great cauldrons of milk hung simmering over the hot wood
ashes.

Tea over, the children started once again for their waterfall; and this
time in haste, for the hollow of the coombe lay already in shadow, and
soon the yellow evening sunlight would be fading on its upper slopes.
Arthur Miles hungered for one clear view of his Island before nightfall;
Tilda was eager to survey the work accomplished that afternoon in the
cottage; while 'Dolph scampered ahead and paused anon, quivering with
excitement. Who can say what the dog expected? Perchance down this
miraculous valley another noble stag would come coursing to his death;
and next time 'Dolph would know how to behave, and would retrieve his
reputation--to which, by the way, no one had given a thought. But dogs
can be self-conscious as men.

Lo! when they came to the ledge above the fall, Holmness was visible,
vignetted in a gap of the lingering fog, and standing so clear against
the level sunset that its rocky ledges, tipped here and there with
flame, appeared but a mile distant, or only a trifle more. He caught
his breath at sight of it, and pointed. But Tilda turned aside to the
cottage. This craze of his began to annoy her.

She was yet further annoyed when he joined her there, ten minutes later,
and appeared to pay small attention, if he listened at all, to her plans
for to-morrow, before the ride to Culvercoombe. There could be no more
nettle-clearing to-day. Dusk was gathering fast, and in another hour
the moon would rise. So back once more they fared, to find Mrs.
Tossell busily laying supper; and close after supper came prayer, and
bedtime on the stroke of nine.

An hour later Tilda--who slept, as a rule, like a top--awoke from uneasy
dreams with a start, and opened her eyes. A flood of moonlight poured
in at the window, and there in the full ray of it stood Arthur Miles,
fully dressed.

The boy let drop the window-curtain, and came across to her bed.

"Are you awake?" he whispered. "Get up and dress--we can do it easily."

"Do what?"

"There's a tank just under the window--with a slate cover: we can lower
ourselves down to it from the sill, and after that it's not six feet to
the ground."

"What's up with you?" She raised herself, and sat rubbing her eyes.
"Oh, get yer clothes off an' go back to bed! Walkin' in yer sleep you
must be."

"If you won't come with me, I'm going alone."

"Eh?" She stared at him across the moon-ray, for he h