pwards, shaking like a
machine, and out of a slit in the hide came two white hands that
lifted to one side the brown knarled mask of the crocodile. There was
the black head of Sir Francis Almoign. "'Tis hot in there," he said;
and with two fingers he slung the drops of sweat from his forehead.

"Wet thy whistle before we begin," said Hubert, filling a jug for him.
Sir Francis took it in both hands, and then clutched it tightly as a
sudden singing was set up out in the night.

"Come, take a wife,
Come, take a wife,
Ere thou learnest age's treasons!"

The tune came clear and jolly, cutting through the muffled noises of
the tempest.

"Blood and death!" muttered Hubert.

Each figure had sprung into a stiff position of listening.

"Quit thy roving;
Shalt by loving
Not wax lean in stormy seasons.
Ho! ho! oh,--ho!
Not wax lean in----"

Here the strain snapped off short. Then a whining voice said, "Oh, I
have fallen again! A curse on these roots. Lucifer fell only once, and
'twas enough for him. I have looked on the wine when it was red, and
my dame Jeanie will know it soon, oh, soon! But my sober curse on
these roots."

"That's nothing," said Hubert. "There's a band of Christmas singers
has strolled into these parts to chant carols. One of them has stopped
too long at the tavern."

"Do I see a light?" said the voice. "Help! Give me a light, and let me
go home.

"Quit thy roving;
Shalt by loving----"

"Shall I open his throat, that he may sing the next verse in heaven?"
Hubert inquired.

"No, fool!" said Sir Francis. "Who knows if his brother sots are not
behind him to wake the house? This is too dangerous to-night. Away
with you, every one. Stoop low till ye are well among the fields, and
then to Oyster-le-Main! I'll be Dragon for a while, and follow
after."

Quickly catching up his keg, each man left the cellar like a shadow.
Geoffrey, from the edge of the wood, saw them come out and dissolve
away into the night. With the tube of the torch at his lips, Sir
Francis blew a blast of fire out at the door, then covered his head
once more with the grinning crocodile. He roared twice, and heard
something creak behind him, so turned to see what had made it. There
was Miss Elaine on the passage-steps. Her lips moved to speak, but for
a short instant fear put a silence upon her that she found no voice to
break. He, with a notion she was there f