on to
Firgrove; some one, at least, there would surely be willing to hasten to
inform the ladies of the whereabouts of the two wee wanderers.

Thus far the dwarf's thoughts ran readily on, then stopped in confusion.
Further they would not seek to penetrate, and it did not matter. Once
the little ones were safe with their friends he should have plenty of
time to think about himself. Then he would be free to lie down in some
quiet spot and sleep away some of the weakness and weariness which
every moment threatened to overpower him. Sleep! oh, if he could only
sleep until the racking pains in his chest were better!
Sleep--sleep--sleep! and perhaps it might even be permitted him not to
wake at all until he had reached that land whose inhabitants are never
sick, and the people who dwell therein are forgiven their iniquity.

"I'm afraid your cold is worse," whispered Darby at length through the
silence, that was broken only by Joan's sobbing sighs and the dwarf's
hoarse breathing, which every moment became more painful and more
difficult.

"Ay, I think it is," answered Bambo, giving the little fellow's hand a
grateful squeeze. "But don't you fret about Bambo, deary; he'll soon be
all right, never fear, once you and missy are safe at home."

"Are we far from the canal here, Mr. Bambo?" Darby again asked, after a
long pause, during which the dwarf thought he had fallen asleep.

"Yes--no--well, let me see," said the dwarf thoughtfully. "Why, it's
just a matter of about two miles as the crow flies, over the fields on
the other side of the inn."

"Could we walk as the crow flies?" demanded Darby eagerly. "That is--of
course--well, you know what I mean," and the little lad smiled and
coloured in the darkness.

"Ay, there's nothing to hinder, so far as I know. Why are you asking,
deary?"

"Because I've been thinking that if we could get there--and Joan should
be able to walk that length easily, I'm sure, after this nice long sleep
she's having--the man would let us into the boat, and that would take us
home without tiring you any more. Or we could slip on board when he
wasn't looking. You know that's how we came," added the boy, with an
amused little chuckle.

The dwarf did not answer immediately.

"Well, sonny, I wouldn't say but you're about right," he replied at
length. "I never thought of going by the canal, knowing as how the
boat's not allowed to carry passengers. But if we were to tell the man
in charge where we'