; there was no
hay in the hay-loft, no corn in the corn-box. Any one would have
supposed the place to be deserted. But Dick had good reason to think
otherwise. He continued his inspection, visiting the offices, trying all
the windows. At length he came round to the sea-side of the house, and
there, sure enough, there burned a pale light in one of the upper
windows.

He stepped back a little way, till he thought he could see the movement
of a shadow on the wall of the apartment. Then he remembered that, in
the stable, his groping hand had rested for a moment on a ladder, and he
returned with all despatch to bring it. The ladder was very short, but
yet, by standing on the topmost round, he could bring his hands as high
as the iron bars of the windows; and seizing these, he raised his body
by main force until his eyes commanded the interior of the room.

Two persons were within; the first he readily knew to be Dame Hatch; the
second, a tall and beautiful and grave young lady, in a long,
embroidered dress--could that be Joanna Sedley? his old wood-companion,
Jack, whom he had thought to punish with a belt?

He dropped back again to the top round of the ladder in a kind of
amazement. He had never thought of his sweetheart as of so superior a
being, and he was instantly taken with a feeling of diffidence. But he
had little opportunity for thought. A low "Hist!" sounded from close by,
and he hastened to descend the ladder.

"Who goes?" he whispered.

"Greensheve," came the reply, in tones similarly guarded.

"What want ye?" asked Dick.

"The house is watched, Master Shelton," returned the outlaw. "We are not
alone to watch it; for even as I lay on my belly on the wall I saw men
prowling in the dark, and heard them whistle softly one to the other."

"By my sooth," said Dick, "but this is passing strange! Were they not
men of Sir Daniel's?"

"Nay, sir, that they were not," returned Greensheve; "for if I have eyes
in my head, every man-Jack of them weareth me a white badge in his
bonnet, something chequered with dark."

"White, chequered with dark," repeated Dick. "Faith, 'tis a badge I know
not. It is none of this country's badges. Well, an that be so, let us
slip as quietly forth from this garden as we may; for here we are in an
evil posture for defence. Beyond all question there are men of Sir
Daniel's in that house, and to be taken between two shots is a
beggarman's position. Take me this ladder; I must leave it w