nd take a
'constitutional' down the passage."

But Tom wasn't going to let another eclipse him in valour, particularly
as this quest was his, so, before Harry had done speaking, Tom ducked
and soon wriggled himself through the opening. Harry followed, after
cautioning Bill and Gloy to go out of the passage and keep watch, to
give the alarm in case Mr. Neeven or fule-Tammy should come upon the
scene.

The sealkie was neither alarmed nor disturbed by her visitors. She had
evidently returned to her tame confiding ways, and allowed the boys to
come close to her. When Harry spoke to her by name, using also some
soft notes which Fred had taught Trullya to understand as a call to
meals, she responded in her plaintive voice, which left no doubt of her
identity; but when Tom attempted to touch the baby she uttered a sharp
bark and glared at him in a manner that showed she was by no means
prepared to allow their overtures to go a step further.

"What shall we do if she won't come out?" asked Tom; "we couldn't
muffle her _here_, could we?"

"You go along, and leave madame to me," replied Harry; and Tom made his
exit.

Harry had "a way" with animals, and he soon managed to persuade Trullya
to leave her couch. Then the baby, restless and curious as small
persons are, crept to the opening and peeped out. The mother followed,
and finding the barriers against which she had daily fretted removed,
waddled slowly into the passage, followed by her young one.

Harry hastily tumbled the earth and broken bits of wood about the
opening, and followed the sealkie into the large room, where he found
her looking amazedly at the three boys stationed at spots where they
thought she might escape.

Tom had taken up the piece of sail-cloth, and he was preparing to throw
it over the seal when all were startled by the sound of a loud cough
not far away.

"Gracious!" one exclaimed in a horrified whisper.

"He's coming!" said another.

The cough was repeated, and the person who coughed was nearer.
Moreover, footsteps were heard! These sounds proceeded from the north
side of the house, and the four boys promptly and silently evacuated
the ruin over the south wall.

"Run for the peat-stack," Harry whispered; and when they were crouching
behind it he said briefly, "It's all up. That was Mr. Neeven. We must
creep round to the knowes, and then make tracks for our boat."

Setting the example, he started for the knowes, crawling over the