asked Jack.

"An odd sort, I must own; something between fish and geese. They must
be waders, at all events. In some places they have boats in which they
can get about: however, every place has its uses, and so has this, you
will find out, before you have been here long!"

At length, as the sun was about to sink beneath the long straight line
behind their backs, Jack saw before them what looked like a clump or two
of trees which stood on a piece of ground a few feet above the dead
level which surrounded it. Objects, too, seemed to be moving about it,
which he at length discovered to be horses and cattle. A more perfect
Rosamond's labyrinth could scarcely have been contrived than that to
which the path they now followed led. Before, however, they came in
sight of the bower, they heard the lowing of cows and the barking of
watch-dogs, and Jack, who by this time was very hungry, even thought
that he sniffed a savoury odour of cooking in the damp air, that
mightily urged him forward. At length, they saw before them a large
rambling cottage, with dairy-buildings adjoining it, standing on a firm
piece of pasture-land that formed a green peninsula rising above the
black fens they had just been traversing. A row of poplars behind it,
and a plantation on either side, shut it in from any one passing at a
short distance. There was also a kitchen and flower-garden in front,
and considerable care had evidently been taken to keep the ground around
clean and fit for walking.

"You go in, and give your letter to Dame Pearson, while I take the
horses to the stables," said Burdale. "You will find it all right, for
she will know well that no one could find his way here without a
trustworthy guide."

Jack had expected to find a somewhat rough, and perhaps ill-favoured,
dame the wife of Master Pearson. Greatly surprised was he, therefore,
when, on opening the door, he was received by a remarkably attractive,
neatly-dressed woman, with a pleasant smile on her countenance, and
agreeable manners, superior even to those of many ladies he had met.

"You are welcome here, Mr Deane, as a friend of my husband!" she said.
"We live a secluded life, but shall be glad to see you as long as you
can remain. And perhaps you will find some amusement in the sports of
our fen-country. Ned Burdale will be able to show them to you as well
as most people; but we are not likely to be alone, for my husband tells
me that several persons are comin