rew received this communication with shouts, Gavinia's cry of "Five
shillings, if no ten!" expressing the general sentiment, but it would
not have been like Tommy to think with them. "You poor things," he said,
"you just believe everything you're telled! How do I know that this is
not a trick of Stroke's to bring me here when he is some other gait
working mischief?"

Corp was impressed, but Gavinia said, short-sightedly, "There's no sign
o't."

"There's ower much sign o't," retorted Tommy. "What's this story about
Double Dykes? And how do we ken that there hasna been foul work there,
and this man at the bottom o't? I tell you, before the world's half an
hour older, I'll find out," and he looked significantly at Corp, who
answered, quaking, "I winna gang by mysel', no, Tommy, I winna!"

So Tommy had to accompany him, saying, valiantly, "I'm no feared, and
this rime is fine for hodding in," to which Corp replied, as firmly,
"Neither am I, and we can aye keep touching cauld iron." Before they
were half way down the Double Dykes they got a thrill, for they
realized, simultaneously, that they were being followed. They stopped
and gripped each other hard, but now they could hear nothing.

"The Painted Lady!" Corp whispered.

"Stroke!" Tommy replied, as cautiously. He was excited rather than
afraid, and had the pluck to cry, "Wha's that? I see you!"--but no
answer came back through the mist, and now the boys had a double reason
for pressing forward.

"Can you see the house, Corp?"

"It should be here about, but it's smored in rime."

"I'm touching the paling. I ken the road to the window now."

"Hark! What's that?"

It sounded like devil's music in front of them, and they fell back until
Corp remembered, "It maun be the door swinging open, and squealing and
moaning on its hinges. Tommy, I take ill wi' that. What can it mean?"

"I'm here to find out." They reached the window where Tommy had watched
once before, and looking in together saw the room plainly by the light
of a lamp which stood on the spinet. There was no one inside, but
otherwise Tommy noticed little change. The fire was out, having
evidently burned itself done, the bed-clothes were in some disorder. To
avoid the creaking door, the boys passed round the back of the house to
the window of the other room. This room was without a light, but its
door stood open and sufficient light came from the kitchen to show that
it also was untenanted. It seemed to hav