stive, for there was a
furtive, peculiar action on the part of the one in front, who was
evidently uneasy, and kept on looking behind him and to right and left,
as if in search of danger or a way of escape, and in both a peculiar
hesitancy that struck Vane at once.

Under the circumstances, he too, had hard work to keep from looking
about for a way of escape, should the lads mean mischief: but he did
not, for fear that they should think him cowardly, and walked steadily
on, with the result that the boy in front stopped short and then began
slowly to retreat.

"They are up to some game," thought Vane with his heart beginning to
beat hard, and a curious feeling of excitement running through him as he
thought of his chances against two strong lads armed with sticks if they
did dare to attack him. But again he cast aside the thought as being
too absurd, and strode boldly on.

"These are not the days for footpads and highwaymen," he said to
himself, and just then the lad in front gave vent to a peculiar whistle,
made a rush up the bank on his left, looked sharply round, ducked down,
whistled again, and disappeared.

"I'd give something to know what game they call this," said Vane to
himself, as he watched the spot where the lad had disappeared; and then
he turned sharply round to question the one who was following him, but,
to his astonishment, he found that the lane behind him was vacant.

Vane paused for a few moments and then made a dash forward till he
reached the trampled grass and ferns where the first boy had scrambled
up the bank, climbed to the top, and stood looking round for him. But
he was gone, and there was not much chance for anyone not gifted with
the tracking power of an Indian to follow the fugitive through the rough
tangle of scrub oak, ferns, brambles and gorse which spread away right
to the borders of the wood.

Just as he was standing on the highest part of the bank looking sharply
round, he heard a shout. Then--

"Weathercock, ahoy! Coo-ee!"

He looked in the direction, fully expecting to see Macey, whose voice he
recognised, but for some minutes he was invisible. Then he saw the tall
ferns moving, and directly after he caught sight of his fellow-pupil's
round face, and then of his arms waving, as he literally waded through
the thick growth.

Vane gave an answering shout, and went to meet him, trying the while to
arrive at a settlement of the gipsy lads' conduct, and feeling bound to
c