o
bring the party some food if he could obtain it, set off with Tom in the
direction of the country-house he had thought so attractive. The first
part of their way was over wild ground, without any beaten track; but as
it was tolerably open, they were able to get along without difficulty.
At length they came upon a path which led apparently from the house to a
landing-place, near which a small, gaily-painted boat was hauled up, and
a boathouse, which they concluded contained a larger craft.

"Now, this looks as if the people in the house yonder are well to do,"
observed Higson, "and are likely to have a good store of provisions."

"That is of the chief consequence to us just now," said Tom; "shall we
go up to the front entrance and tell them our errand, or find out the
back door, and get a servant to go in and say what we want?"

"Go in at once and explain what we require," answered Higson.

While speaking they were making their way along the path they had
discovered. In a short time they reached a small gate, and seeing the
roof of the house over the shrubbery, they concluded that by going
through the gate they could make a shorter cut through it. As time was
of consequence, they accordingly proceeded on by the pathway which led
through the shrubbery, when, just as they were about to emerge from it,
they heard the sound of a female voice singing in an accomplished and
very sweet manner. Higson put his hand on Tom's arm, and signed to him
to stop.

Those who have for many months been accustomed to the roar of guns, the
howling of the tempest, and the gruff voice of the boatswain, may
conceive what effect such dulcet notes were likely to produce on the
lieutenant and midshipman. They stopped for some time listening with
delight.

"I would not for the world run the risk of frightening her, whoever she
is," said Higson, when at length the lady ceased singing; "if we go on,
we shall come directly in front of the room in which she is sitting; the
window is open, or we should not hear the sound so plainly. We must try
and find some other way of approaching the house."

"If you will let me, sir, I'll creep forward and try to get a look
through the trees without being seen," said Tom, who was highly
delighted with the adventure, which promised, as he hoped, to be of a
romantic character. He was more of an age to enjoy the sort of thing
than his lieutenant. Higson, however, preferred looking for himself, as
he wa