d by ill-temper consequent upon
their having been roused from their beds.

"Then he must have locked himself in," cried Vane.

"Not he," said Distin. "Go and knock him up; he's asleep still."

"Well," said Bruff, with a chuckle, as he stood his hook pole on end,
"owd Mike Chakes can sleep a bit, I know; but if he can do it through
all this ting dang, he bets me."

"Come and see," cried Vane, making for the church-tower.

"No; come and rout him out of bed," cried Distin.

Just then a portly figure approached, and the rector's smooth, quick
voice was heard asking:--

"Where is the fire, my men?"

"That's what we can't none on us mak' out, Parson," said a voice. "Hey!
Here's Mester Rounds; he's chutch-waarden; he'll know."

"Nay, I don't know," cried the owner of the name; "I've on'y just got
out o' bed. Who's that pullin' the big bell at that rate?"

"We think it's saxton," cried a voice.

"Yes, of course. He has locked himself in."

"Silence!" cried the rector; and, as the buzz of voices ceased, he
continued, "Has anyone noticed a fire?"

"Nay, nay, nay," came from all directions.

"But at a distance--at either of the farms?"

"Nay, they're all right, parson," said the churchwarden. "We could see
if they was alight. Hi! theer! How'd hard!" he roared, with both hands
to his mouth. "Don't pull the bell down."

For the clangour continued at the same rate,--_Dang, dang dang, dang_.

"Owd Mikey Chakes has gone mad, I think," said a voice.

"Follow me to the church," said the rector; and, leading the way with
his pupils, the rector marched the little crowd up the street, amidst a
buzz of voices, many of which came from bedroom windows, now all
wide-open, and with the occupants of the chambers gazing out, and
shouting questions to neighbours where the fire might be.

A few moments' pause was made at the sexton's door, but all was silent
there, and no response came to repeated knocks.

"He must be at the church, of course," said the rector; and in a few
minutes all were gathered at the west door, which was tried, and, as
before said, found to be fastened.

"Call, somebody with a loud voice."

"We did come and shout, sir, and kicked at the door."

"Call again," said the rector. "The bell makes so much clamour the
ringer cannot hear. Hah! he has stopped."

For, as he spoke, the strokes on the bell grew slower, and suddenly
ceased.

A shout was raised, a curious cry, composed of
"Mike"--"Ch