.

Ten minutes later, in his working clothes, he set out to Monks Barton,
carrying an old horn lantern that had swung behind his father's caravan
twenty years before. At the farm all lights were out save one in the
kitchen; but Will went about his business as silently as possible, and
presently found the spade where he had flung it, the barrow where he had
overthrown it in the morning. So he set to work, his pipe under his
nose, his thoughts afar off in a golden paradise built of Uncle Ford's
sovereigns.

Billy Blee, whose attic window faced out upon the northern side of the
farm, had gone to bed, but he was still awake, and the grunt of a
wheelbarrow quickly roused him. Gazing into the night he guessed what
was doing, dragged on his trousers, and hurried down-stairs to his
master.

The miller sat with his head on his hand. His pipe was out and the
"night-cap" Phoebe had mixed for him long ago, remained untasted.

"Guy Fawkes an 'angels! here's a thing! If that Jack-o'-lantern of a
bwoy ban't back again. He'm delvin' theer, for all the world like a
hobgoblin demon, red as blood in the flicker of the light. I fancied't
was the Dowl hisself. But 't is Blanchard, sure. Theer's some dark
thought under it, I'll lay, or else he wants to come around 'e again."

His master doubted not that Billy was dreaming, but he went aloft and
looked to convince himself. In silence and darkness they watched Will at
work. Then Mr. Blee asked a question as the miller turned to go.

"What in thunder do it mean?"

"God knaws, I doan't. The man or bwoy, or whatever you call un, beats
me. I ban't built to tackle such a piece as him. He's took a year off my
life to-day. Go to your bed, Billy, an' let un bide."

"Gormed if I wouldn't like to slip down an' scat un ower the head for
what he done to me this marnin'. Such an auld man as me, tu! weak in the
hams this ten year."

"But strong in the speech. Maybe you pricked him with a bitter word,
an'--theer, theer, if I ban't standin' up for the chap now! Yet if I've
wished un dead wance, I have fifty times since I first heard tell of un.
Get to bed. I s'pose us'll knaw his drift come to-morrow."

Mr. Lyddon and Billy retired, and both slept ere Will Blanchard's work
was done. Upon its completion he sought the cold nocturnal waters of the
river, and then did a thing he had planned an hour before. Entering the
farmyard, he flung a small stone at Phoebe's window in the thatch, then
another. Bu