. 

"Thank God!" she said fervently. "I feared the worst. They are comingon, you say?"

"Yes, but it will be quite an hour before they can get here. You willexcuse me, Mrs Lee, I want to get back to poor old Vane's side. "

"Yes, go, " she said cheerfully. "I shall be very busy getting ready forhim. The doctor did not say that you were to take anything back?"

"No, " said Gilmore; and he hurried away, admiring the poor little lady'sfortitude, for he could see that she was suffering keenly, and only tooglad to be alone. 

As he hurried back to the town he was conscious for the first time thathis lower garments were still saturated and patched with dust; that hishands were torn and bleeding, and that his general aspect was about asdisordered as it could possibly be. In fact he felt that he looked asif he had been spending the early morning trying to drag a pond, andthat every one who saw him would be ready to jeer. 

On the contrary, though he met dozens of people all eager to questionhim about Vane, no one appeared to take the slightest notice of hisclothes, and he could not help learning how popular his friend was amongthe townsfolk, as he saw their faces assume an aspect of joy and relief. 

"I wonder whether they would make so much fuss about me, " he said tohimself; and, unable to arrive at a self-satisfying conclusion, he beganto think what a blank it would have made in their existence at therectory if Vane had been found dead. From that, as he hurried along, hebegan to puzzle himself about the meaning of it all, and was as far offfrom a satisfactory conclusion as when he began, on coming in sight ofthe little procession with the doctor walking on one side of Vane, andMacey upon the other. 

He had not spoken, but lay perfectly unconscious, and there was not theslightest change when, followed by nearly the whole of the inhabitantsof Greythorpe, he was borne in at the Little Manor Gate, the crowdremaining out in the road waiting for such crumbs of news as Bruffbrought to them from time to time. 

There was not much to hear, only that the doctor had carefully examinedVane when he had been placed in bed, and found that his arms andshoulders were horribly beaten and bruised, and that the insensibilitystill lasted, while Doctor Lee had said something about fever as being athing to dread. 

They were the words of wisdom, for before many hours had passed Vane wasdelirious and fighting to get out of bed and defend himself against anenemy always attacking him with a stick. 

He did not speak, only shrank and cowered and then attacked in turnfiercely, producing once more the whole scene so vividly that the doctorand Aunt Hannah could picture everything save the enemy who hadcommitted the assault. 

The next evening, while the rector sat thinking over the bad news he hadheard from the Little Manor half-an-hour before, Joseph tapped at thedoor to announce a visitor, and the rector said that he might be shownin. 

Macey was at the Little Manor. Gilmore and Distin were in the groundswhen the visitor was seen entering the gate, and the latter lookedwildly round, as if seeking for the best way to escape; but masteringhimself directly, he stood listening to Gilmore, who exclaimed:

"Hallo! here's Mr PC. Let's go and ask him if he has any news aboutthe brute who nearly killed poor old Vane. "

"No, " said Distin, hoarsely; "let's wait till he comes out. "

"All right, " replied Gilmore; and he stood in the gloom beneath thegreat walnut tree watching the constable go up to the porch, ring, and, after due waiting, enter, his big head, being seen soon after, plainlyshown against the study shaded lamp. 

"Well, constable, " said the rector; "you have news for me?"

"Yes, sir. "

"About the assailant of my poor pupil?"

"Yes, sir, and I should have been here before, only it was Magistrates'day, and I had to go over to the town to attend a case. "

"Well, what have you found out? Do you know who the person was thatassailed Mr Vane Lee?"

"Yes, sir: I'm pretty sure. "

"Not some one in this town?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Surely not. I cannot think that any one would be so cruel. "

"Sorry to say it is so, sir, as far as I know; and I'm pretty sure now. "

"But who? We have so few black sheep here, I am thankful to say. NotTompkins?"

"No, sir. "

"Jevell?"

"No, sir, some one much nigher home than that, sir, I'm sorry to say. "

"Well, speak, and put me out of my suspense. "

"Some one here, sir, " said the constable, after drawing a long breath. 

"What!"

"Fact, sir. Some one as lives here at the rectory. "

"In the name of common sense, man, " cried the rector, angrily, "whom doyou mean--me?"

"No, sir, that would be too bad, " said the constable. 

"Whom, then?"

"Your pupil, sir, Mr Distin. "

Had a good solid Japanese earthquake suddenly shaken down all the wallsof the rectory and left the Reverend Morton Syme seated in his easychair unhurt and surrounded by debris and clouds of dust, he could nothave looked more astonished. He stared at the constable, who stoodbefore him, very stiff, much buttoned up and perfectly unmoved, as a manwould stand who feels his position unassailable. 

Then quietly and calmly taking out his gold-rimmed spring eye-glasses, the rector drew a white pocket-handkerchief from his breast, carefullypolished each glass, put them on and stared frowningly at his visitor, who returned the look for a time, and then feeling his position irksomeand that it called for a response, he coughed, saluted in militaryfashion and settled his neck inside his coat collar. 

"You seem to be perfectly sober, Bates, " said the rector at last. 

"Sober, sir?" said the man quickly. "Well, I think so, sir. "

"Then, my good man, you must be mad. "

The constable smiled. 

"Beg pardon, sir. That's just what criminals make a point of sayingwhen you charge 'em. Not as I mean, sir, " he added hastily, "that youare a criminal, far from it. "

"Thank you, my man, I hope not. But what in the name of common sensehas put it into your head that my pupil, Mr Distin, could be guilty ofsuch a terrible deed? Oh, it's absurd--I mean monstrous. "

The constable looked at him stolidly, and then said slowly:

"Suckumstarnces, sir, and facks. "

"But, really, my good man, I--Stop! You said you had been over to thetown and met your chief officer. Surely you have not started thisshocking theory there. "

"Oh, yes, sir. In dooty bound. I told him my suspicions. "

"Well, what did he say?"

The constable hesitated, coughed, and pulled himself tightly together. 

"I asked you what your chief officer said, sir. "

"Well, sir, if I must speak I must. He said I was a fool. "

"Ah, exactly, " cried the rector, eagerly. Then, checking himself, hesaid with a deprecating smile: "No, no, Bates, I do not endorse that, for I have always found you a very respectable, intelligent officer, whohas most efficiently done his duty in Greythorpe; and unless it were foryour benefit, I should be very sorry to hear of your being removed. "

"Thankye, sir; thankye kindly, " said the constable. 

"But in this case, through excess of zeal, I am afraid you have gonemuch too far. Mr Lance Distin is a gentleman, a student, and of veryexcellent family. A young man of excellent attainments, and about aslikely to commit such a brutal assault as you speak of, as--as, well, for want of a better simile, Bates, as I am. "

The constable shook his head and looked very serious. 

"Now, tell me your reasons for making such a charge. "

The explanations followed. 

"Flimsy in the extreme, Bates, " said the rector triumphantly, and as ifrelieved of a load. "And you show no more common sense than to charge agentleman with such a crime solely because you happened to see himwalking in that direction. "

"Said he wasn't out, sir. "

"Well, a slip--a piece of forgetfulness. We might either of us havedone the same. But tell me, why have you come here?"

"Orders was to investigate, and if I found other facts, sir, tocommunicate with the chief constable. "

"Of course. Now, you see, my good man, that what I say is correct--thatthrough excess of zeal you are ready to charge my pupil--a gentlemanentrusted to my charge by his father in the West Indies--a pupil towhom, during his stay in England, I act _in loco parentis_--and overwhose career I shall have to watch during his collegiate curriculum--with a crime that must have been committed by some tramp. Youunderstand me?"

"Yes, sir, all except the French and the cricklum, but I daresay allthat's right. "

The rector smiled. 

"Now, are you satisfied that you have made a mistake?"

"No, sir, not a bit of it, " said the constable stolidly. 

The rector made a deprecating gesture with his hand, rose and rang thebell. Then he returned to his seat, sat back and waited till the bellwas answered. 

"Have the goodness, Joseph, to ask Mr Distin to step here. "

"If I might make so bold, sir, " interposed the constable, "I should likeyou to have 'em all in. "

"One of my pupils, Mr Macey, is at the manor. "

"Macey? That's the funny one, " said the constable. "Perhaps you'd havein them as is at home. "

"Ask Mr Gilmore to step in too. "

Joseph withdrew, and after a painful silence, steps were heard in theporch. 

"By the way, Bates, " said the rector, hastily, "have you spread thischarge?"

"No, sir; of course not. "

"Does not Doctor Lee know?"

"Not yet, sir. Thought it my dooty to come fust to you. "

"I thank you, Bates. It was very considerate of you. Hush!"

Distin's voice was heard saying something outside in a loud, laughingway, and the next moment he tapped and entered. 

"Joseph said you wished to see me, sir. " Then, with an affected startas he saw the constable standing there, "Have you caught them?"

"Be good enough to sit down, Distin. Gilmore, take a chair. " Then, after a pause:

"You are here, Gilmore, at the constable's request, but the matter doesnot affect you. My dear Distin, it does affect you, and I want you tohelp me convince this zealous but wrong-headed personage that he islabouring under a delusion. "

"Certainly, sir, " replied Distin, cheerfully. "What is the delusion?"

"In plain, simple English, my dear boy, he believes that you committedthat cruel assault upon poor Vane Lee. "

"Oh, " exclaimed Distin, springing up and gazing excited at theconstable, his eyes full of reproach--a look which changed to one ofindignation, and with a stamp of the foot like one that might be givenby an angry girl, he cried: "How dare he!"

"Ah, yes! How dare he, " said the rector. "But pray do not be angry, mydear boy. There is no need. Bates is a very good, quiet, sensible manwho comes here in pursuance of what he believes to be his duty, and I amquite convinced that as soon as he realises the fact that he has made agreat mistake he will apologise, and there will be an end of it. "

The constable did not move a muscle, but stood gazing fixedly at Distin, who uttered a contemptuous laugh. 

"Well, Mr Syme, " he said, "what am I to do? Pray give me your advice. "

"Certainly, and it is my duty to act as your counsel; so pray forgive mefor asking you questions which you may deem unnecessary--for I grantthat they are as far as I am concerned, but they are to satisfy thisman. "

"Pray ask me anything you like, sir, " cried Distin with ahalf-contemptuous laugh. 

"Then tell me this, on your honour as a gentleman: did you assault VaneLee?"

"No!" cried Distin. 

"Did you meet him in the wood the day before yesterday?"

"No. "

"Did you encounter him anywhere near there, quarrel with and strikehim?"

"No, no, no, " cried Distin, "and I swear--"

"There is no need to swear, Mr Distin. You are on your honour, sir, "said the rector. 

"Well, sir, on my honour I did not see Vane Lee from the time he leftthis study the day before yesterday till I found him lying below thechalk-bank by that stream. "

"Thank you, Distin. I am much obliged for your frank disclaimer, " saidthe rector, gravely. "As I intimated to you all this was not necessaryto convince me, but to clear away the scales from this man's eyes. Now, Bates, " he continued, turning rather sternly to the constable, "are yousatisfied?"

"No, sir, " said the man bluntly, "not a bit. "

"Why, you insolent--"

"Silence, Mr Distin, " said the rector firmly. 

"But, really, sir, this man's--"

"I said silence, Mr Distin. Pray contain yourself. Recollect what youare. I will say anything more that I consider necessary. "

He cleared his throat, sat back for a few moments, and then turned tothe constable. 

"Now, my good fellow, you have heard Mr Distin's indignant repudiationof this charge, and you are obstinately determined all the same. "

"Don't know about obstinate, sir, " replied the constable, "I am onlydoing my duty, sir. "

"What you conceive to be your duty, Bates. But you are wrong, my man, quite wrong. You are upon the wrong scent. Now I beg of you try tolook at this in a sensible light and make a fresh start to run down theoffender. You see you have made a mistake. Own to it frankly, and I amsure that Mr Distin will be quite ready to look over what has beensaid. "

Just then there was a tap at the door. 

"May I come in, sir?"

"Yes, come in, my dear boy. You have just arrived from the Manor?"

"Yes, sir, " said Macey. 

"How is Vane?"

Macey tried to answer, but something seemed to rise in his throat, andwhen he did force out his words they sounded low and husky. 

"Awfully bad, sir. The doctor took me up, but he doesn't know anybody. Keeps going on about fighting. "

"Poor lad, " said the rector, with a sigh. "But, look here, Macey, youmust hear this. The constable here--Bates--has come to announce to mehis belief that the assault was committed by your fellow-pupil. "

"Distin?" cried Macey, sharply, and as he turned to him the Creole's jawdropped. 

"Yes, but it is of course a mistake, and has been disproved. I waspointing out to Bates here the folly of an obstinate persistence in suchan idea, when you entered. " Then turning once more to the constable, "Come, my man, you see now that you are in the wrong. "

"No, sir, " said the constable, "I didn't see it before, but I feel surernow that I'm right. "

"What?"

"That young gent thinks so too. "

"Mr Macey? Absurd!"

"See how he jumped to it directly, sir. "

"Nonsense, man! Nonsense, " cried the rector. "Here, Macey, my dearboy, I suppose, as a man of peace, I must strive to convince thiswrong-headed personage. Tell him that he is half mad. "

"For thinking Distin did it, sir?" replied Macey, slowly. 

"Exactly--yes. "

"It wouldn't be quite fair, sir, because I'm afraid I thought so, too. "

The constable gave his leg a slap. 

"You--you dare to think that, " cried Distin. 

"Hush! hush! hush!" said the rector, firmly. "Macey, my dear boy, whatcause have you for thinking such a thing. "

"Distin hates him. "

The constable drew a long breath, and he had hard work to preserve hisequanimity in good official style. 

"My dear Macey, " cried the rector reproachfully, "surely you are notgoing, on account of a few boyish disagreements, to think that yourfellow-pupil would make such a murderous attack. Come, you don't surelybelieve that?"

"No, " said Macey slowly, "I don't now: I can't believe that he would besuch a wretch. "

"There!" cried the rector, triumphantly. "Now, constable, there is nomore to say, except that I beg you will not expose me and mine topainful trouble, and yourself to ridicule by going on with this baselesscharge. "

"Can't say, sir, I'm sure, " replied the constable. "I want to do mydooty, and I want to show respect to you, Mr Syme, sir, as has alwaysbeen a good, kind gentleman to me; but we're taught as no friendly orpersonal feelings is to stand in the way when we want to catchcriminals. So, with all doo respect to you, I can't make no promises. "

"I shall not ask you, my man, " replied the rector; "what I do say is gohome and think it over. In a day or two I hope and trust that my pupilVane Lee will be well enough to enlighten us as to who were hisassailants. "

"I hope so, sir. But suppose he dies?"

"Heaven forbid! my man. There, do as I say: go back and think over thismeeting seriously, and believe me I shall be very glad to see you cometo me to-morrow and say frankly, from man to man--I have been in thewrong. Don't shrink from doing so. It is an honour to anyone to avowthat he was under a misapprehension. "

"Thankye, sir, and good-night, " said the constable, as the rector rangfor Joseph to show him out; and the next minute all sat listening to hisdeparting steps on the gravel, followed by the _click click click click_of the swing-gate. 

The rector looked round as if he were about to speak, but he altered hismind, and the three pupils left the room, Distin going up to his chamberwithout a word, while attracted by the darkness Gilmore and Maceystrolled out through the open porch into the grounds. 

"Suppose he dies?" said Macey, almost unconsciously repeating theconstable's words. 

"Oh, I say, don't talk like that, " cried Gilmore. "It isn't likely, andyou shouldn't have turned against poor old Distie as you did. "

"I couldn't help it, " said Macey, sadly. "You'd have thought the sameif the doctor had let you go up to see poor old Weathercock. It washorrid. His face is dreadful, and his arms are black and blue from thewrist to the shoulder. "

"But Dis declared that he hadn't seen him, " cried Gilmore. 

"I hope he hadn't, for it's too horrid to think a fellow you mix withcould be such a wretch. "

Gilmore turned sharply round to his companion, but it was too dark tosee his face. There was something, however, in his tone of voice whichstruck him as being peculiar. It did not sound confident of Distin'sinnocence. There was a want of conviction in his words too, and thisset Gilmore thinking as to the possibility of Distin having in a fit ofrage and dislike quarrelled with and then beaten Vane till the stick wasbroken and his victim senseless. 

The idea grew rapidly as he stood there beside Macey in the darkness, and he recalled scores of little incidents all displaying Distin'sdislike of his fellow-pupil; and as Gilmore thought on, a consciousfeeling of horror, almost terror, crept over him till his common sensebegan to react and argue the matter out so triumphantly that in a voicefull of elation he suddenly and involuntarily exclaimed:

"It's absurd! He couldn't. "

"What's absurd? Who couldn't, " cried Macey, starting from a reverie. 

"Did I say that aloud?" said Gilmore, wonderingly. 

"Why, you shouted it. "

"I was thinking about whether it was possible that the constable wasright. "

"That's queer, " said Macey; "I was thinking just the same. "

"And that Distie had done it?"

"Yes. "

"Well, don't you see that it is impossible?"

"No, I wish I could, " said Macey sadly; "can you?"

"Why, of course. Vane's as strong as Distie, isn't he?"

"Yes, quite. "

"And he can use his fists. "

"I should rather think he can. I put on the gloves with him one day andhe sent me flying. But what has that got to do with it?"

"Everything. Do you think Distie could have pitched into Vane with astick and not got something back?"

"Why, of course he couldn't. "

"Well, there you are, then. He hasn't got a scratch. "

"Hist! What's that, " said Macey, softly. 

"Sounded like a window squeaking. "

"Come away, " whispered Macey taking his companion by the arm, andleading him over the turf before he stopped some distance now from thehouse. 

"What is it?" said Gilmore then. 

"That noise; it was old Distie at his window. I could just make himout. He had been listening to what we said. "

"Listeners never hear--" began Gilmore. 

"Any good of themselves, " said Macey, finishing the old saying. 

"Well, I don't mind. "

"More don't I. "

And the two lads went in. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

SYMPATHY. 

Those were sad and weary hours at the Little Manor, and when Vane'sdelirium was at its height and he was talking most rapidly, Doctor Leefor almost the first time in his life felt doubtful of his own knowledgeand ability to treat his patient. He was troubled with a nervousdepression, which tempted him to send for help, and he turned towhite-faced, red-eyed Aunt Hannah. 

"I'm afraid I'm not treating him correctly, " he whispered. "I think Iwill send Bruff over to the station to telegraph for help. "

But Aunt Hannah shook her head. 

"If you cannot cure him, dear, " she said firmly, "no one can. No, donot send. "

"But he is so very bad, " whispered the doctor; "and when this feverpasses off he will be as weak as a babe. "

"Then we must nurse him back to strength, " said Aunt Hannah. "No, dear, don't send. It is not a case of doubt. You know exactly what is thematter, and of course how to treat him for the best. "

The doctor was silenced and stood at the foot of the bed, while AuntHannah laid her cool, soft hand upon the sufferer's burning brow. 

Neither aunt nor uncle troubled to think much about the causes of theboy's injuries; their thoughts were directed to the nursing and tryingto allay the feverish symptoms, for the doctor was compelled to own thathis nephew's condition was grave, the injuries being bad enough alonewithout the exposure to the long hours of a misty night just on themargin of a moor. 

It was not alone in the chamber that sympathetic conversation went on, for work was almost at a standstill in house and garden. For the threeservants talked together, as they found out how much Vane had had to dowith their daily life, and what a blank his absence on a bed of sicknesshad caused. 

"Oh, dear!" sighed Martha, "poor, poor fellow!"

The tears were rolling down her cheeks, and to keep up an ample supplyof those signs of sorrow she took a very long sip of warm tea, for thepot had been kept going almost incessantly since Vane had been borne upto his bed. 

"Yes, it is. --Oh, dear, " sighed Eliza. "Poor dear! Only to think of itand him only as you may say yesterday alive and well. "

"Ay, and so it is, and so it always will be, " said Bruff, who wasstanding by the kitchen-door turning some ale round and round in thebottom of a mug. 

"Ah!" sighed Martha. 

"Ah, indeed!" sighed Eliza. 

"And me so ready to make a fuss about the poor dear because he'd made alitter sometimes with his ingenuous proceedings. "

"And me too, " sighed Eliza, "and ready to bite my very tongue off nowfor saying the things I did. "

"Yes, as Mr Syme says, we're a many of us in black darkness, " mutteredBruff. "Why, that there hot-water apparatus is a boon and a blessin' tomen, as the song says. "

"About the pens?" added Eliza. 

"You can most see the things grow. "

"Ah, " sighed Martha. 

"He weer as reight as reight. It was all them turning off thescape-yokes. "

"And Missus forgetting to tell Martha about not lighting the fire. "

"And if he'd only get well again, " sobbed Martha, wiping her eyes, "thebiler might be busted once a week, and not a word would I say. "

"No, " sighed Bruff giving his ale another twist round and slowly pouringit down his throat. "There's a rose tree in the garden as he buddedhisself, though I always pretended it was one of my doing, and sorry Iam now. "

"Ah, " sighed Martha, "we all repents when it's too late. "

Pop!

A cinder flew out of the fire on to the strip of carpet lying across thehearth, and a pungent odour of burning wool arose. But Bruff stoopeddown and using his hardened fingers as tongs, picked up the cinder andtossed it inside the fender. 

Martha started as the cinder flew out and looked aghast at Eliza, herruddy face growing mottled, while the housemaid's cheeks were waxen asthe maids gave themselves up to the silly superstition that, like manymore, does not die hard but absolutely refuses to die at all. 

"Oh, my poor dear!" cried Martha, sobbing aloud, while Eliza buried herface in her apron, and the reason thereof suddenly began to dawn uponBruff, who turned to the fireplace again, stooped down and carefullypicked up the exploded bubble of coke and gas, turned it over two orthree times, and then by a happy inspiration giving it a shake andproducing a tiny tinkling noise. 

Bruff's face expanded into a grin. 

"Why, it aren't, " he cried holding out the cinder; "it's a puss o'money. "

"No, no, " sighed Martha, "that isn't the one. "

"That it is, " cried Bruff, sturdily. "I'm sure on it. Look 'Liza. "

The apron was slowly drawn away from the girl's white face and she fixedher eyes on the hollow cinder, but full of doubt. 

"It is. Hark!" cried Bruff, and he shook the cinder close to Eliza'sear. "Can't you hear?"

"It does tinkle, " she said. "But are you sure that's the one?"

"Of course I am, and it's a sign as he'll get well again, and be richand happy. "

"No, no; that isn't the one, that isn't the one, " sobbed Martha. 

"Tell you it is, " cried Bruff so fiercely that the cook doubtingly tookthe piece of cinder, shook it, and by degrees a smile spread over hercountenance and she rose and put the scrap on the chimney-piece betweentwo bright brass candlesticks. 

"For luck, " she said; and this time she wiped her eyes dry and examineda saucepan of beef tea which she had stewed down. "In case it'swanted, " she said confidentially, though there was not the slightestlikelihood thereof for some time to come. 

"Well, " said Bruff at last, "I suppose I had better go out to work. "

But he only looked out of the kitchen window at the garden and shook hishead. 

"Don't seem to hev no 'art in it, " he said, looking from one to theother, as if this were quite a new condition for him to be in. "Seemsto miss him so, and look wheer you will theer's a something as puts youin mind of him. Well, all I says is this, and both of you may hear it, only let him get well and he may do any mortal thing in my garden, and Iwon't complain. "

Bruff took up his mug, looked inside it, and set it down again with afrown. 

"My missus is coming up to see if she can do owt for you 's afternoon. "

"Ah!" sighed cook, "you never know what neighbours is till you're introuble, 'Liza. "

"No. "

"Go up, soft like, and ask missus if I may send her a cup o' tea. "

"No, " said Eliza, decisively; "pour one out and I'll take it up. And Isay, dear, you know what a one master is for it; why don't you send himup the little covered basin o' beef tea. There, I'll go and put anapkin over a tray. "

Perhaps it was due to being called "dear, " perhaps to the fact there wasan outlet for the strong beef tea she had so carefully prepared; at anyrate Martha smiled and went to the cupboard for the pepper, and then tothe salt-box, to season the beef tea according to her taste. 

Five minutes later the tray was borne up with the herbaceous and theflesh tea, and in addition some freshly-made crisp brown toast. 

The refreshments were most welcome, for both the doctor and Aunt Hannahwere exhausted and faint, and as soon as they were alone again, andEliza gone down with the last bulletin, Aunt Hannah shed a few tears. 

"So sympathetic and thoughtful of the servants, dear, " she said. 

The doctor nodded, and then as he dipped the dry toast in the beef teahe thought to himself that Vane had somehow managed to make himself afriend everywhere. 

But an enemy, too, he thought directly after, and he set himself to tryand think out who it could be--an occupation stopped by messengers fromthe rectory, Gilmore, Distin and Macey having arrived to ask how thepatient was getting on. While on their way back, they met Bates, theconstable, looking very solemn as he saluted them and went on, thinkinga great deal, but waiting until Vane recovered his senses beforeproceeding to act. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

VANE RECOLLECTS. 

"Hah, that's better, " said the doctor one fine morning, "feel stronger, don't you?"

"Oh yes, uncle, " said Vane rather faintly, "only my head feels weak andstrange, and as if I couldn't think. "

"Then don't try, " said the doctor, and for another day or two Vane waskept quiet. 

But all the time there was a curious mental effervescence going on asthe lad lay in bed, the object of every one's care; and until he couldclearly understand why he was there, there was a constant strain andworry connected with his thoughts. 

"Give him time, " the doctor used to say to Aunt Hannah, "and haveconfidence in his medical man. When nature has strengthened him enoughhis mind will be quite clear. "

"But are you sure, dear?" said Aunt Hannah piteously; "it would be sosad if the poor fellow did not quite recover his memory. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the doctor, "this comes of having some one you knowby heart for medical attendant. You wouldn't have asked Doctor White orDoctor Black such a question as that. "

"It is only from anxiety, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah; "I have perfectconfidence in you. It is wonderful how he is improved. "

Just then two visitors arrived in the shape of Gilmore and Macey. 

They had come to make inquiries on account of the rector, they said; andon hearing the doctor's report, Macey put in a petition on his ownaccount. 

"Let you go up and sit with him a bit?" said the doctor. "Well, Ihardly know what to say. He knows us now; but will you promise to bevery quiet?"

"Oh, of course, sir, " cried Macey. 

"I can't let two go up, " said the doctor. 

Macey looked at Gilmore. 

"I'll give way if you'll promise to let me have first turn next time. "

"Agreed, " said Macey; and Gilmore went off back to give the doctor'sreport to the rector, while Macey was led upstairs gently by AuntHannah, and after again promising to be very quiet, let into Vane'sroom, and the door closed behind him. 

Vane was lying, gazing drowsily at the window, but the closing of thedoor made him turn his eyes toward the new comer, when his face lit updirectly. 

"What, Aleck!" he said faintly. 

"What, old Weathercock!" cried Macey, running to the bed. "Oh, I say, old chap, it does one good to see you better, I say you're going to bequite well now, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am better. But have they caught them?"

"Eh? Caught what?"

"Those two young scoundrels of gipsies, " said Vane quickly. Then, as herealised what he had said, he threw his arms out over the sheet. "Why, that's what I've been trying to think of for days, and now it's come. Have they caught them?"

"What for?" said Macey, wonderingly. 

"For knocking me about as they did. They ought to be punished; I'vebeen very ill, haven't I?"

"Awful, " said Macey, quickly. "But, I say, was it those two chaps?"

Vane looked at him half wonderingly. 

"Yes, of course, " he said. "I remember it all now. It's just as if acloud had gone away from the back of my head, and I could see clearlyright back now. "

"Why did they do it?" cried Macey, speaking out, but feeling dubious, for Vane's manner was rather strange, and he might still be wandering. 

"I don't know, " said Vane; "I was getting truffles for uncle when theycame along, and it was fists against sticks. They won, I suppose. "

"Well, rather so I think, " said Macey, edging toward the door. 

"Don't go, old chap. You've only just come. "

"No, but you're talking too much, and you're to be kept quiet. "

"Well, I'm lying quiet. But, tell me, have they caught those twofellows for knocking me about last night?"

"No, not yet; and I must go now, old fellow. "

"But tell me this: What did Syme say this morning because I didn'tcome?"

"Oh, nothing much; he was tackling me. I got it horribly for being sostupid. "

"Not you. But tell him I shall be back in the morning. "

"All right. Good-bye. "

They shook hands, and Macey hurried down to the doctor and Mrs Lee. 

"Here, he's ever so much better and worse, too, sir, " cried Macey. 

The doctor started up in alarm. 

"Oh, no, sir; he's quiet enough, but he thinks it was only last nightwhen he was knocked about. "

"Convalescents are often rather hazy about their chronology, " said thedoctor. 

"But he's clear enough in one thing, sir; he says it was the two gipsylads who set upon him with sticks. "

"Ah!" cried the doctor. 

"And I came down to ask you if these two fellows ought not to becaught. "

"Yes, yes, of course, " cried the doctor. "But first of all we must besure whether he is quite clear in his head. This may be an illusion. "

"Well, sir, it may be, " replied Macey, "but if I'd had such a knockingabout as poor Vane, I shouldn't make any mistake about it as soon as Icould begin to think. "

"Stay here, " said the doctor. "I'll go up and see him. "

He went up and all doubt about his nephew's clearness of memory was atan end, for Vane began at once. 

"I've been lying here some time, haven't I, uncle?"

"Yes, my boy; a long while. "

"I was very stupid just now when Macey was here. It seemed to me thatit was only last night that I was in the wood getting truffles, whenthose two gipsy lads attacked me, but, of course, I've been very illsince. "

"Yes, my boy, very. "

"The young scoundrels! There was the basket and trowel, I remember. "

"Yes, my boy, they brought them home. "

"That's right. It was your little bright trowel, and--oh, of course Iremember that now. I was taking the bottle of liniment, and one of thelad's sticks struck me on the breast, where I had the bottle in mypocket, and shivered it. "

"Struck you with his stick?"

"Yes. I made as hard a fight of it as I could, but they were too muchfor me. "

"Don't think about it any more now, but try and have a nap, " said thedoctor quietly. "I want to go down. "

Vane sighed. 

"What's the matter, boy, fresh pain?"

"No, I was thinking what a trouble I am to you, uncle. "

"Trouble, boy? Why, it's quite a treat, " said the doctor, laughing. "Iwas quite out of practice, and I'm in your debt for giving me a littlework. "

"Don't thank me, uncle, " said Vane with a smile, though it was only theshadow of his usual hearty laugh. "I wouldn't have given you the job ifI could have helped it. "

The doctor nodded, patted the boy's shoulder and went down, for Vane inhis weakness willingly settled himself off to sleep, his eyes beinghalf-closed as the doctor shut the door. 

"Well, sir, " cried Macey, eagerly, as the doctor entered thedrawing-room, "he's all right in the head again, isn't he?"

"I don't think there's a doubt of it, my lad, " said the doctor. "Youare going close by, will you ask the policeman to come down?"

"Yes; I'll tell him, " cried Macey, eagerly. 

"No, no, leave me to tell him. I would rather, " said the doctor, "because I must speak with some reserve. It is not nice to arrestinnocent people. "

"But I may tell Mr Syme and Gilmore?"

"Oh, yes, you can tell what you know, " replied the doctor; and, satisfied with this concession, Macey rushed off. 

As he reached the lane leading to the rectory, habit led him up it a fewyards. Then recollecting himself, he was turning back when he caughtsight of Distin and Gilmore coming toward him, and he waited till theycame up. 

"It's all right, " he cried. "Vane knows all about it now, and he toldme and the doctor who it is that he has to thank for the knockingabout. "

"What! he knows?" cried Distin, eagerly; and Gilmore caught hiscompanion's arm. 

"Yes, " he cried, catching Distin's arm in turn, "come on with me. "

"Where to?" said Distin, starting. 

"To the police--to old Bates. "

Distin gave Macey a curious look, and then walked on beside him, Maceyrepeating all he knew as they went along toward Bates' cottage, wherethey found the constable looking singularly unofficial, for he was inhis shirt-sleeves weeding his garden. 

"Want me, gents?" he said with alacrity as he rose and looked from oneto the other, his eyes resting longest upon Distin, as if he had somedoubt about him that he could not clear up. 

"We don't, but the doctor does, " cried Macey. "I've just come fromthere. "

"Phee-ew!" whistled the constable. "They been at his fowls again? No;they'd have known in the morning. Why--no--yes--you don't mean to sayas Mr Vane's come round enough to say who knocked him about?"

"The doctor told me to tell you he wanted you to step down to see him, "said Macey coolly; "so look sharp. "

The constable ran to the pump to wash his hands, and five minutes afterhe was on the way to the Little Manor. 

"I'm wrong, " he muttered as he went along--"ever so wrong. Somehow youcan't be cock-sure about anything. I could ha' sweered as thatyallow-faced poople had a finger in it, for it looked as straight asstraight; but theer, it's hard work to see very far. Now, let's hearwhat the doctor's got to say. "

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

ROWING SUPERSEDED. 

"That there Mr Distin 'll have his knife into me for what I said abouthim. Oh, dear me, what a blunder I did make!"

"Yes, wrong as wrong, " said Constable Bates, as he came away from theLittle Manor, "and me niver to think o' they two lungeing looking youngdogs. Why, of course it was they. I can see it clear now, as clear--achild could see it. Well, I'll soon run them down. "

Easier said than done, for the two gipsy lads seemed to have droppedquite out of sight, and in spite of the help afforded by members of theconstabulary all round the county the two furtive, weasel-like youngscamps could not be heard of. They and their gang had apparentlymigrated to some distant county, and the matter was almost forgotten. 

"It doesn't matter, " Vane said, as he grew better. "I don't want topunish the scamps, I want to finish my boat;" and as soon as he grewstrong he devoted all his spare time to the new patent water-walker asMacey dubbed it, and at which Distin now and then delivered a covertsneer. 

For this scheme was the outcome of the unfortunate ride on the riverthat day when Vane sat dreaming in the boat and watching the laboriouswork of those who wielded the oars and tried to think out a means ofsending a boat gliding through the water almost without effort. 

He had thought over what had already been done as far as he knew, andpondered over paddle-wheels and screws with the mighty engines which setthem in motion, but his aquatic mechanism must need neither fire norsteam. It must be something simple, easily applicable to a small boat, and either depend upon a man's arm or foot, as in the treadle of alathe, or else be a something that he could wind up like old Chakes didthe big clock, with a great winch key, and then go as long as he liked. 

It took so much thinking, and he was so silent indoors, that Aunt Hannahtold the doctor in confidence one night that she was sure poor Vane wassickening for something, and she was afraid that it was measles. 

"Yes, " said the doctor with a laugh, "sort of mental measles. You'llsee he will break out directly with a rash--"

"Oh, my dear, " cried Aunt Hannah, "then hadn't he better be kept in awarm bed?"

"Hannah, my beloved wife, " said the doctor, solemnly, "is it not timeyou learned to wait till your ill-used husband has finished his speechbefore you interrupt him? I was saying break out directly with a rashdesire to spend more money upon a whim-wham to wind up the sun. "

"Ah, now you are joking, " said Aunt Hannah. "Then you do not think heis going to be ill again?"

"Not a bit. "

It all came out in a day or two, and after listening patiently to thewhole scheme--

"Well, " said the doctor, "try, only you are not to go beyond five poundsfor expenses. "

"Then you believe in it, uncle, " cried Vane, excitedly. 

"I am not going to commit myself, boy, " said the doctor. "Try, and ifyou succeed you may ride us up and down the river as often as you like. "

Vane went off at once to begin. 

"Five pounds, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, shaking her head, "and you donot believe in it. Will it not be money wasted. "

"Not more so than five pounds spent in education, " replied the doctor, stoutly. "The boy has a turn for mechanics, so let him go on. He'llfail, but he will have learned a great deal about ics, while he has beenamusing himself for months. "

"About Hicks?" said Aunt Hannah, innocently, "is he some engineer?"

"Who said _Hicks_?" cried the doctor, "I said ics--statics, and dynamicsand hydraulics, and the rest of their nature's forces. "

"Oh, " said Aunt Hannah, "I understand, " which can only be looked upon asa very innocent fib. 

Meanwhile Vane had hurried down to the mill, for five pounds does not govery far in mechanism, and there would be none to spare for the purchaseof a boat. 

"Hallo, squire, " roared the miller, who saw him as he approached thelittle bridge, "you're too late. "

"What for--going out?"

"Going out? What, with all this water on hand. Nay, lad, mak' your haywhile the sun shines. Deal o' grinding to do a day like this. "

"Then why did you say I was too late?" said Vane. 

"For the eels running. They weer coming down fast enew last night. Gotthe eel trap half full. Come and look. "

He led the way down through a flap in the floor to where, in acellar-like place close to the big splashing mill wheel, there was a tubhalf full of the slimy creatures, anything but a pleasant-looking sight, and Vane said so. 

"Reight, my lad, " said the miller, "but you wait till a basketful goesup to the Little Manor and your Martha has ornamented 'em with eggs andcrumbs and browned 'em and sent 'em up on a white napkin, with goodparsley. Won't be an unpleasant sight then, eh? Come down to fish?"

"No, " said Vane, hesitating now. 

"Oh, then, you want the boat?"

"Yes, it was about the boat. "

"Well, lad, there she is chained to the post. You're welcome, onlydon't get upset again and come back here like drowned rats. "

"I don't want to row, " said Vane. "I--er--that is--oh, look here, MrRounds, " he cried desperately, "you can only say no. I am inventing aplan for moving boats through the water without labour. "

"Well, use the oars; they aren't labour. "

"But I mean something simpler or easier. "

"Nay, theer aren't no easier way unless you tak a canoe and paddle. "

"But I'm going to invent an easier way, and I want you to lend me theboat for an experiment. "

"What!" roared the miller, "you want to coot my boat to pieces for somenew fad o' yourn. Nay, lad, it aren't likely. "

"But I don't want to cut it up. "

"Say, coot, lad, coot; don't chop your words short; sounds as if youwere calling puss wi' your cat. "

"Well, then I don't want to coot up the boat, only to fit my machine inwhen it's ready, and propel the boat that way. "

"Oh, I see, " said the miller, scratching his big head. "You don't wantto coot her aboot. "

"No, not at all; I won't even injure the paint. "

"Hum, well, I don't know what to say, lad. You wouldn't knock heraboot?"

"No; only bring my machine and fit it somewhere in the stern. "

"Sort o' windmill thing?"

"Oh, no. "

"Oh, I see, more like my water-mill paddles, eh?"

"Well, I don't quite know yet, " said Vane. 

"What, aren't it ready?"

"No; I haven't begun. "

"Oh. Mebbe it never will be. "

"Oh, yes, I shall finish it, " said Vane. 

"Hey, what a lad thou art for scheming things; I wish you'd mak' me athing to grind corn wi'out weering all the face off the stones, so asthey weant bite. "

"Perhaps I will some day. "

"Ay, there'd be some sense in that, lad. Well, thou alway was a lad o'thy word when I lent you the boat, so you may have her when you like;bood I'll lay a wager you don't get a machine done as'll row the boatwi' me aboard. "

"We'll see, " cried Vane, excitedly. 

"Ay, we will, " said the miller. "Bood, say, lad, what a one thou artfor scheming! I say I heered some un say that it was one o' thy tricksthat night when church clock kep' on striking nine hundred and nineteento the dozen. "

"Well, Mr Round--"

"I know'd: thou'd been winding her oop wi' the kitchen poker, or somegame o' that sort, eh?"

"No, I only tried to clean the clock a little, and set it going again. "

"Ay, and left all ta wheels out. Haw--haw--haw!"

The miller's laugh almost made the mill boards rattle. 

"I say, don't talk about it, Mr Round, " cried Vane; "and, really, Ionly forgot two. "

The miller roared again. 

"On'y left out two! Hark at him! Why, ivery wheel has some'at to dowi' works. Theer, I weant laugh at thee, lad, only don't fetch us alloot o' bed another night, thinking the whole plaace is being bont abootour ears. Theer tak' the boat when you like; you're welcome enew. "

Vane went off in high glee, and that day he had long interviews withWrench the carpenter, and the blacksmith, who promised to work out hisideas as soon as he gave them models or measurements, both declaringthat they had some splendid "stooff" ready to "wuck off, " and Vane wentback to his own place and gave every spare moment to his idea. 

That propeller took exactly two months to make, for the workmen alwaysmade the parts entrusted to them either too short or too long, and infact just as a cobbler would make a boot that ought to have been thework of a skilful veteran. 

"It's going to be a rum thing, " said Macey, who helped a great deal bystrolling down from the rectory, sitting on a box, and drumming hisheels on the side, while he made disparaging remarks, and said that thewhole affair was sure to fail. 

The doctor came in too, and nodded as the different parts wereexplained; but as the contrivance was worked out, Vane found that he hadto greatly modify his original ideas; all the same though, he brought somuch perseverance to bear that the blacksmith's objections were alwaysoverridden, and Wrench the carpenter's growls suppressed. 

One of the greatest difficulties encountered was the making the machineso self-contained that it could be placed right in the stern of the boatwithout any need for nails or stays. 

But Vane had a scheme for every difficulty, and at last the day camewhen the new propeller was set up in the little workshop, and Distin, brought by curiosity, accompanied Gilmore and Macey to the induction. 

Vane was nervous enough, but proud, as he took his fellow-pupils intothe place, and there, in the middle, fixed upon a rough, heavy bench, stood the machine. 

"Why, you never got that made for five pounds?" cried Gilmore. 

"N-no, " said Vane, wincing a little, "I'm afraid it will cost nearlyfifteen. I had to make some alterations. "

"Looks a rum set-out, " continued Gilmore, and Distin stood and smiled. "Oh, I say, while I remember, " cried Gilmore, "there was a little girlwanted you this morning, Dis. Said she had a message for you. "

"Oh, yes, I saw her, " said Distin, nonchalantly. "Begging--I saw her. "

"She'll always be following you, " said Macey. "Why, that makes fourtimes she has been after you, Dis. "

"Oh, well, poor thing, what can one do, " said Distin, hurriedly; "somemother or sister very ill, I believe. But I say, Vane, " he continued, as if eager to change the conversation, "where is this thing to go?"

"In the stern of the boat. "

"Stern? Why, it will fill the boat, and there will not be room foranything else. "

"Oh, but the future ones will be made all of iron, and not take up halfthe space. "

Gilmore touched a lever and moved a crank. 

"Don't, don't, " yelled Macey, running to the door, "it will go off. "

There was a roar of laughter, in which all joined, and Vane explainedthe machine a little more, and above all that this was only a tentativeidea and just to see if the mechanism would answer its purpose. 

"But, I say, " cried Gilmore, "it looks like a wooden lathe made to turnwater. "

"Or a mangle, " said Distin, with a sneer of contempt. 

"Wrong, both of you, " cried Macey, getting toward the door, so as to beable to escape if Vane tried to get at him. "I'll tell you what it'slike--a knife-grinder's barrow gone mad. "

"All right, " said Vane, "laugh away. Wait till you see how it works. "

"When are you going to try it?" said Gilmore. 

"To-morrow afternoon. Mr Round's going to send a cart for it and fourof his men to get it down. "

"We will be there, " said Macey with a scowl such as would be assumed bythe wicked man in a melodrama, and then the workshop was locked up. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

TRYING AN EXPERIMENT. 

"Pray, pray, be careful, Vane, my dear, " cried Aunt Hannah, the nextafternoon, when the new propeller had been carefully lifted on to themiller's cart, and the inventor rushed in to say good-bye and ask thedoctor and his aunt to come down for the trial, which would take placein two hours' time exactly. 

Then he followed the cart, but only to be overtaken by the rector'sother three pupils, Macey announcing that Mr Syme was going to followshortly. 

Vane did not feel grateful, and he would have rather had the trial allalone, but he was too eager and excited to mind much, and soon after theboat was drawn up to the side of the staging, at the end of the dam, theponderous affair lifted from the cart, and the miller came out to formone of the group of onlookers. 

"Why, hey, Vane Lee, my lad, she's too big enew. She'll sink the boat. "

"Oh, no, " cried Vane. "It looks heavier than it is. "

"Won't be much room for me, " said the miller, with a chuckle. 

"You mustn't come, " cried Vane in alarm. "Only Macey and I are going inthe boat. We work the pedals and hand cranks. This is only anexperiment to see if it will go. "

"Hey bood she'll goo reight enew, " said the miller, seriously, "if I getin. Reight to the bottom, and the mill 'll be to let. "

There was a roar of laughter at this, and Macey whispered:--

"I say, Weathercock, if they're going to chaff like this I shall cutoff. "

"No, no, don't be a coward, " whispered back Vane; "it's only their fun. It don't hurt. "

"Oh, doesn't it. I feel as if gnats were stinging me. "

"That theer boat 'll never carry her, my lad, " said the miller. 

"It will, I tell you, " cried Vane, firmly. 

"Aw reight. In wi' her then, and when she's at the bottom you can comeand fish for her. It's straange and deep down there. "

"Now then, ready?" cried Vane after a due amount of preparation. 

An affirmative answer was given; the frame-work with its cranks wascarefully lifted on to the platform and lowered into the boat's stern, which it fitted exactly, and Vane stepped in, and by the help of ascrew-hammer fitted some iron braces round the boat, screwed them uptightly. The machine was fairly fixed in its place and looked extremelytop-heavy, and with Vane in the stern as well, sent the boat's gunwaledown within four inches of the surface and the bows up correspondinglyhigh. 

By this time the rector and the Little Manor people had arrived, whilequite a little crowd from the town had gathered to stand on the edge ofthe dam and for the most part grin. 

"There, " said Vane as he stood up covered with perspiration from hisefforts. "That's about right. In a boat made on purpose the machinewould be fitted on the bottom and be quite out of the way. "

"Couldn't be, lad, " said the miller. "But goo on, I want to see hermove. "

"Wish there was another boat here, Gil, " said Distin. "You and I wouldrace them. "

"Let them talk, " said Vane, to encourage Macey, who looked very solemn, and as he spoke he carefully examined the two very small paddles whichdropped over each side, so arranged that they should, when worked by thecranks and hand levers, churn up the water horizontally instead ofvertically like an ordinary paddle wheel. 

There were a good many other little things to do, such as driving in afew wedges between the frame-work and side of the boat, to get allfirmer, but Vane had come provided with everything necessary, and whenhe could no longer delay the start, which he had put off as long aspossible, and when it seemed as if Macey would be missing if theystopped much longer, the lad rose up with his face very much flushed andspoke out frankly and well, explaining that it was quite possible thathis rough machine would not work smoothly at first, but that if theprinciple was right he would soon have a better boat and machine. 

Hereupon Gilmore cried, "Hooray!" and there was a hearty cheer, accompanied by a loud tapping of the rector's walking stick, on thewooden gangway. 

"Now, Vane, lad, we're getting impatient, " cried the doctor, who wasnearly as anxious as his nephew. "Off with you!"

"Well said, doctor, " cried the miller; "less o' the clapper, my lads, and more of the spinning wheels and stones. "

"Ready, Macey?" whispered Vane. 

"No, " was whispered back. 

"Why?"

"I'm in such an awful stew. "

"Get out. It's all right. Now then. You know. Come down and sit inyour place steadily. "

Macey stepped down into the boat, which gave a lurch, and went very nearthe water, as far as the gunwale was concerned. 

"Hi theer; howd hard, " cried the miller; "he's too heavy. Coom out, lad, and I'll tak thy place. "

There was another roar of laughter at this. 

"Oh, I say, Mr Round, don't chaff us or we can't do it, " whispered Vaneto the jolly-looking great twenty-stone fellow. 

"Aw reight, lad. I'll be serious enew now. Off you go! Shall I giveyou a shove?"

"No, " said Vane. "I want to prove the boat myself. Now, Macey, you sitstill till I've worked her round even, and then when I say off, you keepon stroke for stroke with me. "

"All right, " cried Macey, and Vane began to work his crank and paddle onthe boat's starboard side with the result that they began to move andcurve round. Then, applying more force and working hard, he gavehimself too much swing in working his lever, with the result that hisside rose a little. In the midst of the cheering that had commenced thelittle horizontal paddle came up level with the surface, spun round at agreat rate, and sent a tremendous shower of spray all over those on thegangway, Distin getting the worst share, and in his effort to escape itnearly going off into the dam. 

"You did that on purpose, " he roared furiously, his voice rising abovethe shout of laughter. 

"Oh, I've had enough of this, " said Macey. "Let me get out. "

"No, no, sit still. It's all right, " whispered Vane. Then, aloud, "Ididn't, Dis, it was an accident. All right, Aleck, keep the boat level. Now we're straight for the river. Work away. "

Macey tugged at his lever and pushed with his feet; his paddle nowrevolved, and though the boat swayed dangerously, and Aunt Hannah was inagony lest it should upset, the paddles kept below the surface, andcheer after cheer arose. 

For the two lads, in spite of the clumsiness and stiffness of themechanism, were sending the boat steadily right out of the dam and intothe river, where they ran it slowly for some four hundred yards beforethey thought it time to turn, and all the while with a troop of lads andmen cheering with all their might. 

"Sit steady; don't sway, " said Vane, "she's rather top-heavy. "

"I just will, " responded Macey. "She'd be over in a moment. But, Isay, isn't it hard work?"

"The machinery's too stiff, " said Vane. 

"My arms are, " said Macey, "and I don't seem to have any legs. "

"Never mind. "

"But I do. "

"Stop now, " said Vane, and the boat glided on a little way and then thestream checked her entirely, right in the middle. 

"That's the best yet, " said Macey, with a sigh of relief. 

But there was no rest for him. 

"Now, " cried Vane, "we're going back. "

"Can't work 'em backwards. "

"No, no, forward, " said Vane. "I'll work backwards. Work away. "

Macey obeyed, and a fresh burst of cheers arose as, in obedience to thereverse paddling, the boat turned as if on a pivot. Then as soon as itwas straight for the mill, Vane reversed again, and accompanied by theirsympathisers on the bank and working as hard as they could, the twoengineers sent the boat slowly along, right back into the pool, and byjudicious management on Vane's part, alongside of the wooden stagingwhich acted as a bridge to the mill on its little island. 

Here plenty more cheers saluted the navigators. 

"Bravo! bravo!" cried the rector. 

"Well done, Vane, " cried the doctor. 

"Viva, " shouted Distin, with a sneering look at Vane, who winced as ifit had been a physical stab, and he did not feel the happier for knowingthat the cheers were for nothing, since he did not want Macey's words totell him that his machine was a failure from the amount of labourrequired. 

"Why, I could have taken the boat there and back home myself with a pairof sculls, and nearly as fast again, " whispered the boy. 

It was quite correct, and Vane felt anything but happy, as he stepped onto the top of the camp-shed, where the others were. 

"Can't wark it by mysen, " said the miller. "Won't join me, I suppose, doctor?"

"Any one else, not you, " said the doctor, merrily. 

"Come, " said the rector, "another trial. Gilmore, Distin, you have aturn. "

"All right, sir, " cried Gilmore, getting into the boat; "come on, Dis. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said the young creole. 

"He's afraid, " said Macey, mischievously, and just loud enough forDistin to hear. 

The latter darted a furious look at him, and then turned to Gilmore. 

"Oh, very well, " he said in a careless drawl. "I don't mind having atry. "

"It'll take some of the fat conceit out of him, Weathercock, " saidMacey, wiping his streaming brow. "Oh, I say, I am hot. "

Gilmore had taken off his jacket and vest before getting into the boat. Distin kept his on, and stepped down, while Vane held the boat's sidefrom where he kneeled on the well-worn planks. 

"Take off your things, man, " said Gilmore, as Distin sat down. 

"Work the levers steadily, Gil, " said Vane. 

"All right, old fellow. "

"I dare say we can manage; thank you, " said Distin, in a low, sarcastictone, meant for Vane's ears alone, for, saving the miller, the otherswere chatting merrily about the success of the trial. "It does not seemto be such a wonderfully difficult piece of performance. "

"It isn't, " said Vane, frankly. "Only trim the boat well she'stop-heavy. "

"Thank you once more, " said Distin, as he took off jacket and vest, andbegan to fold them. 

"I'll give her head a push off, " said Vane, taking up the boat-hook andbeginning to thrust the boat's head out so that the fresh engineerscould start together. 

"Thank you again, " said Distin, sarcastically, as the bows went round, and Vane after sending the prow as far as he could, ran and caught thestern, and drew that gently round till the boat was straight for theriver and gliding forward. 

"Ready, Dis?" said Gil, who had hold of his lever, and foot on thetreadle he had to work. 

"One moment, " said Distin, rising in the boat to place his carefullyfolded clothes behind him, and it was just as Vane gave the boat a finalthrust and sent it gliding. 

"Give us a shout, you fellows, " cried Gilmore. "Steady Dis!" he roared. 

"Hooray!" came from the little crowd. 

"Oh, what a lark!" shouted Macey, but Aunt Hannah uttered a shriek. 

Vane's thrust had not the slightest thing to do with the mishap, for theboat was already so crank that the leverage of Distin's tall body, as hestood up, was quite enough to make it settle down on one side. As thisdisturbed his balance, he made a desperate effort to recover himself, placed a foot on the gunwale, and the next moment, in the midst of thecheering, took a header right away into the deep water, while the boatgradually continued its motion till it turned gently over, and floatedbottom upwards, leaving Gilmore slowly swimming to the side, where heclung to the camp-shedding laughing, till it seemed as if he would losehis hold. 

"Help! help!" cried Aunt Hannah. 

"All right, ma'am, " said the miller, snatching the boat-hook from Vane. 

"Mr Distin! Mr Distin, " shrieked Aunt Hannah. 

The miller literally danced with delight. 

"Up again directly, ma'am, " he said, "only a ducking, and the water'sbeautifully clean. There he is, " he continued, as Distin's headsuddenly popped up with his wet black hair streaked over his forehead, and catching him deftly by the waistband of his trowsers with theboat-hook, the miller brought the panting youth to the gangway, andhelped him out. 

"You did that on purpose, " cried Distin, furiously; but the miller onlylaughed the more, and soon after the boat had been drawn to itsmoorings, and righted, it was chained up, so that it should do no moremischief, the miller said. 

That brought the experiment to a conclusion, and when the machine hadbeen taken back dry to the workshop, as it had been proved that it wasonly labour in a novel way and much increased, Vane broke it up, and thedoctor, when the bills were paid, said quietly:

"I think Vane will have a rest now for a bit. "

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

MONEY TROUBLES. 

"Going out, Vane?"

"Only to the rectory, uncle; want me?"

"No, my boy, no, " said the doctor, sadly. "Er--that is, I do want tohave a chat with you, but another time will do. "

"Hadn't you better tell me now, uncle, " said Vane. "I don't like to goon waiting and thinking that I have a scolding coming, and not know whatit's about. "

The doctor, who was going out into the garden, smiled as he turned, shook his head, and walked back to his chair. 

"You have not been doing anything, Vane, my lad, " he said quickly andsadly. "If anyone deserves a scolding it is I; and your auntpersistently refuses to administer it. "

"Of course, " said Aunt Hannah, looking up from her work, "you meant todo what was right, my dear. I am sorry more on your account than on myown, dear, " and she rose and went behind the doctor's chair to place herhands on his shoulder. 

He took them both and pressed them together to hold them against hischeek. 

"Thank you, my dear, " he said, turning his head to look up in her eyes. "I knew it would make no difference in you. For richer or poorer, forbetter or worse, eh? There, go and sit down, my dear, and let's have achat with Vane here. "

Aunt Hannah bowed her head and went back to her place, but contrived sothat she might pass close to Vane and pass her hand through his curlyhair. 

"Vane, boy, " said the doctor sharply and suddenly, "I meant to send youto college for the regular terms. "

"Yes, uncle. "

"And then let you turn civil engineer. "

"Yes, uncle, I knew that, " said the lad, wonderingly. 

"Well, my boy, times are altered. I may as well be blunt andstraightforward with you. I cannot afford to send you to college, andyou will have to start now, beginning to earn your own living, insteadof five or six years hence. "

Vane looked blank and disappointed for a few moments, and then, as herealised that his aunt and uncle were watching the effect of thelatter's words keenly, his face lit up. 

"All right, uncle, " he said; "I felt a bit damped at first, for I don'tthink I shall like going away from home, but as to the other, thewaiting and college first, I shan't mind. I am sorry though that youare in trouble. I'm afraid I've been a great expense to you. "

"There, don't be afraid about that any longer, my boy, " said the doctor, rising. "Thank you, my lad--thank you. That was very frank and manlyof you. There, you need not say anything to your friends at present, and--I'll talk to you another time. "

The doctor patted Vane on the shoulder, then wrung his hand and hurriedout into the garden. 

"Why, auntie, what's the matter?" cried Vane, kneeling down by the oldlady's chair, as she softly applied her handkerchief to her eyes. 

"It's money, my dear, money, " she said, making an effort to be calm. "Idid hope that we were going to end our days here in peace, where, afterhis long, anxious toil in London, everything seems to suit your uncleso, and he is so happy with his botany and fruit and flowers; but Heavenknows what is best, and we shall have to go into quite a small cottagenow. "

"But I thought uncle was ever so rich, aunt, " cried Vane. "Oh, if I'dknown I wouldn't have asked him for money as I have for my schemes. "

"Oh, my dear, it isn't that, " cried Aunt Hannah. "I was always afraidof it, but I did not like to oppose your uncle. "

"It? What was it?" cried Vane. 

"Perhaps I ought not to tell you, dear, but I don't know. You must knowsome time. It was that Mr Deering. Your uncle has known him eversince they were boys at school together; and then Mr Deering, who is agreat inventor, came down and told your uncle that he had at last foundthe means of making his fortune over a mechanical discovery, if some onewould be security for him. Your uncle did not like to refuse. "

"Oh, dear!" muttered Vane. 

"You see it was not to supply him with money then, only to be security, so that other people would advance him money and enable him to start hisworks and pay for his patents. "

"Yes, aunt, I understand, " cried Vane. "And now--"

"His invention has turned out to be a complete failure, and your pooruncle will have to pay off Mr Deering's liabilities. When that isdone, I am afraid we shall be very badly off, my dear. "

"That you shan't, auntie, " cried Vane, quickly; "I'll work for you both, and I'll make a fortune somehow. I don't see why I shouldn't invent. "

"No, no, don't, boy, for goodness' sake, " said the doctor, who had heardpart of the conversation as he returned. "Let's have good hard work, mylad. Let someone else do the inventing. "

"All right, uncle, " said Vane, firmly; "I'll give up all my wild ideasnow about contriving things, and set to work. "

"That's right, boy, " said the doctor. "I'm rather sick of hearinginventions named. "

"Don't say that, dear, " said Aunt Hannah, quietly and firmly; "and Ishould not like all Vane's aspirations to be damped because Mr Deeringhas failed. Some inventions succeed: the mistake seems to me to be whenpeople take it for granted that everything must be a success. "

"Hear! hear!" cried the doctor, thumping the table. "Here hi! YouVane, why don't you cheer, sir, when our Queen of Sheba speaks suchwords of wisdom. Your aspirations shall not be stopped, boy. There, nomore words about the trouble. It's only the loss of money, and it hasdone me good. I was growing idle and dyspeptic. "

"You were not, dear, " said Aunt Hannah, decidedly. 

"Oh, yes, I was, my dear, and this has roused me up. There, I don'tcare a bit for the loss, since you two take it so bravely. And, perhapsafter all, in spite of all the lawyers say, matters may not turn outquite so badly. Deering says he shall come down, and I like that: it'shonourable and straightforward of him. "

"I wish he would not come, " said Aunt Hannah, "I wish we had never seenhis face. "

"No, no! tut, tut, " said the doctor. 

"I'm sure I shall not be able to speak civilly to him, " cried AuntHannah. 

"You will, dear, and you will make him as welcome as ever. Hismisfortune is as great as ours--greater, because he has the additionalcare of feeling that he has pretty well ruined us and poor Vane here. "

"Oh, it hasn't ruined me, uncle, " cried Vane. "I don't so much mindmissing college. "

"But, suppose I had some money to leave you, my boy, and it is allgone. "

"Oh, " cried Vane, merrily, "I'm glad of that. Mr Syme said one daythat he always pitied a young man who had expectations from his elders, for, no matter how true-hearted the heir might be, it was always apainful position for him to occupy, that of waiting for prosperity tillother people died. It was something like that, uncle, but I haven'tgiven it quite in his words. "

"Humph! Syme is a goose, " said the doctor, testily. "I'm sure younever wanted me dead, so as to get my money, Vane. "

"Why, of course not, uncle. I never thought about money except when Iwanted to pay old Wrench or Dance for something he made for me. "

"There, I move that this meeting be adjourned, " cried the doctor. "Onemoment, though, before it is carried unanimously. How will Aunt behaveto poor Deering, when he comes down. "

"Same as she behaves to every one, uncle, " cried Vane, laughing. 

"There, old lady, " said the doctor, "and as for the money, bah! let ittake wings and fly away, and--"

The doctor's further speech was checked by Aunt Hannah throwing her armsabout his neck and burying her face in his breast, while Vane made arush out into the garden and then ran rapidly down the avenue. 

"If I'd stopped a minute longer, I should have begun blubbering like agreat girl, " he muttered. "Why, hanged if my eyes aren't quite wet. "

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. 

Vane made his way straight to the rectory, with a fixed intention in hismind. The idea had been growing for days: now it was quite ripe, consequent, perhaps, on the state of mind produced by the scene at themanor. 

"It will be more frank and manly, " he said to himself. "He's differentto us and can't help his temper, so I'll look over everything, and say`what's the good of our being bad friends. Shake hands and forgive me. I'm a rougher, coarser fellow than you are, and I dare say I've oftensaid things that hurt you when I didn't mean it. '"

"Come, he can't get over that, " said Vane, half-aloud, and full ofeagerness to get Distin alone, he turned up the rectory lane, and cameat once upon Gilmore and Macey. 

"Hullo, Weathercock, " cried the latter, "which way does the wind blow?"

"Due east. "

"That's rectory way. "

"Yes; is Distie in?"

"No; what do you want with him. He doesn't want you. Come along withus, " said Gilmore. 

"No, I want to see Distie--which way did he go?"

"Toward the moor, " said Macey, with an air of mock mystery. "There'ssomething going on, old chap. "

"What do you mean?"

"A little girl came and waited about the gate till we were in thegrounds, and then she began to signal and I went to her. But she didn'twant me. She said she wanted to give this to that tall gentleman. "

"This?" said Vane. "What was this?"

"A piece of stick, with notches cut in it, " said Macey. 

"You're not chaffing, are you?"

"Not a bit of it. I went and told Distie, and he turned red as abubby-jock and went down to the gate, took the stick, stuck it in hispocket, and then marched off. "

"Why, what does that mean?" cried Vane. 

"I don't know, " said Macey. "Distie must belong to some mysterious bundor verein, as the Germans call it. Perhaps he's a Rosicrucian, or amember of a mysterious sect, and this was a summons to a meeting. "

"Get out, " cried Vane. 

"Well, are you coming with us? Aleck has had a big tip from home, andwants to spend it. "

"Yes; do come, Vane. "

"No, not to-day, " cried the lad, and he turned off and walked awaysharply to avoid being tempted into staying before he had seen Distin, and "had it out, " as he termed it. 

"Hi! Weathercock!" shouted Macey, "better stop. I've inventedsomething--want your advice. "

"Not to be gammoned, " shouted back Vane; and he went off at a sharptrot, leaped a stile and went on across the fields, his only aim beingto get away from his companions, but as soon as he was out of sight, hehesitated, stopped, and then went sharply off to his left. 

"I'll follow Distie, " he muttered. "The moor's a good place for a row. He can shout at me there, and get in a passion. Then he'll cool down, and we shall be all right again--and a good job too, " he added. "It isso stupid for two fellows studying together to be bad friends. "

By making a few short cuts, and getting over and through hedges, Vanemanaged to take a bee-line for the moor, and upon reaching it, he had agood look round, but there was no sign of Distin. 

"He may be lying down somewhere, " thought Vane, as he strode on, makinghis way across the moor in the direction of the wood, but still therewas no sign of Distin, even after roaming about for an hour, at timesscanning the surface of the long wild steep, at others following theline of drooping trees at the chalk-bank edge, but for the most partforgetting all about the object of his search, as his attention wastaken up by the flowers and plants around. There was, too, so much tothink about in the scene at home, that afternoon, and as he recalled itall, Vane set his teeth, and asked himself whether the time was notcoming when he must set aside boyish things, and begin to thinkseriously of his future as a man. 

He went on and on, so used to the moor that it seemed as if his legsrequired no guidance, but left his brain at liberty to think of otherthings than the course he was taking, while he wondered how long itwould be before he left Greythorpe, and whether he should have to go toLondon or some one of the big manufacturing towns. 

There was Mr Deering, too, ready to take up a good deal of his thought. And now it seemed cruel that this man should have come amongst them todisturb the current of a serene and peaceful life. 

"I think he ought to be told so, too, " said Vane to himself; "but Isuppose that it ought not to come from me. "

He had to pause for a few moments to extricate himself from a tangle ofbrambles consequent upon his having trusted his legs too much, and, looking up then, he found that he was a very short distance from theedge of the beech-wood, and a second glance showed him that he was verynear the spot where he had dug for the truffles, and then encounteredthe two gipsy lads. 

A feeling of desire sprang up at once in him to see the spot again, and, meaning to go in among the trees till he had passed over the ground onhis way along the edge of the wood to where he could strike across tothe deep lane, he waded over the pebbles of the little stream, dried hisboots in the soft, white sand on the other side, and ran lightly up thebank, to step at once in among the leaves and beech-mast. 

It was delightfully cool and shady after the hot sunshine of the moor, and he was winding in and out among the great, smooth tree-trunks, looking for the spot where he had had his struggle, when he fancied thathe heard the murmur of voices not far away. 

"Fancy--or wood pigeons, " he said to himself; and, involuntarilyimitating the soft, sweet _too roochetty coo roo_ of the birds, he wenton, but only to be convinced directly after that those were voices whichhe had heard; and, as he still went on in his course, he knew that, after all, he was going to encounter Distin, for it was undoubtedly hisvoice, followed by a heavy, dull utterance, like a thick, hoarsewhisper. 

Vane bore off a little to the left. His curiosity was deeply stirred, for he knew that Distin had received some kind of message, and he hadfollowed him, but it was with the idea of meeting him on his return. For he could not play the eavesdropper; and, feeling that he hadinadvertently come upon business that was not his, he increased hispace, only to be arrested by an angry cry, followed by these words, distinctly heard from among the trees:

"No, not another sixpence; so do your worst!"

The voice was Distin's, undoubtedly; and, as no more was said, Vanebegan to hurry away. He had nothing to do with Distin's money matters, and he was walking fast when there was the rapid beat of feet away tohis right, but parallel with the way he was going. Then there was arush, a shout, a heavy fall, and a half-smothered voice cried "Help!"

That did seem to be Vane's business, and he struck off to the rightdirectly, to bear through a denser part of the wood, and come to anopening, which struck him at once as being the one where he had had hisencounter with the gipsy lads. The very next moment, with every nervetingling, he was running toward where he could see his two enemieskneeling upon someone they had got down; and, though he could not seethe face, he knew it was Distin whom they were both thumping with alltheir might. 

"Now will you?" he heard, as he rushed forward toward the group, all ofwhose constituents were so much excited by their struggle that they didnot hear his approach. 

"No, " shouted Vane, throwing himself upon them, but not so cleverly ashe had meant, for his toe caught in a protruding root, and he pitchedforward more like a skittle-ball than a boy, knocking over the two gipsylads, and himself rolling over amongst the beech-mast and dead leaves. 

Distin's two assailants were so startled and astonished that they, too, rolled over and over hurriedly several times before they scrambled totheir feet, and dived in among the trees. 

But Vane was up, too, on the instant. 

"Here, Dis!" he shouted; "help me take them. "

Distin had risen, too, very pale everywhere in the face but about thenose, which was very ruddy, for reasons connected with a blow, but, asVane ran on, he did not follow. 

"Do you hear? Come on!" cried Vane, looking back. "Help me, and we cantake them both. "

But Distin only glanced round for a way of retreat, and, seeing thatVane was alone, the two gipsy lads dodged behind a tree, and cleverlykept it between them as he rushed on, and then sprang out at him, takinghim in the rear, and getting a couple of blows home as he turned todefend himself. 

"History repeats itself, " he muttered, through his set teeth; "but theyhaven't got any sticks;" and, determined now to make a prisoner of oneof them, he attacked fiercely, bringing to bear all the strength andskill he possessed, for there was no sign of shrinking on the part ofthe two lads, who came at him savagely, as if enraged at his robbingthem of their prey. 

There were no sticks now, as Vane had said; it was an attack withnature's weapons, but the two gipsy lads had had their tempers whettedin their encounter with Distin, and, after the first fright caused byVane's sudden attack, they met him furiously. 

They were no mean adversaries, so long as spirit nerved them, for theywere active and hard as cats, and had had a long experience in givingand taking blows. So that, full of courage and indignation as he was, Vane soon began to find that he was greatly overmatched, and, in themidst of his giving and taking, he looked about anxiously for Distin, but for some time looked in vain. 

All at once, though, as he stepped back to avoid a blow he saw Distinpeering round the trunk of one of the trees. 

"Oh, there you are, " he panted, "come on and help me. "

Distin did not stir, and one of the gipsy lads burst into a hoarselaugh. 

"Not he, " cried the lad. "Why, he give us money to leather you before. "

Distin made an angry gesture, but checked himself. 

"Take that for your miserable lie, " cried Vane, and his gift was astinging blow in the lad's mouth, which made him shrink away, and makeroom for his brother, who seized the opportunity of Vane's arm and bodybeing extended, to strike him full in the ear, and make him lose hisbalance. 

"'Tarn't a lie, " cried this latter. "He did give us three shillin'apiece to leather you. "

The lad speaking followed up his words with blows, and Vane was prettyhard set, while a conscious feeling of despair came over him on hearingof Distin's treachery. 

But he forced himself not to credit it, and struck out with all hismight. 

"I don't believe it, " he roared, "a gentleman wouldn't do such a thing. "

"But he aren't a gent, " said the first lad, coming on again, with hislips bleeding. "Promised to pay us well, and he weant. "

"Come and show them it's all a lie, Dis, " cried Vane, breathlessly. "Come and help me. "

But Distin never stirred. He only stood glaring at the scene beforehim, his lips drawn from his white teeth, and his whole aspectbetokening that he was fascinated by the fight. 

"Do you hear?" roared Vane at last, hoarsely. "You're never going to besuch a coward as to let them serve me as they did before. "

Still Distin did not stir, and a burst of rage made the blood flush toVane's temples, as he ground his teeth and raged out with:

"You miserable, contemptible cur!"

He forgot everything now. All sense of fear--all dread of being beatenby two against one--was gone, and as if he had suddenly become possessedwith double his former strength, he watchfully put aside several of thefierce blows struck at him, and dodged others, letting his opponentsweary themselves, while he husbanded his strength. 

It was hard work, though, to keep from exposing himself in some fit ofblind fury, for the lads, by helping each other, kept on administeringstinging blows, every one of which made Vane grind his teeth, and longto rush in and close with one or the other of his adversaries. 

But he mastered the desire, knowing that it would be fatal to success, for the gipsies were clever wrestlers, and would have the advantage, besides which, one of them could easily close and hold while the otherpunished him. 

"I wouldn't have believed it. I wouldn't have believed it, " he kept onmuttering as he caught sight of Distin's pallid face again and again, while avoiding the dodges and attempts to close on the part of thegipsies. 

At last, feeling that this could not go on, and weakened by his efforts, Vane determined to try, and, by a sudden rush, contrive to render one ofhis adversaries _hors de combat_, when, to his great delight, they bothdrew off, either for a few minutes' rest, or to concoct some fresh modeof attack. 

Whatever it might be, the respite was welcome to Vane, who tookadvantage of it to throw off his Norfolk jacket; but watching hisadversaries the while, lest they should make a rush while he wascomparatively helpless. 

But they did not, and tossing the jacket aside he rapidly rolled up hissleeves, and tightened the band of his trousers, feeling refreshed andstrengthened by every breath he drew. 

"Now, " he said to himself as the gipsies whispered together, "let themcome on. "

But they did not attack, one of them standing ready to make a rush, while the other went to the edge of the wood to reconnoitre. 

"It means fighting to the last then, " thought Vane, and a shiver ranthrough him as he recalled his last encounter. 

Perhaps it was this, and the inequality of the match which made him turnto where Distin still stood motionless. 

"I say, Dis, " he cried, appealingly, "I won't believe all they said. We'll be friends, when it's all over, but don't leave me in the lurchlike this. "

Distin looked at him wildly, but still neither spoke nor stirred, andVane did not realise that he was asking his fellow-pupil that which hewas not likely to give. For the latter was thinking, --

"Even if he will not believe it, others will, " and he stared wildly atVane's bruised and bleeding face with a curious feeling of envy at hisprowess. 

"Right, " shouted the gipsy lad who had been on the look-out, and runningsmartly forward, he dashed at Vane, followed by his brother, and thefight recommenced. 

"If they would only come on fairly, I wouldn't care, " thought Vane, ashe did his best to combat the guerilla-like warfare his enemies kept up, for he did not realise that wearisome as all their feinting, dodging anddropping to avoid blows, and their clever relief of each other might be, a bold and vigorous closing with them would have been fatal. And, oddlyenough, though they had sought to do this at first, during the latterpart of the encounter they had kept aloof, though perhaps it was nowonder, for Vane had given some telling blows, such as they did not wishto suffer again. 

"I shall have to finish it, somehow, " thought Vane, as he felt that hewas growing weaker; and throwing all the vigour and skill into his nextefforts, he paid no heed whatever to the blows given him by one of thelads, but pressed the other heavily, following him up, and at last, whenhe felt nearly done, aiming a tremendous left-handed blow at his cheek. 

As if to avoid the blow, the lad dropped on his hands and knees, butthis time he was a little too late; the blow took effect, and hisfalling was accelerated so that he rolled over and over, while unable tostop himself, Vane's body followed his fist and he, too, fell with aheavy thud, full on his adversary's chest. 

Vane was conscious of both his knees coming heavily upon the lad, and heonly saved his face from coming in contact with the ground by throwingup his head. 

Then, he sprang up, as, for the first time during the encounter, Distinuttered a warning cry. 

It warned Vane, who avoided the second lad's onslaught, and gave him asmart crack on the chest and another on the nose. 

This gave him time to glance at his fallen enemy, who did not try to getup. 

It was only a momentary glance, and then he was fighting desperately, for the second boy seemed to be maddened by the fate of the first. Casting off all feinting now, he dashed furiously at Vane, giving andreceiving blows till the lads closed in a fierce wrestling match, inwhich Vane's superior strength told, and in another moment or two, hewould have thrown his adversary, had not the lad lying unconscious onthe dead leaves, lent his brother unexpected aid. For he was right inVane's way, so that he tripped over him, fell heavily with the secondgipsy lad upon his chest, holding him down with his knees and one handin his collar, while he raised the other, and was about to strike himheavily in the face, when there was a dull sound and he fell over uponhis brother, leaving Vane free. 

"Thankye, Dis, " he panted, as he struggled to his knees; "that crack ofyours was just in time, " and the rector's two pupils looked each otherin the face. 

It was only for a moment, though, and then Vane seated himself torecover breath on the uppermost of his fallen foes. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

HAVING IT OUT. 

"Now, " said Vane, after sitting, panting for a few minutes, "I came outto-day on purpose to find you, and ask you to shake hands. Glad I gothere in time to help you. Shake hands, now. "

"No, " said Distin, slowly; "I can't do that. "

"Nonsense! I say these two have got it. Why not?"

"Because, " said Distin, with almost a groan, "I'm not fit. My hands arenot clean. "

"Wash 'em then, or never mind. "

"You know what I mean, " said Distin. "What they said was true. "

Vane stared at him in astonishment. 

"Yes, it's quite true, " said Distin, bitterly. "I've behaved like ablackguard. "

Just at that moment, the top gipsy began to struggle, and Vane gave hima tremendous clout on the ear. 

"Lie still or I'll knock your head off, " he cried, fiercely. 

"You don't mean to say you set these two brutes to knock me about withsticks?"

"Yes, he did, " cried the top boy. 

"Yes, I did, " said Distin, after making an effort as if to swallowsomething. "I paid them, and they have pestered me for money eversince. They sent to me to-day to come out to them, and I gave themmore, but they were not satisfied and were knocking me about when youcame. "

The lower prisoner now began to complain, and with cause, for hisbrother was lying across his chest, so that he had the weight of two tobear; but Vane reached down suddenly and placed his fist on the lad'snose, with a heavy grinding motion. 

"You dare to move, that's all, " he growled, threateningly, and the laddrew a deep breath, and lay still, while Distin went on as if somethingwithin him were forcing this confession. 

"There, " he said, "it's all over now. They've kept out of sight of thepolice all this time, and sent messages to me from where they were inhiding, and I've had to come and pay them. I've been like a slave tothem, and they've degraded me till I've felt as if I couldn't bear it. "

"And all for what?" said Vane, angrily. "I never did you any harm. "

"I couldn't help it, " said Distin. "I hated you, I suppose. I tellyou, I've behaved like a blackguard, and I suppose I shall be punishedfor it, but I'd rather it was so than go on like I have lately. "

"Look here, " cried Vane, savagely, and he raised himself up a little asif he were riding on horseback, and then nipped his human steed with hisknees, and bumped himself down so heavily that both the gipsy ladsyelled. "Yes, I meant to hurt you. I say, look here, I know what youboth mean. You are going to try and heave me off, and run for it, butdon't you try it, my lads, or it will be the worse for you. It's myturn this time, and you don't get away, so be still. Do you hear? Liestill!"

Vane's voice sounded so deep and threatening that the lads lay perfectlyquiescent, and Distin went on. 

"Better get out your handkerchief, " he said, taking out his own, "andwe'll tie their hands behind them, and march them to Bates' place. "

"You'll help me then?" said Vane. 

"Yes. "

"Might as well have helped me before, and then I shouldn't have been soknocked about. "

Distin shook his head, and began to roll up his pocket-handkerchief toform a cord. 

"There's no hurry, " said Vane, thoughtfully. "I want a rest. "

The lowermost boy uttered a groan, for his imprisonment was painful. 

"Better let's get it over, " said Distin, advancing and planting a footon a prisoner who looked as if he were meditating an attempt to escape. 

"No hurry, " said Vane, quietly, "you haven't been fighting and gotpumped out. Besides, it wants thinking about. I don't quite understandit yet. I can't see why you should do what you did. It was socowardly. "

"Don't I know all that, " cried Distin, fiercely. "Hasn't it been eatinginto me? I'm supposed to be a gentleman, and I've acted toward you likea miserable cad, and disgraced myself forever. It's horrible and I wantto get it over. "

"I don't, " said Vane, slowly. 

"Can't you see how maddening it is. I've got to go with you to takethese beasts--no, I will not call them that, for I tempted them withmoney to do it all, and they have turned and bitten me. "

"Yes: that was being hoist with your own petard, Mr Engineer, " criedVane, merrily. 

"Don't laugh at me, " cried Distin with a stamp of the foot. "Can't yousee how I'm degraded; how bitter a sting it was to see you, whom I triedto injure, come to my help. Isn't it all a judgment on me?"

"Don't know, " said Vane looking at him stolidly and then frowning andadministering a sounding punch in the ribs to his restive seat, with theeffect that there was another yell. 

"You make light of it, " continued Distin, "for you cannot understandwhat I feel. I have, I say, to take these brutes up to the police--"

"No, no, " cried the two lads, piteously. 

"--And then go straight to Syme, and confess everything, and of coursehe'll expel me. Nice preparation for a college life; and what will theysay at home?"

"Yes, " said Vane, echoing the other's words; "what will they say athome? You mean over in Trinidad?"

Distin bowed his head, his nervous-looking face working from the anguishhe felt, and his lower lip quivering with the mental agony and shame. 

"Trinidad's a long way off, " said Vane, thoughtfully. 

"No place is far off now, " cried Distin, passionately. "And if it wereten times as far, what then? Don't I know it? Do you think I can everforget it all?"

"No, " said Vane; "you never will. I suppose it must have made youuncomfortable all along. "

"Don't--don't talk about it, " cried Distin, piteously. "There, comealong, you must be rested now. "

"Look here, " cried one of the lads, shrilly; "if you tak' us up toGreytrop we'll tell all about it. "

Vane gave another bump. 

"What's the good of that, stupid, " he said. "Mr Distin would tellfirst. "

"Yes, " said the young fellow firmly; and as Vane looked at hisdetermined countenance, he felt as if he had never liked him so wellbefore; "I shall tell first. Come what may, Vane Lee, you shan't haveit against me that I did not speak out openly. Now, come. "

"Not yet, " said Vane, stubbornly. "I'm resting. "

There was a pause, and one of the gipsy lads began to snivel. 

"Oh, pray, good, kind gen'l'man, let us go this time, and we'll never doso any more. Do, please, good gen'l'man, let us go. "

"If you don't stop that miserable, pitiful, cowardly howling, you cur, "cried Vane so savagely that the lad stared at him with his mouth open, "I'll gag that mouth of yours with moss. Lie still!"

Vane literally yelled this last order at the lad, and the mouth shutwith a snap, while its owner stared at him in dismay. 

"I only wish I could have you standing up and lying down too, " criedVane, "or that it wasn't cowardly to punch your wretched heads now youare down. "

There was another pause, during which the lowermost boy began to groan, but he ceased upon Vane giving a fresh bump. 

"I shall be obliged now, Mr Lee, " said Distin, quickly, "by yourhelping to tie those two scoundrels. "

"No more a scoundrel than you are, " said the lowermost boy fiercely; andVane gave another bump. 

"Don't hurt him, " said Distin. "He only spoke the truth. Come, let'sturn this one over. "

Vane did not stir, but sat staring hard in Distin's face. 

"Look here, " he said at last; "you mean what you say about the policeand Mr Syme?"

"Yes, of course. "

"And you understand what will follow?"

Distin bowed as he drew his breath hard through his teeth. 

"You will not be able to stop at the rectory even if that busybody Batesdoesn't carry it over to the magistrates. "

"I know everything, " said Distin, firmly, and he drew a long breath nowof relief. "I am set upon it, even if I never hold up my head again. "

"All right, " said Vane in his peculiar, hard, stubborn way. "You'vemade up your mind; then I've made up mine. "

"What do you mean?" said Distin. 

"Wait and see, " said Vane, shortly. 

"But I wish to get it over. "

"I know you do. But you're all right. Look at me, I can't see, butexpect my face is all puffy; and look at my knuckles. These fellowshave got heads like wood. "

"I am sorry, very sorry, " said Distin, sadly; "but I want to make allthe reparation I can. "

"Give me that handkerchief, " said Vane sharply; and he snatched it fromDistin's hand. "No, no, keep back. I'll do what there is to do. They're not fit to touch. Ah, would you!"

The top boy had suddenly thrown up his head in an effort to freehimself. But his forehead came in contact with Vane's fist and hedropped back with a groan. 

"Hurt, did it!" said Vane, bending down, and whispering a few words. Then aloud, as he rose. "Now, then, get up and let me tie your handsbehind you. "

The lad rose slowly and painfully. 

"Turn round and put your hands behind you, " cried Vane. 

The lad obeyed, and then as if shot from a bow he leaped over hisprostrate brother with a loud whoop and dashed off among the trees. 

"No, no, it's of no use, " cried Vane as Distin started in pursuit; "youmight just as well try to catch a hare. Now you, sir, up with you. "

The second lad rose, groaning as if lame and helpless, turning his eyespiteously upon his captor; and then, quick as lightning, he too startedoff. 

"Loo, loo, loo!" shouted Vane, clapping his hands as if cheering on agreyhound. "I say, Distie, how the beggars can run. "

A defiant shout answered him, and Vane clapped his hands to his mouthand yelled:

"Po-lice--if you ever come again. "

"Yah!" came back from the wood, and Distin cried, angrily:

"You let them go on purpose. "

"Of course I did, " said Vane. "Here's your handkerchief. You don'tsuppose I would take them up, and hand them over to the police, and letyou lower yourself like you said, do you?"

"Yes--yes, " cried Distin, speaking like a hysterical girl. "I will telleverything now; how I was tempted, and how I fell. "

"Bother!" cried Vane, gruffly. "That isn't like an English lad shouldspeak. You did me a cowardly, dirty trick, and you confessed to me thatyou were sorry for it. Do you think I'm such a mean beast that I wantto take revenge upon you!"

"But it is my duty--I feel bound--I must speak, " cried Distin, in achoking voice. 

"Nonsense! It's all over. I'm the person injured, and I say I won'thave another word said. I came out this afternoon to ask you to makefriends, and to shake hands. There's mine, and let the past be dead. "

Vane stood holding out his hand, but it was not taken. 

"Do you hear?" he cried. "Shake hands. "

"I can't, " groaned Distin, with a piteous look. "I told you before mineare not clean. "

"Mine are, " said Vane, meaning, of course, metaphorically; "andperhaps--no, there is no perhaps--mine will clean yours. "

Vane took the young Creole's hand almost by force, and gave it a painfulgrip, releasing it at last for Distin to turn to the nearest tree, layhis arm upon the trunk, and then lean his forehead against it insilence. 

Vane stood looking at him, hesitating as to what he should say or do. Then, with a satisfied nod to himself, he said, cheerily:

"I'm going down to the stream to have a wash. Come on soon. "

It was a bit of natural delicacy, and the sensitive lad, born in atropic land, felt it as he stood there with his brain filled withbitterness and remorse, heaping self-reproaches upon himself, and moremiserable than he had ever before been in his life. 

"I do believe he's crying, " thought Vane, as he hurried out of thewoodland shade, and down to the water's edge, where, kneeling down by alittle crystal pool, he washed his stained and bleeding hands, and thenbegan to bathe his face and temples. 

"Not quite so hot as I was, " he muttered; "but, oh, what a mess I'm in!I shan't be fit to show myself, and must stop out till it's dark. Whatwould poor aunt say if she saw me! Frighten her nearly into fits. "

He was scooping up the fresh, cool water, and holding it to his bruises, which pained him a good deal, but, in spite of all his sufferings, heburst into a hearty fit of laughter at last, and, as his eyes wereclosed, he did not notice that a shadow was cast over him, right on tothe water. 

It was Distin, for he had come quietly down the bank, and was standingjust behind him. 

"Are you laughing at me?" he said, bitterly. 

"Eh? You there?" cried Vane, raising his head. "No, I was grinning atthe way those two fellows scuttled off. They made sure they were goingto be in the lock-up to-night. "

"Where they ought to have been, " said Distin. 

"Oh, I don't know. They're half-wild sort of fellows--very cunning, andall that sort of thing. I daresay I should have done as they did if Ihad been a gipsy. But, never mind that now. They'll keep away fromGreythorpe for long enough to come. "

He began dabbing his face with his handkerchief, and looking merrily atDistin. 

"I say, " he cried; "I didn't know I could fight like that. Is my facevery queer?"

"It is bruised and swollen, " said Distin, with an effort. "I'm afraidit will be worse to-morrow. "

"So am I, but we can't help it. Never mind, it will be a bit of aholiday for me till the bruises don't show; and I can sit and think outsomething else. Come and see me sometimes. "

"I can't, Vane, I can't, " cried Distin, wildly. "Do you think I have nofeeling?"

"Too much, I should say, " cried Vane. "There, why don't you let it go?Uncle says life isn't long enough for people to quarrel or make enemies. That's all over; and, I say, I feel ever so much more comfortable now. Haven't got such a thing as a tumbler in your pocket, have you?"

Distin looked in the bruised and battered face before him, wondering atthe lad's levity, as Vane continued:

"No, I suppose you haven't, and my silver cup is on the sideboard. Never mind: here goes. Just stand close to me, and shout if you see anyleeches coming. "

As he spoke, he lay down on his chest, reaching over another clearportion of the stream. 

"I must drink like a horse, " he cried; and, placing his lips to thesurface, he took a long draught, rose, wiped his lips, drew a deepbreath, and exclaimed, "Hah! That was good. "

Then he reeled, caught at the air, and would have fallen, but Distinseized him, and lowered him to the ground, where he lay, looking veryghastly, for a few minutes. 

"Only a bit giddy, " he said, faintly. "It will soon go off. "

"I'll run and fetch help, " cried Distin, excitedly. 

"Nonsense! What for? I'm getting better. There: that's it. "

He sat up, and, with Distin's help, struggled to his feet. 

"How stupid of me!" he said, with a faint laugh. "I suppose it wasleaning over the water so long. I'm all right now. "

He made a brave effort, and the two lads walked toward the lane, but, before they had gone many yards, Vane reeled again. 

This time the vertigo was slighter, and, taking Distin's arm, he kepthis feet. 

"Let's walk on, " he said. "I daresay the buzzy noise and singing in myhead will soon pass off. "

He was right: it did, and they progressed slowly till they reached thelane, where the walking was better, but Vane was still glad to retainDistin's help, and so it happened that, when they were about a mile fromthe rectory, Gilmore and Macey, who were in search of them, suddenly sawsomething which made them stare. 

"I say, " cried Macey; "'tisn't real, is it? Wait till I've rubbed myeyes. "

"Why, they've made it up, " cried Gilmore. "I say, Aleck, don't say aword. "

"Why not?"

"I mean don't chaff them or Dis may go off like powder. You know whathe is. "

"I won't speak a word, but, I say, it's Weathercock's doing. He hasinvented some decoction to charm creoles, and henceforth old Dis will bequite tame. "

As they drew nearer, Gilmore whispered:

"They've been having it out. "

"Yes, and Weathercock has had an awful licking; look at his phiz. "

"No, " said Gilmore. "Vane has licked; and it's just like him, he hasn'thit Dis in the face once. Don't notice it. "

"Not I. "

They were within speaking distance now; and Distin's sallow countenanceshowed two burning red spots in the cheeks. 

"Hullo!" cried Vane. "Come to meet us?"

"Yes, " said Gilmore; "we began to think you were lost. "

"Oh, no, " said Vane, carelessly. "Been some distance and the time soongoes. I think I'll turn off here, and get home across the meadows. Good-evening, you two. Good-night, Dis, old chap. "

"Good-night, " said Distin, huskily, as he took the bruised and slightlybleeding hand held out to him. Then turning away, he walked swiftly on. 

"Why, Vane, old boy, " whispered Gilmore, "what's going on?"

Vane must have read of Douglas Jerrold's smart reply, for he said, merrily:

"I am; good-night, " and he was gone. 

"I'm blest!" cried Macey; giving his leg a slap. 

"He has gone in back way so as not to be seen, " cried Gilmore. 

"That's it, " cried Macey, excitedly. "Well, of all the old Weathercocksthat ever did show which way the wind blew--"

He did not finish that sentence, but repeated his former words--

"I'm blest!"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

IN HIDING. 

Vane meant to slip in by the back after crossing the meadows, but as amatter of course he met Bruff half-way down the garden, later than hehad been there for years. 

"Why, Master Vane!" he cried, "you been at it again. "

"Hush! Don't say anything, " cried the lad. But Bruff's exclamation hadbrought Martha to the kitchen-door; and as she caught sight of Vane'sface, she uttered a cry which brought out Eliza, who shrieked and ran totell Aunt Hannah, who heard the cry, and came round from the front, where, with the doctor, she had been watching for the truant, the doctorbeing petulant and impatient about his evening meal. 

Then the murder was out, and Vane was hurried into the littledrawing-room, where Aunt Hannah strove gently to get him upon the couch. 

"No, no, no, " cried Vane. "Uncle, tell Bruff and those two that theyare not to speak about it. "

The doctor nodded and gave the order, but muttered, "Only make themtalk. "

"But what has happened, my dear? Where have you been?"

"Don't bother him, " said the doctor, testily. "Here, boy, let's look atyour injuries. "

"They're nothing, uncle, " cried Vane. "Give me some tea, aunt, and I'mas hungry as a hunter. What have you got?"

"Oh, my dear!" cried Aunt Hannah; "how can you, and with a face likethat. "

"Nothing the matter with him, " said the doctor, "only been fighting likea young blackguard. "

"Couldn't help it, uncle, " said Vane. "You wouldn't have had me liedown and be thrashed without hitting back. "

"Oh, my dear!" cried Aunt Hannah, "you shouldn't fight. "

"Of course not, " said the doctor, sternly. "It is a low, vulgar, contemptible, disgraceful act for one who is the son of a gentleman--to--to--Did you win?"

"Yes, uncle, " cried Vane; and he lay back in the easy chair into whichhe had been forced by Aunt Hannah, and laughed till the tears rolleddown his cheeks. 

Aunt Hannah seized him and held him. 

"Oh, my love, " she cried to the doctor, "pray give him something:sal-volatile or brandy: he's hysterical. "

"Nonsense!" cried the doctor. "Here--Vane--idiot, you leave offlaughing, sir?"

"I can't, uncle, " cried Vane, piteously; "and it does hurt so. Oh my!oh my! You should have seen the beggars run. "

"Beggars? You've been fighting beggars, Vane!" cried Aunt Hannah. "Oh, my dear! my dear!"

"Will you hold your tongue, Hannah, " cried the doctor, sternly. "Here, Vane, who ran? Some tramps?"

"No, uncle: those two gipsy lads. "

"What! who attacked you before?"

"Yes, and they tried it again. Aunt, they got the worst of it thistime. "

"You--you thrashed them?" cried the doctor, excitedly. 

"Yes, uncle. "

"Alone?"

"Oh, yes: only with someone looking on. "

"But you beat them alone; gave them a thorough good er--er--licking, asyou call it, sir?"

"Yes, uncle; awful. "

"Quite beat them?"

"Knocked them into smithereens; had them both down, one on the other, and sat on the top for half an hour. "

The doctor caught Vane's right hand in his left, held it out, andbrought his own right down upon it with a sounding spank, gripped it, and shook the bruised member till Vane grinned with pain. 

"Oh, my dear!" remonstrated Aunt Hannah, "you are hurting him, and youare encouraging him in a practice that--"

"Makes perfect, " cried the doctor, excitedly. "By George! I wish I hadbeen there!"

"My dear!"

"I do, Hannah. It makes me feel quite young again. But come and haveyour tea, you young dog--you young Roman--you Trojan, you--well done, Alexander. But stop!--those two young scoundrels. Hi! where's Bruff?"

"Stop, uncle, " cried Vane, leaping up and seizing the doctor'scoat-tails. "What are you going to do?"

"Send Bruff for Bates, and set him on the young scoundrels' track. Ishan't rest till I get them in jail. "

"No, no, uncle, sit down, " said Vane, with a quiver in his voice. "Wecan't do that. "

Then he told them all. 

As Vane ended his narrative, with the doctor pacing up and down theroom, and Martha fussing because the delicate cutlets she had preparedwere growing cold, Aunt Hannah was seated on the carpet by her nephew'schair, holding one of his bruised hands against her cheek, and weepingsilently as she whispered, "My own brave boy!"

As she spoke, she reached up to press her lips to his, but Vane shrankaway. 

"No, no, aunt dear, " he said, "I'm not fit to kiss. "

"Oh, my own brave, noble boy, " she cried; and passing her arms about hisneck, she kissed him fondly. 

"Who's encouraging the boy in fighting now?" cried the doctor, sharply. 

"But, how could he help it, my dear?" said Aunt Hannah. 

"Of course; how could he help it. " Then changing his manner, he laidhis hand upon Vane's shoulder. 

"You are quite right, Vane, lad. Let them call you Weathercock if theylike, but you do always point to fair weather, my boy, and turn yourback on foul. No: there must be no police business. The youngscoundrels have had their punishment--the right sort; and Mr Distin hasgot his in a way such a proud, sensitive fellow will never forget. "

"But ought not Vane to have beaten him, too?" said Aunt Hannah, naively. 

"What!" cried the doctor, in mock horror. "Woman! You are a veryglutton at revenge. Three in one afternoon? But to be serious. He wasbeaten, then, my dear--with forgiveness. Coals of fire upon his enemy'shead, and given him a lesson such as may form a turning point in hislife. God bless you, my boy! You've done a finer thing to-day than itis in your power yet to grasp. You'll think more deeply of it some day, and--Hannah, my darling, are you going to stand preaching at this poorboy all the evening, when you see he is nearly starved?"

Aunt Hannah laughed and cried together, as she fondled Vane. 

"I'll go and fetch you a cup of tea, my dear. Don't move. "

The doctor took a step forward, and gave Vane a slap on the back. 

"Cup of tea--brought for him. Come along, boy. Aunt would spoil usboth if she could, but we're too good stuff, eh? Now, prize-fighter, give your aunt your arm, and I'll put some big black patches on yournose and forehead after tea. "

Vane jumped up and held out his arm, but Aunt Hannah looked at himwildly. 

"You don't think, dear, that black patches--oh!"

"No, I don't, " said the doctor gaily; "but we must have some pleasantlittle bit of fiction to keep him at home for a few days. Little poorlyor--I know. Note to the rectory asking Syme to forgive me, and we'llhave the pony-carriage at six in the morning, and go down to Scarboro'for a week, till he is fit to be seen. "

"Yes, " said Aunt Hannah, eagerly, "the very thing;" and to her greatdelight, save that his mouth was stiff and sore, Vane ate and drank asif nothing whatever had been the matter. The next morning they startedfor their long drive, to catch the train. 

"Third-class now, my boy, " said the doctor, sadly; "economising hasbegun. "

"And I had forgotten it all, " thought Vane. "Poor uncle!--poor aunt! Imust get better, and go to work. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

THE MOUSE AND THE LION. 

The stay at Scarboro' was short, for a letter came from Aunt Hannah, announcing that Mr Deering was coming down, and adding ratherpathetically that she wished he would not. 

The doctor tossed the letter over to Vane, who was looking out of thehotel window, making a plan for sliding bathing machines down aninclined plane; and he had mentally contrived a delightful arrangementwhen he was pulled up short by the thought that the very next north-eastgale would send in breakers, and knock his inclined plane all to pieces. 

"For me to read, uncle, " he said. 

The doctor nodded. 

"Then you'll want to go back. "

"Yes, and you must stay by yourself. "

Vane rose and went to the looking-glass, stared at his lips, made agrimace and returned. 

"I say, uncle, do I look so very horrid?" he said. 

"That eye's not ornamental, my boy. "

"No, but shall you mind very much?"

"I? Not at all. "

"Then I shall come back with you. "

"Won't be ashamed to be seen?"

"Not I, " said Vane; "I don't care, and I should like to be at home whenMr Deering comes. "

"Why?"

"He may be able to get me engaged somewhere in town. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the doctor. "Want to run away from us then, now weare poor. "

"Uncle!" shouted Vane, fiercely indignant; but he saw the grim smile onthe old man's countenance, and went close up and took his arm. "Youdidn't mean that, " he continued. "It's because I want to get to work soas to help you and aunt now, instead of being a burden to you. "

"Don't want to go, then?"

Vane shook his head sadly. "No, uncle, I've been so happy at home, butof course should have to go some day. "

"Ah, well, there is no immediate hurry. We'll wait. I don't think thatMr Deering is quite the man I should like to see you with in your firststart in life. I'm afraid, Vane, boy, that he is reckless. Yesterday, I thought him unprincipled too, but he is behaving like a man of honourin coming down to see me, and show me how he went wrong. It's a sadbusiness, but I daresay we shall get used to it after a time. "

The journey back was made so that they reached home after dark, Vanelaughingly saying that it would screen him a little longer, and almostthe first person they encountered was Mr Deering himself. 

"Hah, Doctor, " he said quietly, "I'm glad you're come back. I onlyreached here by the last train. "

The doctor hesitated a moment, and then shook hands. 

"Well, youngster, " said the visitor, "I suppose you have not set theThames on fire yet. "

"No, " said Vane, indignantly, for their visitor's manner nettled him, "and when I try to, I shall set to work without help. "

Deering's eyes flashed angrily. 

"Vane!" said Aunt Hannah, reproachfully. 

"You forget that Mr Deering is our guest, Vane, " said the doctor. 

"Yes, uncle, I forgot that. "

"Don't reprove him, " said Deering. "I deserve it, and I invited thetaunt by my manner toward your nephew. "

"Dinner's ready, " said Aunt Hannah, hastily. 

"Or supper, " said the doctor, and ten minutes later they were all seatedat the meal, talking quietly about Scarboro', its great cliffs and thesea, Mr Deering showing a considerable knowledge of the place. Noallusion whatever was made to the cause of their guest's visit till theyhad adjourned to the drawing-room, Mr Deering having stopped in thehall to take up a square tin box, and another which looked like a casemade to contain rolled up plans. 

The doctor frowned, and seeing that some business matters were imminent, Aunt Hannah rose to leave the room, and Vane followed her example. 

"No, no, my dear Mrs Lee, " said Deering, "don't leave us, and there isnothing to be said that the lad ought not to hear. It will be a lessonto him, as he is of a sanguine inventive temperament like myself, not tobe too eager to place faith in his inventions. "

"Look here, Deering, " said the doctor, after clearing his voice, "thishas been a terrible misfortune for us, and, I believe, for you too. "

"Indeed it has, " said Deering, bitterly. "I feel ten years older, andin addition to my great hopes being blasted, I know that in your eyes, and those of your wife, I must seem to have been a thoughtless, designing scoundrel, dishonest to a degree. "

"No, no, Mr Deering, " said Aunt Hannah, warmly, "nobody ever thoughtthat of you. "

"Right, " said the doctor, smiling. 

"I have wept bitterly over it, and grieved that you should ever havecome down here to disturb my poor husband in his peaceful life, where hewas resting after a long laborious career. It seemed so cruel--such aterrible stroke of fate. "

"Yes, madam, terrible and cruel, " said Deering, sadly and humbly. 

"There now, say no more about it, " said the doctor. "It is of no use tocry over spilt milk. "

"No, " replied Deering, "but I do reserve to myself the right to makesome explanations to you both, whom I have injured so in your worldlyprospects. "

"Better let it go, Deering. There, man, we forgive you, and the worstwe think of you is that you were too sanguine and rash. "

"Don't say that, " cried Deering, "not till you have heard me out andseen what I want to show you; but God bless you for what you have said. Lee, you and I were boys at school together; we fought for and helpedeach other, and you know that I have never willingly done a dishonestact. "

"Never, " said the doctor, reaching out his hand, to which the otherclung. "You had proof of my faith in you when I became your bondman. "

"Exactly. "

"Then, now, let's talk about something else. "

"No, " said Deering, firmly. "I must show you first that I was not sorash and foolish as you think. Mrs Lee, may I clear this table?"

"Oh, certainly, " said Aunt Hannah, rather stiffly. "Vane, my dear, willyou move the lamp to the chimney. "

Vane lifted it and placed it on the mantelpiece, while Mr Deering moveda book or two and the cloth from the round low table, and then opening apadlock at the end of the long round tin case, he drew out a great rollof plans and spread them on the table, placing books at each corner, tokeep them open. 

"Here, " he said, growing excited, "is my invention. I want you all tolook--you, in particular, Vane, for it will interest you from itssimilarity to a plan you had for heating your conservatory. "

Vane's attention was centred at once on the carefully drawn and colouredplans, before which, with growing eagerness, their visitor began toexplain, in his usual lucid manner, so that even Aunt Hannah becameinterested. 

The idea was for warming purposes, and certainly, at first sight, complicated, but they soon grasped all the details, and understood how, by the use of a small furnace, water was to be heated, and to circulateby the law of convection, so as to supply warmth all through publicbuildings, or even in houses where people were ready to dispense withthe ruddy glow of fire. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, after an hour's examination of the drawings;"that all seems to be quite right. "

"But the idea is not new, " said Vane. 

"Exactly. You are quite right, " said Deering; "it is only a newadaptation in which I saw fortune, for it could be used in hundreds ofways where hot-water is not applicable now. I saw large works springingup, and an engineering business in which I hoped you, Vane, would share;for with your brains, my boy, I foresaw that you would be invaluable tome, and would be making a great future for yourself. There, now, yousee my plans, Lee. Do I seem so mad and reckless to you both? Have Inot gone on step by step, and was I not justified in trying to getmonetary help to carry out my preparations for what promised so clearlyto be a grand success?"

"Well, really, Deering, I can't help saying yes, " said the doctor. "Itdoes look right, doesn't it, my dear?"

"Yes, " said Aunt Hannah, with a sigh; "it does certainly look right. "

"I would not go far till, as I thought, I had tested my plans in everyway. "

"That was right, " said the doctor. "Well, what's the matter--why hasn'tit succeeded?"

"Ah, why, indeed?" replied Deering. "Some law of nature, which, inspite of incessant study, I cannot grasp, has been against me. "

Vane was poring over the plans, with his forehead full of lines and hismouth pursed up, and, after bringing sheet after sheet to the top, heended by laying the fullest drawing with all its colourings andreferences out straight, and, lifting the lamp back upon it in thecentre of the table to give a better light; and while his aunt and untiewere right and left, Mr Deering was facing him, and he had his back tothe fire:

"But you should have made models, and tested it all thoroughly. "

"I did, Lee, I did, " cried Mr Deering, passionately. "I made modelafter model, improving one upon the other, till I had reached, as Ithought, perfection. They worked admirably, and when I was, as Ithought, safe, and had obtained my details, I threw in the capital, forwhich you were security, started my works, and began making on a largescale. Orders came in, and I saw, as I told you, fortune in my grasp. "

"Well, and what then?"

"Failure. That which worked so well on a small scale was useless on alarge. "

Vane was the only one standing, and leaning his elbows on the greatdrawing, his chin upon his hands, deeply interested in the pipes, elbows, taps, furnace, and various arrangements. 

"But that seems strange, " said the doctor. "I should have thought youwere right. "

"Exactly, " said Deering, eagerly. "You would have thought I was right. I felt sure that I was right. I would have staked my life upon it. IfI had had a doubt, Lee, believe me I would not have risked that money, and dragged you down as I have. "

"I believe you, Deering, " said the doctor, more warmly than he had yetspoken; "but, hang it, man, I wouldn't give up. Try again. "

"I have tried again, till I feel that if I do more my brain will giveway--I shall go mad. No: nature is against me, and I have made aterrible failure. "

Aunt Hannah sighed. 

"There is nothing for me but to try and recover my shattered health, getmy nerves right again, and then start at something else. "

"Why not have another try at this?" said the doctor. 

"I cannot, " said Deering. "I have tried, and had disastrous explosions. In one moment the work of months has been shattered, and now, if I wantmen to work for me again, they shake their heads, and refuse. It is ofno use to fence, Lee. I have staked my all, and almost my life, on thatcontrivance, and I have failed. "

"It can't be a failure, " said Vane, suddenly. "It must go. "

Deering looked at him pityingly. 

"You see, " he said to Aunt Hannah, "your nephew is attracted by it, andbelieves in it. "

"Yes, " said Aunt Hannah, with a shudder. "Roll up the plans now, mydear, " she added, huskily; "it's getting late. "

"All right, aunt. Soon, " said Vane, quietly; and then, with some showof excitement, "I tell you it must go. Why, it's as simple as simple. Look here, uncle, the water's heated here and runs up there and there, and out and all about, and comes back along those pipes, and graduallygets down to the coil here, and is heated again. Why, if that wasproperly made by good workmen, it couldn't help answering. "

Deering smiled sadly. 

"You didn't have one made like that, did you?"

"Yes. Six times over, and of the best material. "

"Well?"

"No, my boy, ill. There was a disastrous explosion each time. "

Vane looked searchingly in the inventor's face. 

"Why, it couldn't explode, " cried Vane. 

"My dear Vane, pray do not be so stubborn, " said Aunt Hannah. 

"I don't want to be, aunt, but I've done lots of things of this kind, and I know well enough that if you fill a kettle with water, solder downthe lid, and stop up the spout, and then set it on the fire, it willburst, just as our boiler did; but this can't. Look, uncle, here is aplace where the steam and air can escape, so that it can't go off. "

"But it did, my boy, it did. "

"What, made from that plan?"

"No, not from that, but from the one I had down here, " said Mr Deering;and he took out his keys, opened the square tin box, and drew out acarefully folded plan, drawn on tracing linen, and finished in the mostperfect way. 

"There, " said the inventor, as Vane lifted the lamp, and this was laidover the plan from which it had been traced; "that was the work-people'sreference--it is getting dirty now. You see it was traced from thepaper. "

"Yes, I see, and the men have followed every tracing mark. Well, I saythat the engine or machine, or whatever you call it, could not burst. "

The inventor smiled sadly, but said no more, and Vane went on poringover the coloured drawing, with all its reference letters, and sectionsand shadings, while the doctor began conversing in a low tone. 

"Then you really feel that it is hopeless?" he said. 

"Quite. My energies are broken. I have not the spirit to run any morerisks, even if I could arrange with my creditors, " replied Deering, sadly. "Another such month as I have passed, and I should have been ina lunatic asylum. "

The doctor looked at him keenly from beneath his brows, andinvoluntarily stretched out a hand, and took hold of his visitor'swrist. 

"Yes, " he said, "you are terribly pulled down, Deering. "

"Now, Vane, my dear, " said Aunt Hannah, softly; "do put away thosedreadful plans. "

"All right, aunt, " said the boy; "just lift up the lamp, will you?"

Aunt Hannah raised the lamp, and Vane drew the soiled tracing linen frombeneath, while, as the lamp was heavy, the lady replaced it directly onthe spread-out papers. 

Vane's face was a study, so puckered up and intent it had grown, as hestood there with the linen folded over so that he could hold it beneaththe lamp-shade, and gaze at some detail, which he compared with thedrawing on the paper again and again. 

"My dear!" whispered Aunt Hannah; "do pray put those things away now;they give me quite a cold shudder. "

Vane did not answer, but drew a long breath, and fixed his eyes on oneparticular spot of the pencilled linen, then referred to the paperbeneath the lamp, which he shifted a little, so that the bright circleof light shed by the shade was on one spot from which the tracing hadbeen made. 

"Vane, " said Aunt Hannah, more loudly, "put them away now. "

"Yes, " said Deering, starting; "it is quite time. They have done theirwork, and to-morrow they shall be burned. "

"No, " yelled Vane, starting up and swinging the linen tracing round hishead as he danced about the room. "Hip, hip, hip, hurray, hurray, hurray!"

"Has the boy gone mad?" cried the doctor. 

"Vane, my dear child!" cried Aunt Hannah. 

"Hip, hip, hip, hurray, " roared Vane again, leaping on the couch, andwaving the plan so vigorously, that a vase was swept from a bracket andwas shivered to atoms. 

"Oh, I didn't mean that, " he cried. "But of course it burst. "

"What do you mean?" cried Deering, excitedly. 

"Look there, look here!" cried Vane, springing down, doubling the linentracing quickly, so that he could get his left thumb on one particularspot, and then placing his right forefinger on the plan beneath thelamp. "See that?"

"That?" cried Deering, leaning over the table a little, as he sat facingthe place lately occupied by Vane. "That?" he said again, excitedly, and then changing his tone, "Oh, nonsense, boy, only a fly-spot in theplan, or a tiny speck of ink. "

"Yes, smudged, " cried Vane; "but, look here, " and he doubled the tracingdown on the table; "but they've made it into a little stop-cock here. "

"What?" roared Deering. 

"And if that wasn't in your machine, of course it blew up same as mywaterpipes did in the conservatory, and wrecked the kitch--"

Vane did not finish his sentence, for the inventor sprang up with theedge of the table in his hands, throwing up the top and sending the lampoff on to the floor with a crash, while he fell backward heavily intohis chair, as if seized by a fit. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

MRS. LEE IS INCREDULOUS. 

"Help, help, " cried Aunt Hannah, excitedly, as the lamp broke on thefloor, and there was a flash of flame as the spirit exploded, somehaving splashed into the fire, and for a few minutes it seemed as if thefate of the Little Manor was sealed. 

But Vane only stared for a moment or two aghast at the mischief, andthen seized one end of the blazing hearthrug. Mr Deering seized theother, and moved by the same impulse, they shot the lamp into thehearth, turned the rug over, and began trampling upon it to put out theflame. 

"Get Mrs Lee out, " shouted Deering. "Here, Vane, the table cover;fetch mats. "

The fire was still blazing up round the outside of the rug; there was arush of flame up the chimney from the broken lamp; and the room wasfilling fast with a dense black evil-smelling smoke. 

But Vane worked well as soon as the doctor had half carried out MrsLee, and kept running back with door-mats from the hall; and he was onhis way with the dining-room hearthrug, when Martha's voice came fromkitchen-ward, full of indignation:

"Don't tell me, " she said evidently to Eliza, "it's that boy been at hissperriments again, and it didn't ought to be allowed. "

Vane did not stop to listen, but bore in the great heavy hearthrug. 

"Here, Vane, here, " cried the doctor; and the boy helped to spread itover a still blazing patch, and trampled it close just as Aunt Hannahand Eliza appeared with wash-hand jug of water and Martha with a pail. 

"No, no, " cried the doctor; "no water. The fire is trampled out. "

The danger was over, and they all stood panting by the hall-door, whichwas opened to drive out the horrible black smoke. 

"Why, Vane, my boy, " cried the doctor, as the lad stood nursing hishands, "not burned?"

"Yes, uncle, a little, " said Vane, who looked as if he had commencedtraining for a chimney-sweep; "just a little. I shan't want any excusefor not going to the rectory for a few days. "

"Humph!" muttered the doctor, as Mr Deering hurried into the smoke tofetch out his drawings and plans; "next guest who comes to my house hadbetter not be an inventor. " Then aloud: "But what does this mean, Vane, lad, are you right?"

"Right?--yes, " cried Deering, reappearing with his blackened plans, which he bore into the dining-room, and then, regardless of his sootystate, he caught the doctor's hands in his and shook them heartilybefore turning to Aunt Hannah, who was looking despondently at herruined drawing-room. 

"Never mind the damage, Mrs Lee, " he cried, as he seized her hands. "It's a trifle. I'll furnish your drawing-room again. "

"Oh, Mr Deering, " she said, half-tearfully, half in anger, "I do wishyou would stop in town. "

"Hannah, my dear!" cried the doctor. Then, turning to Deering: "But;look here, has Vane found out what was wrong?"

"Found out?" cried Deering, excitedly; "why, his sharp young eyesdetected the one little bit of grit in the wheel that stopped the wholeof the works. Lee, my dear old friend, I can look you triumphantly inthe face again, and say that your money is not lost, for I can returnit, tenfold--Do you hear, Mrs Lee, tenfold, twentyfold, if you like;and as for you--You black-looking young rascal!" he cried, turning andseizing Vane's hand, "if you don't make haste and grow big enough tobecome my junior partner, why I must take you while you are small. "

"Oh, oh!" shouted Vane; "my hands, my hands!"

"And mine too, " said Deering, releasing Vane's hands to examine his own. "Yes, I thought I had burned my fingers before, but I really have thistime. Doctor, I place myself and my future partner in your hands. "

Aunt Hannah forgot her blackened and singed hearthrugs and broken lampas soon as she realised that there was real pain and suffering on theway, and busily aided the doctor as he bathed and bandaged the ratherugly burns on Vane's and Mr Deering's hands. And at last, the smokehaving been driven out, all were seated once more, this time in thedining-room, listening to loud remarks from Martha on the stairs, as shedeclared that she was sure they would all be burned in their beds, andthat she always knew how it would be--remarks which continued till AuntHannah went out, and then there was a low buzzing of voices, and allbecame still. 

And now, in spite of his burns, Deering spread out his plans once more, and compared them for a long time in silence, while Vane and the doctorlooked on. 

"Yes, " he said at last, "there can be no mistake. Vane is right. Thisspeck was taken by the man who traced it for a stop-cock, and thoughthis pipe shows so plainly here in the plan, in the engine itself it isright below here, and out of sight. You may say that I ought to haveseen such a trifling thing myself; but I did not, for the simple reasonthat I knew every bit of mechanism by heart that ought to be there; butof this I had no knowledge whatever. Vane, my lad, you've added I don'tknow how many years to my life, and you'll never do a better day's workas long as you live. I came down here to-day a broken and a wretchedman, but I felt that, painful as it would be, I must come and show myold friend that I was not the scoundrel he believed. "

The doctor uttered a sound like a low growl, and just then Aunt Hannahcame back looking depressed, weary, and only half-convinced, to hearDeering's words. 

"There is not a doubt about it now, Mrs Lee, " he cried, joyfully. "Vane has saved your little fortune. "

"And his inheritance, " said the doctor, proudly. 

"No, " cried Deering, clapping Vane on the shoulder, "he wants noinheritance, but the good education and training you have given him. Speak out, my lad, you mean to carve your own way through life?"

"Oh, I don't know, " cried Vane; "you almost take my breath away. I onlyfound out that little mistake in your plans. "

"And that was the hole through which your uncle's fortune was runningout. Now, then, answer my question, boy. You mean to fight your ownway in life?"

"Don't call it fighting, " said Vane, raising one throbbing hand. "I'vehad fighting enough to last me for years. "

"Well, then, _carve_ your way, boy?"

"Oh, yes, sir, I mean to try. I say, uncle, what time is it?"

"One o'clock, my boy, " said the doctor, heartily; "the commencement ofanother and I hope a brighter day. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

"I AM GLAD. "

Trivial as Vane's discovery may seem, it was the result of long monthsand study of applied science, and certain dearly bought experiences, andthough Mr Deering blamed himself for not having noticed the littleaddition which had thwarted all his plans and brought him to the vergeof ruin, he frankly avowed over and over again that he was indebted tohis old friend's nephew for his rescue from such a perilous strait. 

He was off back to town that same day, and in a week the doctor, who wasbeginning to shake his head and feel doubtful whether he ought to expectmatters to turn out so well, received a letter from the lawyer, to saythat there would be no need to call upon him for the money for which hehad been security. 

"But I do not feel quite safe yet, Vane, my boy, " he said, "and I shallnot till I really see the great success. Who can feel safe over anaffair which depends on the turning on or off of a tap. "

But he need not have troubled himself, for he soon had ample surety thathe was perfectly safe, and that he need never fear having to leave theLittle Manor. 

Meanwhile matters went on at the rectory in the same regular course, MrSyme's pupils working pretty hard, and there being a cessation of thewordy warfare that used to take place with Distin, Macey, and Gilmore, and their encounters, in which Vane joined, bantering and being banteredunmercifully; but Distin was completely changed. The sharp bitternessseemed to have gone out of his nature, and he became quiet and subdued. Vane treated him just the same as of old, but there was no warm displayof friendship made, only on Distin's part a steady show of deference andrespect till the day came when he was to leave Greythorpe rectory forCambridge. 

It was just at the last; the good-byes had been said, and the fly waswaiting to take him to the station, when he asked Vane to walk on withhim for a short distance, and bade the fly-man follow slowly. 

Vane agreed readily enough, wondering the while what his oldfellow-pupil would say, and he wondered still more as they walked on andon in silence. 

Then Vane began to talk of the distance to Cambridge; the college life;and of how glad he would be to get there himself; starting topics till, to use his own expression, when describing the scene to his uncle, hefelt "in a state of mental vacuum. "

A complete silence had fallen upon them at last, when they were a coupleof miles on the white chalky road, and the fly-man was wondering whenhis passenger was going to get in, as Vane looked at his watch. 

"I say, Dis, old chap, " he said, "you'll have to say good-bye if youmean to catch that train. "

"Yes, " cried Distin, hoarsely, as he caught his companion's hand. "Ihad so much I wanted to say to you, about all I have felt during thosepast months, but I can't say it. Yes, " he cried passionately, "I mustsay this: I always hated you, Vane. I couldn't help it, but you killedthe wretched feeling that day in the wood, and ever since I have foughtwith myself in silence, but so hard. "

"Oh, I say, " cried Vane; "there, there, don't say any more. I'veforgotten all that. "

"I must, " cried Distin; "I know. I always have felt since that youcannot like me, and I have been so grateful to you for keeping silenceabout that miserable, disgraceful episode in my life--no, no, look me inthe face, Vane. "

"I won't. Look in your watch's face, " cried Vane, merrily, "and don'ttalk any more such stuff, old chap. We quarrelled, say, and it was likea fight, and we shook hands, and it was all over. "

"With you, perhaps, but not with me, " said Distin. "I am different. I'd have given anything to possess your frank, manly nature. "

"Oh, I say, spare my blushes, old chap, " cried Vane, laughing. 

"Be serious a minute, Vane. It may be years before we meet again, but Imust tell you now. You seem to have worked a change in me I can'tunderstand, and I want you to promise me this--that you will write tome. I know you can never think of me as a friend, but--"

"Why can't I?" cried Vane, heartily. "I'll show you. Write? I shouldthink I will, and bore you about all my new weathercock schemes. Dis, old chap, I'm such a dreamer that I've no time to see what people aboutme are like, and I've never seen you for what you really are till nowwe're going to say good-bye. I am glad you've talked to me like this. "

Something very like a sob rose in Distin's throat as they stood, handclasped in hand, but he was saved from breaking down. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the fly driver, "but we shan't never catch thattrain. "

"Yes; half a sovereign for you, if you get me there, " cried Distin, snatching open the fly, and leaping in; "good-bye, old chap!" he criedas Vane banged the door and he gripped hands, as the latter ran besidethe fly, "mind and write--soon--good-bye--good-bye. "

And Vane stood alone in the dusty road looking after the fly till itdisappeared. 

"Well!" he cried, "poor old Dis! Who'd have thought he was such a goodfellow underneath all that sour crust. I _am_ glad, " and again as hewalked slowly and thoughtfully back:--"I _am_ glad. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

STAUNCH FRIENDS. 

Time glided on, and it became Gilmore's turn to leave the rectory. Other pupils came to take the places of the two who had gone, but Maceysaid the new fellows, did not belong, and could not be expected tocotton to the old inhabitants. 

"And I don't want 'em to, " he said one morning, as he was poring over abook in the rectory study, "for this is a weary world, Weathercock. "

"Eh? What's the matter?" cried Vane, wonderingly, as he looked acrossthe table at the top of Macey's head, which was resting against hisclosed fists, so that the lad's face was parallel with the table. "Gota headache?"

"Horrid. It's all ache inside. I don't believe I've got an ounce ofbrains. I say, it ought to weigh pounds, oughtn't it?"

"Here, what's wrong?" said Vane. "Let me help you. "

"Wish you would, but it's of no good, old fellow. I shall never pass mygreat-go when I get to college. "

"Why?"

"Because I shall never pass the little one. I say, do I look like afool?"

He raised his piteous face as he spoke, and Vane burst into a roar oflaughter. 

"Ah, it's all very well to laugh. That's the way with you clever chaps. I say, can't you invent a new kind of thing--a sort of patentoyster-knife to open stupid fellows' understanding? You should practicewith it on me. "

"Come round this side, " said Vane, and Macey came dolefully round withthe work on mathematics, over which he had been poring. "You don't wantthe oyster-knife. "

"Oh, don't I, old fellow; you don't know. "

"Yes, I do. You've got one; every fellow has, if he will only use it. "

"Where abouts? What's it like--what is it?"

"Perseverance, " said Vane. "Come on and let's grind this bit up. "

They "ground" that bit up, and an hour after, Macey had a smile on hisface. The "something attempted" was "something done. "

"That's what I do like so in you, Vane, " he cried. 

"What?"

"You can do all sorts of things so well, and work so hard. Why you beatthe busy bee all to bits, and are worth hives of them. "

"Why?" said Vane, laughing. 

"You never go about making a great buzz over your work, as much as tosay: `Hi! all of you look here and see what a busy bee I am, ' and betterstill, old chap, you never sting. "

"Ever hear anything of Mr Deering now, uncle?" said Vane, one morning, as he stood in his workshop, smiling over some of his models andschemes, the inventor being brought to his mind by the remark he hadmade when he was there, about even the attempts being educational. 

"No, boy; nothing now, for some time; I only know that he has been verysuccessful over his ventures; has large works, and is prosperingmightily, but, like the rest of the world, he forgets those by whosehelp he has risen. "

"Oh, I don't think he is that sort of man, uncle. Of course, he ishorribly busy. "

"A man ought not to be too busy to recollect those who held the ladderfor him to climb, Vane, " said the doctor, warmly. "You saved him whenhe was in the lowest of low water. "

"Oh, nonsense, uncle, I only saw what a muddle his work-people had made, just as they did with our greenhouse, and besides, don't you remember itwas settled that I was to carve--didn't we call it--my own way. "

The doctor uttered a grunt. 

"That's all very well, " began the doctor, but Vane interrupted him. 

"I say, uncle, I've been thinking very deeply about my going tocollege. "

"Well, what about it. Time you went, eh?"

"No, uncle, and I don't think I should like to go. Of course, I knowthe value of the college education, and the position it gives a man; butit means three years' study--three years waiting to begin, and threeyears--"

"Well, sir, three years what?"

"Expense to you, uncle. "

"Now, look here, Vane, " said the doctor, sternly, "when I took you, apoor miserable little fatherless and motherless boy, to bring up--andprecious ugly you were--I made up my mind to do my duty by you. "

"And so you have, uncle, far more than I deserved, " said Vane, merrily. 

"Silence, sir, " cried the doctor, sternly. "I say--"

But whatever it was, he did not say it, for something happened. 

Strange coincidences often occur in everyday life. One thinks ofwriting to a friend, and a letter comes from that friend, or a personmay have formed the subject of conversation, and that person appears. 

Somehow, just as the doctor had assumed his sternest look, the door ofVane's little atelier was darkened, and Mr Deering stood therein, looking bright, cheery of aspect, and, in appearance, ten years youngerthan on the night when he upset the table, and the Little Manor Housewas within an inch of being burned down. 

"Mrs Lee said I should find you here, " he said. "Why, doctor, how wellyou look. I'll be bound to say you never take much of your own physic. Glad to see you again, old fellow, " he cried, shaking hands very warmly. "But, I beg your pardon, I did not know you were engaged with astranger. Will you introduce me?"

"Oh, I say, Mr Deering, " cried Vane. 

"It is! The same voice grown gruff. The weathercock must want oiling. Seriously, though, my dear boy, you have grown wonderfully. It's thisGreythorpe air. "

The doctor welcomed his old friend fairly enough, but a certain amountof constraint would show, and Deering evidently saw it, but he made nosign, and they went into the house, where Aunt Hannah met them in thedrawing-room, looking a little flustered, consequent upon an encounterwith Martha in the kitchen, that lady having declared that it would beimpossible to make any further preparations for the dinner, even if adozen gentlemen had arrived, instead of one. 

"Ah, my dear Mrs Lee, " said Deering, "and I have never kept my wordabout the refurnishing of this drawing-room. What a scene we had thatnight, and how time has gone since!"

Vane looked on curiously all the rest of that day, and could not helpfeeling troubled to see what an effort both his uncle and aunt made tobe cordial to their guest, while being such simple, straightforwardpeople, the more they tried, the more artificial and constrained theygrew. 

Deering ignored everything, and chatted away in the heartiest manner;declared that it was a glorious treat to come down in the country;walked in the garden, and admired the doctor's flowers and fruit, andbees, and made himself perfectly at home, saying that he had come downuninvited for a week's rest. 

Vane began at last to feel angry and annoyed; but seizing hisopportunity, the doctor whispered:--

"Don't forget, boy, that he is my guest. Prosperity has spoiled him, but I am not entertaining the successful inventor; I am only thinking ofmy old school-fellow whom I helped as a friend. "

"All right, uncle, I'll be civil to him. "

Six days glided slowly by, during which Deering monopolised the whole ofeverybody's time. He had the pony-carriage out, and made Vane borrowMiller Round's boat and row him up the river, and fish with him, returning at night to eat the doctor and Mrs Lee's excellent dinner, and drink the doctor's best port. 

And now the sixth day--the evening--had arrived, and Aunt Hannah hadsaid to Vane:--

"I am so glad, my dear. To-morrow, he goes back to town. "

"And a jolly good job too, aunt!" cried Vane. 

"Yes, my dear, but do be a little more particular what you say. "

They were seated all together in the drawing-room, with Deering in thebest of spirits, when all of a sudden, he exclaimed:--

"This is the sixth day! How time goes in your pleasant home, and I'venot said a word yet about the business upon which I came. Well, I mustmake up for it now. Ready, Vane?"

"Ready for what, sir, --game at chess?"

"No, boy, work, business; you are rapidly growing into a man. I wanthelp badly and the time has arrived. I've come down to settle what wearranged for about my young partner. "

Had a shell fallen in the little drawing-room, no one could have lookedmore surprised. 

Deering had kept his word. 

In the course of the next morning a long and serious conversationensued, which resulted evidently in Deering's disappointment on thedoctor's declining to agree to the proposal. 

"But, it is so quixotic of you, Lee, " cried Deering, angrily. 

"Wrong, " replied the doctor, smiling in his old school-fellow's face;"the quixotism is on your side in making so big a proposal on Vane'sbehalf. "

"But you are standing in the boy's light. "

"Not at all. I believe I am doing what is best for him. He is far tooyoung to undertake so responsible a position. "

"Nonsense!"

"I think it sense, " said the doctor, firmly. "Vane shall go to a largecivil engineer's firm as pupil, and if, some years hence, matters seemto fit, make your proposition again about a partnership, and then weshall see. "

Deering had to be content with this arrangement, and within the yearVane left Greythorpe, reluctantly enough, to enter upon his new careerwith an eminent firm in Great George Street, Westminster. 

But he soon found plenty of change, and three years later, long afterthe rector's other pupils had taken flight, Vane found himself busysurveying in Brazil, and assisting in the opening out of that vastcountry. 

It was hard but delightful work, full at times of excitement andadventure, till upon one unlucky day he was stricken down by malariousfever on the shores of one of the rivers. 

Fortunately for him it happened there, and not hundreds of miles away inthe interior, where in all probability for want of help his life wouldhave been sacrificed. 

His companions, however, got him on board a boat, and by easy stages hewas taken down to Rio, where he awoke from his feverish dream, weak as achild, wasted almost to nothing, into what appeared to him anotherdream, for he was in a pleasantly-shaded bedroom, with someone seatedbeside him, holding his hand, and gazing eagerly into his wanderingeyes. 

"Vane, " he said, in a low, excited whisper; "do you know me. "

"Distin!" said Vane feebly, as he gazed in the handsome dark face of thegentleman bending over him. 

"Hah!" was ejaculated with a sigh of content; "you'll get over it now;but I've been horribly afraid for days. "

"What's been the matter?" said Vane, feebly. "Am I at the rectory?Where's Mr Syme? And my uncle?"

"Stop; don't talk now. "

Vane was silent for a time; then memory reasserted itself. He was notat Greythorpe, but in Brazil. 

"Why, I was taken ill up the river. Have you been nursing me?"

"Yes, for weeks, " said Distin, with a smile. 

"Where am I?"

"At Rio. In my house. I am head here of my father's mercantilebusiness. "

"But--"

"No, no, don't talk. "

"I must ask this: How did I get here?"

"I heard that you were ill, and had you brought home that's all. I wastold that the overseer with the surveying expedition was brought downill--dying, they said, and then I heard that his name was Vane Lee. Canit be old Weathercock? I said; and I went and found that it was, and--well, you know the rest. "

"Then I have you to thank for saving my life. "

"Well, " said Distin, "you saved mine. There, don't talk; I won't. Iwant to go and write to the doctor that you are mending now. By-and-by, when you are better, we must have plenty of talks about the oldLincolnshire days. "

Distin was holding Vane's hands as he spoke, and his voice was cheery, though the tears were in his eyes. 

"And so, " whispered Vane, thoughtfully, "I owe you my life. "

"I owe you almost more than that, " said Distin, huskily. "Vane, oldchap, I've often longed for us to meet again. "

It was a curious result after their early life. Vane often correspondedwith Gilmore and Macey, but somehow he and Distin became the staunchestfriends. 

"I can't understand it even now, " Vane said to him one day when theywere back in England, and had run down to the old place again. "Fancyyou and I being companions here. "

"The wind has changed, old Weathercock, " cried Distin, merrily. Then, seriously: "No, I'll tell you, Vane; there was some little good in me, and you made it grow. "

THE END.