ldren.

Gradually and cautiously Bambo awoke Darby. For a minute or two the
little fellow could not make out where he was; but in a few hurried
whispered sentences the dwarf made him understand how near and how dire
was the danger which threatened them--how absolutely needful it was for
them to be quick, and to be wary in their attempt if they meant to
escape.

Without arousing Joan, Bambo lifted her up from her nest among the
straw, and keeping her still well wrapped up in his own worn jacket, he
held her easily in his arms. Then, with Darby pressing close beside him,
they crept noiselessly forth from the shelter and warmth of the cosy
calf-house.

By this time the moon rode high in a soft gray-blue sky, shedding a
flood of pale, pure radiance on all things, touching the homely,
commonplace details of the farmyard with a love-like caress until they
were idealized into objects of wonder and beauty. But Bambo had no eyes
just then for admiring nature's marvellous transformation scenes; the
work in hand occupied his whole attention. He barely glanced at the
moon, although he was well aware of her presence, which he considered
rather unfortunate, and heartily wished it had been still dark, because
then their movements would have been more certain to escape notice.

Slowly and stealthily they moved from the cover of the door, keeping
well within the shadow cast by the walls of the outhouses. Step by step
they stole along until they reached the greater security of the
stackyard. There they were beyond view from the windows, supposing any
one were looking out, which was hardly likely. Inch by inch they crawled
across the bright patch of a hundred yards or so between them and the
clump of friendly furze bushes. There they paused to take breath and
look about them. There was nobody at their heels; nothing in sight
except the sheep huddled in heaps for shelter behind the low stone
dikes, and the young cattle herding in groups here and there over the
wet, glistening fields. In the hollow below lay the place of refuge for
which they were bound. And just as Bruce's plucky spider made that "bold
little run at the very last pinch" which "put him into his native spot,"
so one quick rush down the incline in front of them landed the fugitives
inside the empty lime-kiln, where they were safe, for the moment at
least, with a roof over their heads, a dry green floor beneath their
feet, on which they could stretch their weary limbs.