David laughed.

"O, then," said he, "in that case, I've got nothing to say about
it at all."

In spite of his reiterated conviction in the baronial castle, Clive
was unable to prevent an expression of disgust from being discernible
on his fine face, and without another word, he turned to go down.

David followed close after him.

As Clive put his feet down on the nearest rung of the ladder, he
was startled by a noise below. It came from the pile of fagots,
and was of the most extraordinary character. It was a shuffling,
scraping, growling, snapping noise; an indescribable medley of
peculiar sounds.

Clive instantly drew back his foot, as though he had trodden
on a snake.

"What's the matter?" cried David, in amazement.

"Didn't you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"Why, that noise!"

"Noise?"

"Yes."

"What noise?"

Clive's eyes opened wide, and he said in a low, agitated whisper,--

"Something's down there!"

At this David's face turned pale. He knelt down at the opening,
and bent his head over.

The sounds, which had ceased for a moment, became once more audible.
There was a quick, beating, rustling, rubbing noise among the
fagots, and he could occasionally hear the rap of footfalls on the
floor. It was too dark to see anything, for the narrow door was
the only opening, and the end of the chamber where the fagots lay
was wrapped in deep gloom.

Clive knelt down too, and then both boys, kneeling there, listened
eagerly and intently with all their ears.

"What is it?" asked Clive.

"I'm rare I don't know," said David, gloomily.

"Is it a brigand?" whispered Clive, dismally.

"I don't know, I'm sore," said poor David, who, in spite of his
recent declaration of his belief that all brigands were humbugs,
felt something like his old trepidation at Clive's suggestion.

They listened a little longer.

The noise subsided for a time, and then began again. This time it
was much louder than before. There was the same rustling, rubbing,
cracking, snapping sound made by something among the fagots; there
was a clatter as of feet on the hard ground; then there was a quick,
reiterated rubbing; then another peculiar noise, which sounded
exactly like that which a dog makes when shaking himself violently
after coming out of the water. After this there was a low, deep
sound, midway between a yawn and a growl; then all was still.

David and Clive raised themselves softly, and looked at one another.

"Well?"