amiss.

"I should like this statement to be shown to Dr. John Easterling
of Stranraer. He heard on one occasion this haunting sound. My sad
experience may show him that I spoke truth when I said that there was
much knowledge in the world which has never found its way to England.

"J. B. HEATHERSTONE."

It was going on for dawn by the time that I had finished this
extraordinary narrative, to which my sister and Mordaunt Heatherstone
listened with the most absorbed attention. Already we could see through
the window that the stars had begun to fade and a grey light to appear
in the east. The crofter who owned the lurcher dog lived a couple of
miles off, so it was time for us to be on foot. Leaving Esther to tell
my father the story in such fashion as she might, we thrust some food in
our pockets and set off upon our solemn and eventful errand.

CHAPTER XVI. AT THE HOLE OF CREE

It was dark enough when we started to make it no easy matter to find our
way across the moors, but as we advanced it grew lighter and lighter,
until by the time we reached Fullarton's cabin it was broad daylight.

Early as it was, he was up and about, for the Wigtown peasants are an
early rising race. We explained our mission to him in as few words as
possible, and having made his bargain--what Scot ever neglected that
preliminary?--he agreed not only to let us have the use of his dog but
to come with us himself.

Mordaunt, in his desire for privacy, would have demurred at this
arrangement, but I pointed out to him that we had no idea what was in
store for us, and the addition of a strong, able-bodied man to our party
might prove to be of the utmost consequence.

Again, the dog was less likely to give us trouble if we had its master
to control it. My arguments carried the day, and the biped accompanied
us as well as his four-footed companion.

There was some little similarity between the two, for the man was a
towsy-headed fellow with a great mop of yellow hair and a straggling
beard, while the dog was of the long-haired, unkempt breed looking like
an animated bundle of oakum.

All our way to the Hall its owner kept retailing instances of the
creature's sagacity and powers of scent, which, according to his
account, were little less than miraculous. His anecdotes had a poor
audience, I fear, for my mind was filled with the strange story which I
had been reading, while Mordaunt strode on with wild eyes and feverish
cheeks, without a th