re so foolish as to stop up all night at work over
those plane mirrors?"

"Oh no, uncle," cried Tom, who was now well started; and he plunged at
once into his narration, from the looking out of the window to his
return to bed.

"Tut--tut--tut!" ejaculated Uncle Richard, frowning, and looking very
grimly at his nephew, who, as soon as he had run down, changed from a
state of eager excitement to one of depression, and felt quite chilled
by the reception his news had met with.

"You don't think I ought to have done more, do you, uncle?" he faltered.

"More? Goodness gracious, boy, what more could you have done? You
behaved very pluckily, but it was a great risk to run. Then you have
not made it known?"

"No, uncle. David knows, of course, but I gave him strict orders not to
say a word."

"And he has not spoken?"

"No, uncle, I think not."

"Good! But you have not spoken to Mr Maxted?"

"No, uncle. I thought you ought to be the first to hear."

"Quite right, Tom. I am glad that in so serious a matter you kept your
own counsel. I don't think David would speak. Eh? Yes, Mrs Fidler,
we have quite done. Come along, Tom. We'll go over into the workshop."

Uncle Richard led the way, gazing keenly up at the little gallery as
they crossed the mill-yard.

"Tut--tut--tut!" he ejaculated. "Why, Tom, you might have broken your
neck."

He said no more till they were up in the laboratory, where he examined
the bureau, frowning heavily the while, and noting how easily, by the
insertion of a flat iron tool, the woodwork could be heaved up, so as to
allow the locked drawers to be wrenched open; and there were the marks
of chisel or screw-driver plainly showing where they had indented the
wood.

Then they went up into the observatory, and the great shutter was
examined.

"Hah! I see you have locked the stable door, Tom," exclaimed Uncle
Richard.

"Stable door, uncle?"

"Yes, now the steed is stolen. That shutter did not close securely.
Any one could pass a hand beneath, and then slip the bolt."

"Yes, uncle; and so I put a screw in there to hold it fast till you came
back."

"Quite right. I'll have it done properly. We'll secure it with a piece
of sheet-iron at the bottom. Come along down."

They went back into the laboratory below. Uncle Richard making a few
remarks about the trap-door, and the struggle at the steps, asking a few
questions too about the chase up and down, and round the workshop