mall resemblance to a leg of mutton
turning before a fire.

That was the only mishap which occurred to him then, for after resting
for a few moments upon the first-floor sill he continued his journey,
and reached the bottom in the midst of a great laurel, which rustled
loudly as he tried to get out, and then tripped over a horizontal
branch, and fell flat.

He was up again in an instant, and, trembling and panting, made a couple
of bounds which took him over the gravel walk and on to the lawn, where
he stood panting and listening.

There was a light in the doctor's room, and one in Helen's; and just
then the doctor's shadow, looking horribly threatening, was thrown upon
the blind.

He must be coming, Dexter thought, and, turning quickly, he sped down
the lawn, avoiding the flower-beds by instinct, and the next minute had
reached the kitchen-garden, down whose winding green walk he rapidly
made his way.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

DARK DEEDS.

It was very dark among the trees as Dexter reached the grass plot which
sloped to the willows by the river-side, but he knew his way so well
that he crept along in silence till he had one hand resting upon the
trunk he had so often climbed, and stood there gazing across the starlit
water, trying to make out the figure of his companion in the boat.

All was silent, save that, now and then, the water as it ran among the
tree-roots made a peculiar whispering sound, and once or twice there was
a faint plash in the distance, as if from the feeding of a fish.

"Hist! Bob! Are you there!"

"Hullo!" came from the other side. "I was just a-going."

"Going?"

"Yes. I thought you wasn't a-coming, and I wasn't going to stop here
all night."

"But you said twelve."

"Well, it struck twelve an hour ago."

"No; that was eleven. There--hark!"

As proof of Dexter's assertion the church clock just then began to
chime, and the heavy boom of the tenor bell proclaiming midnight seemed
to make the soft night air throb.

"Thought it was twelve long enough ago. Ready!"

"Yes," said Dexter, in an excited whisper. "Got the boat?"

"No: course I haven't. It'll take two to get that boat."

"But you said you would have it ready."

"Yes, I know; but we must both of us do that. I waited till you come."

This was a shock; and Dexter said, in a disappointed tone--

"But how am I to get to you!"

"Come across," said Bob coolly.

"Come across--in the dark!"

"Why, of course. Y