disappointment, for the little island was robbed of all its romance. It
was no longer uninhabited, and the temptation to have a hut there was
gone.

"Plenty more such places, boys," said Mr Marston, "so never mind.
We'll hunt one out and make much of it before my drain turns all this
waste into fertile fields. Now let's get back, for I have a lot to chat
over with the wheelwright."

The next morning Hickathrift was beaming, and he came up to the Toft to
catch Dick, who was feeding Solomon and avoiding his friendly kicks,
while he waited for Tom to go over with him to the works.

"Say, Mester Dick, on'y think of it! Leave that owd ass alone, lad, and
listen to me."

"What is it, Hicky?"

"Why, lad, I'm a man full o'--what do you call that when a chap wants to
get on in the world?"

"Ambition, Hicky."

"That's it, Mester Dick. I'm full on it, bud I've nivver hed a chance.
You see I've had to mend gates, and owd carts, and put up fences. I did
nearly get the job to build a new barn, bud I lost it, and all my life's
been jobs."

"And what now?" said Dick warmly.

"What now, lad! Why, Mester Marston's set me to mak three sets o' small
watter gates for sides o' the dreern, and I'm to hev money in advance
for the wood and iron work, and my fortune's about made."

"Hooray, Hicky! I am glad," cried Dick; and Tom, coming up, was
initiated into the great new step in advance, and added his
congratulations.

"Why, you're carpenter and joiner to the works now, Hicky!" said Dick,
laughing.

"Ay, lad, that's it, and I don't fear for nowt."

It was less than a fortnight after, that Dick lay asleep one night and
dreaming of being in a boat on the mere, or one of its many additional
pools, when he started into wakefulness with the impression that the
house was coming down.

"Eh? What is it?" he cried, as there was a heavy thumping on the wall
close to his bed's head.

"Get up--fire!" came in muffled tones; and bounding out of bed he saw
that there was a lurid light on the water, evidently reflected from
something burning pretty near at hand, while there was the distant hum
of voices, mingled with shrieks and the barking of a dog.

Dick began hurriedly dressing, and threw open the window, to find that
the dog was Grip, who was out in the yard barking frantically, as if to
alarm the house.

"What is it, father? Where?" cried Dick.

"Don't know; not here. Labourers' cottages, I think," replied the
squire,