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diff --git a/old/30106.txt b/old/30106.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..89744b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30106.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17065 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vast Abyss, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Vast Abyss + The Story of Tom Blount, his Uncles and his Cousin Sam + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: W.H. Overend + +Release Date: September 27, 2009 [EBook #30106] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VAST ABYSS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Vast Abyss, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This is one of the very best books by GM Fenn. It has a good steady +pace, yet one is constantly wondering how some dreadful situation is to +be got out of. The hero is young Tom, whose father had been a doctor +who had died in some recent epidemic, which had also carried off his +mother. Tom has been taken into the house and law business of an +uncle, but he does not seem to be getting on well there. Another uncle +visits, and takes Tom back with him, giving him a much pleasanter and +more interesting life. Together they convert an old windmill into an +astronomical observatory, which means grinding the glass lenses and +mirrors, as well as bringing the structure of the building up to the +required standard. In this they are encouraged by the daily visits of +the vicar, while the housekeeper, Mrs Fidler, and the old gardener, make +various remarks on the sidelines. However, there is a boy in the +village whose behaviour is not good at all, and many of the episodes in +the story are concerned with him, his dog, and their deeds. + +Not wishing to spoil the story for you, we will simply say that there +is another issue involving the legal uncle, and his rather nasty son. +________________________________________________________________________ +THE VAST ABYSS, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +"I wish I wasn't such a fool!" + +Tom Blount said this to himself as he balanced that self upon a high +stool at a desk in his uncle's office in Gray's Inn. There was a big +book lying open, one which he had to study, but it did not interest him; +and though he tried very hard to keep his attention fixed upon its +learned words, invaluable to one who would some day bloom into a family +solicitor, that book would keep on forming pictures that were not +illustrations of legal practice in the courts of law. For there one +moment was the big black pond on Elleston Common, where the water lay so +still and deep under the huge elms, and the fat tench and eels every now +and then sent up bubbles of air, dislodged as they disturbed the bottom. + +At another time it would be the cricket-field in summer, or the football +on the common in winter, or the ringing ice on the winding river, with +the skates flashing as they sent the white powder flying before the +wind. + +Or again, as he stumbled through the opinions of the judge in +"Coopendale _versus_ Drabb's Exors.," the old house and garden would +stand out from the page like a miniature seen on the ground-glass of a +camera; and Tom Blount sighed and his eyes grew dim as he thought of the +old happy days in the pleasant home. For father and mother both had +passed away to their rest; the house was occupied by another tenant; and +he, Tom Blount, told himself that he ought to be very grateful to Uncle +James for taking him into his office, to make a man of him by promising +to have him articled if, during his year of probation, he proved himself +worthy. + +"I wouldn't mind its being so dull," he thought, "or my aunt not liking +me, or Sam being so disagreeable, if I could get on--but I can't. +Uncle's right, I suppose, in what he says. He ought to know. I'm only +a fool; and it doesn't seem to matter how I try, I can't get on." + +Just then a door opened, letting in a broad band of sunshine full of +dancing motes, and at the same time Samuel Brandon, a lad of about the +same age as Tom, but rather slighter of build, but all the same more +manly of aspect. He was better dressed too, and wore a white flower in +his button-hole, and a very glossy hat. One glove was off, displaying a +signet-ring, and he brought with him into the dingy office a strong +odour of scent, whose source was probably the white pocket-handkerchief +prominently displayed outside his breast-pocket. + +"Hullo, bumpkin!" he cried. "How's Tidd getting on?" + +"Very slowly," said Tom. "I wish you'd try and explain what this bit +means." + +"Likely! Think I'm going to find you in brains. Hurry on and peg away. +Shovel it in, and think you are going to be Lord Chancellor some day. +Guv'nor in his room?" + +"No; he has gone on down to the Court. Going out?" + +"Yes; up the river--Maidenhead. You heard at the breakfast, didn't +you?" + +Tom shook his head. + +"I didn't hear," he said sadly. + +"You never hear anything or see anything. I never met such a dull, +chuckle-headed chap as you are. Why don't you wake up?" + +"I don't know; I do try," said Tom sadly. + +"You don't know!--you don't know anything. I don't wonder at the +governor grumbling at you. You'll have to pull up your boots if you +expect to be articled here, and so I tell you. There, I'm off. I've +got to meet the mater at Paddington at twelve. I say, got any money?" + +"No," said Tom sadly. + +"Tchah! you never have. There, pitch into Tidd. You've got your work +cut out, young fellow. No letters for me?" + +"No. Yes, there is--one." + +"No!--yes! Well, you are a pretty sort of a fellow. Where is it?" + +"I laid it in uncle's room." + +"What! Didn't I tell you my letters were not to go into his room? Of +all the--" + +Tom sighed, though he did not hear the last words, for his cousin +hurried into the room on their right, came back with a letter, hurried +out, and the door swung to again. + +"It's all through being such a fool, I suppose," muttered the boy. "Why +am I not as clever and quick as Sam is? He's as sharp as uncle; but +uncle doesn't seem a bit like poor mother was." + +Just then Tom Blount made an effort to drive away all thoughts of the +past by planting his elbows on the desk, doubling his fists, and resting +his puckered-up brow upon them, as he plunged once more into the study +of the legal work. + +But the thoughts would come flitting by, full of sunshiny memories of +the father who died a hero's death, fighting as a doctor the fell +disease which devastated the country town; and of the mother who soon +after followed her husband, after requesting her brother to do what he +could to help and protect her son. + +Then the thought of his mother's last prayer came to him as it often +did--that he should try his best to prove himself worthy of his uncle's +kindness by studying hard. + +"And I do--I do--I do," he burst out aloud, passionately, "only it is so +hard; and, as uncle says, I am such a fool." + +"You call me, Blount?" said a voice, and a young old-looking man came in +from the next office. + +"I!--call? No, Pringle," said Tom, colouring up. + +"You said something out loud, sir, and I thought you called." + +"I--I--" + +"Oh, I see, sir; you was speaking a bit out of your book. Not a bad way +to get it into your head. You see you think it and hear it too." + +"It's rather hard to me, I'm afraid," said Tom, with the puzzled look +intensifying in his frank, pleasant face. + +"Hard, sir!" said the man, smiling, and wiping the pen he held on the +tail of his coat, though it did not require it, and then he kept on +holding it up to his eye as if there were a hair or bit of grit between +the nibs. "Yes, I should just think it is hard. Nutshells is nothing +to it. Just like bits of granite stones as they mend the roads with. +They won't fit nowhere till you wear 'em and roll 'em down. The law is +a hard road and no mistake." + +"And--and I don't think I'm very clever at it, Pringle." + +"Clever! You'd be a rum one, sir, if you was. Nobody ever masters it +all. They pretend to, but it would take a thousand men boiled down and +double distilled to get one as could regularly tackle it. It's an +impossibility, sir." + +"What!" said Tom, with plenty of animation now. "Why, look at all the +great lawyers!" + +"So I do, sir, and the judges too, and what do I see? Don't they all +think different ways about things, and upset one another? Don't you get +thinking you're not clever because you don't get on fast. As I said +before, you'd be a rum one if you did." + +"But my cousin does," said Tom. + +"Him? Ck!" cried the clerk, with a derisive laugh. "Why, it's my +belief that you know more law already than Mr Sam does, and what I say +to you is--Look out! the guv'nor!" + +The warning came too late, for Mr James Brandon entered the outer +office suddenly, and stopped short, to look sharply from one to the +other--a keen-eyed, well-dressed man of five-and-forty; and as his brows +contracted he said sharply-- + +"Then you've finished the deed, Pringle?" just as the clerk was in the +act of passing through the door leading to the room where he should have +been at work. + +"The deed, sir?--no, not quite, sir. Shan't be long, sir." + +"You shall be long--out of work, Mr Pringle, if you indulge in the bad +habit of idling and gossiping as soon as my back's turned." + +Pringle shot back to his desk, the door swung to, and Mr James Brandon +turned to his nephew, with his face looking double of aspect--that is to +say, the frown was still upon his brow, while a peculiarly tight-looking +smile appeared upon his lips, which seemed to grow thinner and longer, +and as if a parenthesis mark appeared at each end to shut off the smile +as something illegal. + +"I am glad you are mastering your work so well, Tom," he said softly. + +"Mastering it, uncle!" said Tom, with an uneasy feeling of doubt raised +by his relative's look. "I--I'm afraid I am getting on very slowly." + +"But you can find time to idle and hinder my clerk." + +"He had only just come in, uncle, and--" + +"That will do, sir," said the lawyer, with the smile now gone. "I've +told you more than once, sir, that you were a fool, and now I repeat it. +You'll never make a lawyer. Your thick, dense brain has only one +thought in it, and that is how you can idle and shirk the duty that I +for your mother's sake have placed in your way. What do you expect, +sir?--that I am going to let you loaf about my office, infecting those +about you, and trying to teach your cousin your lazy ways? I don't know +what I could have been thinking about to take charge of such a great +idle, careless fellow." + +"Not careless, uncle," pleaded the lad. "I do try, but it is so hard." + +"Silence, sir! Try!--not you. I meant to do my duty by you, and in due +time to impoverish myself by paying for your articles--nearly a hundred +pounds, sir. But don't expect it. I'm not going to waste my +hard-earned savings upon a worthless, idle fellow. Lawyer! Pish! +You're about fit for a shoeblack, sir, or a carter. You'll grow into as +great an idiot as your father was before you. What my poor sister could +have seen in him I don't--" + +_Bang_! + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +The loudly-closed door of the private office cut short Mr James +Brandon's speech, and he had passed out without looking round, or he +would have seen that his nephew looked anything but a fool as he sat +there with his fists clenched and his eyes flashing. + +"How dare he call my dear dead father an idiot!" he said in a low fierce +voice through his compressed teeth. "Oh, I can't bear it--I won't bear +it. If I were not such a miserable coward I should go off and be a +soldier, or a sailor, or anything so that I could be free, and not +dependent on him. I'll go. I must go. I cannot bear it," he muttered; +and then with a feeling of misery and despair rapidly increasing, he +bent down over his book again, for a something within him seemed to +whisper--"It would be far more cowardly to give up and go." + +Then came again the memory of his mother's words, and he drew his breath +through his teeth as if he were in bodily as well as mental pain; and +forcing himself to read, he went on studying the dreary law-book till, +in his efforts to understand the author, his allusions, quotations, +footnotes, and references, he grew giddy, and at last the words grew +blurred, and he had to read sentences over and over again to make sense +of them, which slid out of his mind like so much quicksilver. + +Lunch-time came, and Pringle crept through the place where he was +seated, glanced at Mr Brandon's door, stepped close up, and whispered-- + +"I'm going to get my dinner. Don't look downhearted about a wigging, +Mr Tom. It's nothing when you're used to it." + +"Ahem!" came from the inner office, and Pringle made a grimace like a +pantomime clown, suggesting mock horror and fear, as he glided to the +outer door, where he turned, looked back, and then disappeared; while, +as soon as he was alone, Tom took out a paper of sandwiches, opened it, +and began to eat, it being an understood thing that he should not leave +the office all day. + +But those sandwiches, good enough of their kind, tasted as if they were +made of sawdust, and he had hard work to get them down, and then only by +the help of a glass of water from the table-filter, standing at the side +of the office--kept, Pringle said, to revive unfortunate clients whose +affairs were going to the bad. Every now and then a cough was heard +from the inner office, and Tom hurried over his meal in dread lest his +uncle should appear before he had finished. Then, as soon as the last +was eaten, and the paper thrust into the waste-basket, the boy attacked +his book once more, and had hardly recommenced when the inner office +door opened, and his uncle appeared, looking at him sharply--ready, Tom +thought, to find fault with him for being so long over his midday meal. + +But there was nothing to complain about. + +"I'm going to have my lunch," he said sharply, "and I may not come back, +though all the same I may. Mind that man Pringle goes on with his work, +and don't let me have any fault to find about your reading. When you go +home tell them to give you something to eat, for there will be no +regular dinner to-day, as I shall be out. Take home any letters that +may come, in case I don't look in." + +"All right, uncle." + +"And don't speak in that free-and-easy, offhand, unbusiness-like manner. +Say `Yes, sir,' and `No, sir,' if you are not too stupid to remember." + +He put on his hat and went out, leaving the boy feeling as if a fresh +sting had been planted in his breast, and his brow wrinkled up more than +ever, while his heart grew more heavy in his intense yearning for +somebody who seemed to care for him, if ever so little. + +Five minutes later Pringle came back, looking shining and refreshed. As +he entered he gave Tom an inquiring look, and jerked his head sidewise +toward the inner office. + +Tom was not too stupid to understand the dumb language of that look and +gesture. + +"No," he replied. "He went out five minutes ago, and said that very +likely he wouldn't be back." + +"And that you were to take any letters home after office hours?" + +"Yes; how did you know?" + +"How did I know!" said the clerk with a chuckle; "because I've been +caught before. That means that he'll be sure to look in before very +long to see whether we are busy. You'd better read hard, sir, and don't +look up when he comes. Pst! 'ware hawk!" + +He slipped into the little office, and his stool made a scraping noise, +while, almost before Tom had settled down to his work, the handle of the +outer door turned and his uncle bustled in. + +"Here, did I leave my umbrella?" he said sharply. + +"I did not see it, uncle--sir," replied Tom, jumping from his stool. + +"Keep your place, sir, and go on with your work. Don't be so fond of +seizing any excuse to get away from your books. Humph, yes," he +muttered, as he reached into his room and took up the ivory-handled +article from where it stood. + +The next moment he was at the door of the clerk's office. + +"By the way, Pringle, you had better go and have that deed stamped this +afternoon if you get it done in time." + +"Yes, sir," came back sharply, and the lawyer frowned, turned round, and +went out once more. + +The outer door had not closed a minute before the inner one opened, and +Pringle's head appeared, but with its owner evidently on the alert, and +ready to snatch it back again. + +"Good-bye! Bless you!" he said aloud. "Pray take care of yourself, +sir. You can bob back again if you like, but I shan't be out getting +the deed stamped, because, as you jolly well know, it won't be done +before this time to-morrow." + +Pringle looked at Tom, smiled, and nodded. + +"You won't tell him what I said, Mr Tom, I know. But I say, don't you +leave your stool. You take my advice. Don't you give him a chance to +row you again, because I can see how it hurts you." + +Tom's lip quivered as he looked wistfully at the clerk. + +"It's all right, sir. You just do what's c'rect, and you needn't mind +anything. I ain't much account, but I do know that. I wouldn't stay +another month, only there's reasons, you see, and places are easier to +lose than find, 'specially when your last guv'nor makes a face with the +corners of his lips down when any one asks for your character. Pst! +look out. Here he is again." + +For there was a step at the door, the handle rattled, and as Pringle +disappeared, a quiet, grave-looking, middle-aged man stepped in. + +"Do, Tom!" he said, as with an ejaculation of surprise the boy sprang +from his stool and eagerly took the extended hand, but dropped it again +directly, for there did not seem to be any warmth in the grasp. "Quite +well, boy?" + +"Yes, Uncle Richard," said Tom, rather sadly. + +"That's right. Where's my brother?" + +"He has gone out, sir, and said he might not return this afternoon." + +"Felt I was coming perhaps," said the visitor. "Here, don't let me +hinder you, my lad; he won't like you to waste time. Getting on with +your law reading?" + +The boy looked at him wistfully, and shook his head. + +"Eh? No? But you must, my lad. You're no fool, you know, and you've +got to be a clever lawyer before you've done." + +Tom felt disposed to quote his other uncle's words as to his folly, but +he choked down the inclination. + +"There, I won't hinder you, my lad," continued the visitor. "I know +what you busy London people are, and how we slow-going country folk get +in your way. I only want to look at a Directory,--you have one I know." + +"Yes, sir, in the other office. I'll fetch it." + +The quiet, grey-haired, grave-looking visitor gave a nod as if of +acquiescence, and Tom ran into the inner office, where he found that +Pringle must have heard every word, for he was holding out the London +Directory all ready. + +"He must hear everything too when uncle goes on at me," thought Tom, as +he took the Directory and returned Pringle's friendly nod. + +"Tell him he ought to give you a tip." + +Tom frowned, shook his head, and hurried back with the great red book. + +"Hah, that's right, my boy," said the visitor. "There, I don't want to +bother about taking off my gloves and putting on my spectacles. Turn to +the trades, and see if there are any lens-makers down." + +"Yes, sir, several," said Tom, after a short search. + +"Read 'em down, boy." + +Tom obeyed alphabetically till he came to D, and he had got as far as +Dallmeyer when his visitor stopped him. + +"That will do," he said. "That's the man I want. Address?" + +Tom read this out, and the visitor said-- + +"Good; but write it down so that I don't forget. It's so easy to have +things drop out of your memory." + +Tom obeyed, and the visitor took up the slip of paper, glanced at it, +and nodded. + +"That's right. Nice clear hand, that one can read easily." + +"And Uncle James said my writing was execrable," thought Tom. + +"Good-bye for the present, boy. Tell your uncle I've been, and that I +shall come on in time for dinner. Bye. Be a good boy, and stick to +your reading." + +He nodded, shook hands rather coldly, and went out, leaving Tom looking +wistfully after him with the big Directory in his hands. + +"They neither of them like me," he said to himself, feeling sadly +depressed, when he started, and turned sharply round. + +"On'y me, Mr Tom," said the clerk. "I'll take that. Directories +always live in my office. I say, sir." + +"Yes, Pringle." + +"I used to wish I'd got a lot of rich old uncles, but I don't now. +Wouldn't give tuppence a dozen for 'em. Ketched again!--All right, Mr +Tom, sir; I'll put it away." + +For the door opened once more, and their late visitor thrust in his +head. + +"Needn't tell your uncle I shall come to-night." + +Pringle disappeared with the Directory, and Uncle Richard gazed after +him in a grim way as he continued-- + +"Do you hear? Don't tell him I shall come; and you needn't mention that +I said he wouldn't want me, nor to his wife and boy neither. Bye." + +The door closed again, and the inner door opened, and Pringle's head +appeared once more. + +"Nor we don't neither, nor nobody else don't. I say, Mr Tom, I thought +it was the governor. Ever seen him before?" + +"Only twice," said Tom. "He has been abroad a great deal. He only came +back to England just before dear mother--" + +Tom stopped short, and Pringle nodded, looked very grave, and said +softly-- + +"I know what you was going to say, Mr Tom." + +"And I saw him again," continued the lad, trying to speak firmly, "when +it was being settled that I was to come here to learn to be a lawyer. +Uncle James wanted Uncle Richard to bring me up, but he wouldn't, and +said I should be better here." + +"Well, perhaps you are, Mr Tom, sir," said Pringle thoughtfully. "I +don't know as I should care to live with him." + +"Nor I, Pringle, for--Here, I say, I don't know why I tell you all +this." + +Pringle grinned. + +"More don't I, sir. P'r'aps it's because we both get into trouble +together, and that makes people hang to one another. Steps again. Go +it, sir." + +The clerk darted away, and Tom started leading once more; but the steps +passed, and so did the long, dreary afternoon, with Tom struggling hard +to master something before six o'clock came; and before the clock had +done striking Pringle was ready to shut up and go. + +"You'll take the keys, sir," he said. "Guv'nor won't come back now. +I've got well on with that deed, if he asks you when he comes home. +Good-evening, sir." + +"Good-evening, Pringle," said Tom; and ten minutes later he was on his +way to his uncle's house in Mornington Crescent, where he found dinner +waiting for him, and though it was only cold, it was made pleasant by +the handmaid's smile. + +Tom began a long evening all alone over another law-book, and at last, +with his head aching, and a dull, weary sense of depression, he went up +to the bedroom which he shared with his cousin, jumped into his own bed +as soon as he could to rest his aching head, and lay listening to a +street band playing airs that sounded depressing and sorrowful in the +extreme, and kept him awake till he felt as if he could never drop off, +and cease hearing the rumble of omnibuses and carts. + +Then all at once Mr Tidd came and sat upon his head, and made it ache +ten times worse, or so it seemed--Mr Tidd being the author of one of +the books his uncle had placed in his hands to read. + +He tried to force him off, but he would not stir, only glared down at +him laughing loud, and then mockingly, till the torture seemed too much +to be borne; and in an agony of misery and despair he tried to escape +from the pressure, and to assure his torturer that he would strive hard +to master the book. But not a word could he utter, only lie there +panting, till the eyes that glared looked close down into his, and a +voice said-- + +"Now then, wake up, stupid. Don't be snoring like that." + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Tom Blount started up in bed confused and staring. He was only half +awake, and it was some time before he could realise that it was his +cousin, who had come back from his trip boisterous and elated, and who +had been playing him some trick as he lay there asleep. + +"Well, what are you staring at, old torpid?" cried Sam, as he now began +to divest himself slowly of his coat and vest. + +"I--that is--have been asleep," stammered Tom. + +"Asleep? Yes, and snoring loud enough to bring the plaster off the +ceiling. Why, you must have been gorging yourself like a +boa-constrictor, and been sleeping it off. Come, wake up, bumpkin, +you're half stupid now." + +"I'm quite awake, Sam. Had a pleasant day? I say, were you sitting on +my head?" + +"Was I doing what?" cried Sam. "No, I wasn't; but you want some one to +sit upon you to bring you to your senses. Wake up; I want to talk." + +Tom tried to rub the last traces of his drowsiness out of his eyes, and +now sat up watching his cousin, who, after taking off collar and tie, +unfastened his braces, and then, as if moved by a sudden thought, he +tied the aforesaid suspenders about his waist. Then, grinning to +himself, he stooped down, untied his Oxford shoes, pushed them off, took +up one, and shouting "_Play_!" bowled it sharply at Tom where he sat up +in bed on the other side of the room. + +It was a bad shot, for the shoe whizzed by the lad's side, and struck +the scroll-work of the iron bedstead with a sharp rap, and fell on the +pillow. + +"Play again!" cried Sam, and he sent the second shoe spinning with a +vicious energy at the still confused and sleepy boy. + +This time the aim was excellent, and Tom was too helpless to avoid the +missile, which struck him heavily, the edge of the heel catching him on +the chin, and making him wince. + +"Well played--well bowled!" cried Sam, laughing boisterously. "I say, +bumpkin, that's the way to wake you up." + +Tom's face grew dark, and the hand which he held to his injured face +twitched as if the fingers were trying to clench themselves and form a +fist for their owner's defence; but the boy did not stir, only sat +looking at his cousin, who now struck an attitude, made two or three +feints, and then dashed forward hitting out sharply, catching Tom in the +chest, and knocking him backward so heavily that it was his crown now +that struck the scroll-work of the bed. + +"That's your sort, countryman," cried Sam. "How do you like that +style?" + +"Don't! Be quiet, will you," said the boy in a suffocated voice, as he +sat up once more. + +"What for?" cried Sam. "Here, get up and have a round with the gloves. +I feel as if I can hit to-night. It's the rowing. My arms are as hard +as wood." + +"No; be quiet," said Tom huskily. "They'll hear you down-stairs." + +"Let 'em," said Sam, chuckling to himself as he dragged open a drawer, +and brought out a couple of pairs of boxing-gloves, two of which he +hurled with all his might like a couple of balls at his cousin's head. + +But the boy was wide-awake now, and caught each glove in turn, letting +it fall afterwards upon the bed before him. + +"Now then, shove 'em on," cried Sam, as he thrust his own hands into the +gloves he held. "Look sharp, or I'll knock you off the bed." + +"No, no," cried Tom; "don't be so absurd. How can I when I'm +undressed?" + +"Put on your trousers then. D'yer hear? Be quick now, or you'll have +it." + +"You'll have uncle hear you directly if you don't be quiet." + +"You'll have him hear you go off that bed lump if you don't jump out and +get ready. Now then, are you going to begin?" + +"No," said Tom sturdily. "I'm going to sleep." + +He snuggled down in his place and drew the clothes up to his ear, but +they did not stay there, for Sam began his attack, bounding forward and +bringing the padded gloves _thud_, _thud_, down upon his cousin's head, +as if bent upon driving it down into the pillow. + +Tom sat up again quickly with his teeth set, and his eyes flashing. + +"Will you be quiet?" he cried in a low, half-suffocated voice. + +"Will you put on those gloves?" cried Sam. + +"No; I'm not going to make such a fool of myself at this time of night," +said Tom. + +"Lie down then," cried Sam, and hitting out again cleverly he knocked +his cousin back on to the pillow, following it up with other blows, each +having the same result, for Tom struggled up again and again. + +"Now, will you get up?" cried Sam. + +"No," said Tom hoarsely; and down he went once more. + +"You'd better jump up and do as I tell you, or it will be the worse for +you." + +"You'd better leave me alone before you get my temper up." + +"Temper, bumpkin? Yes, you'd better show your teeth. Take that, and +that, and that." + +Tom did take them--heavy blows delivered with the soft gloves, but all +falling hard enough to inflict a good deal of pain, and make the boy +draw his breath hard. + +"That's your sort," continued Sam, who danced about by the side of the +bed, skilfully delivering his blows upon his defenceless cousin, and +revelling in the pleasure he found in inflicting pain. "That'll knock +some sense into your thick head, and so will that, and that, and that, +and--Oh!" + +Sam had gone too far, for after trying all he could to avoid the blows, +Tom suddenly gathered himself together and shot out of bed full at his +cousin's breast, sending him down heavily in a sitting position first +and then backwards, so that his head struck heavily against the iron leg +of his own bedstead. + +Then, thoroughly up now, Tom flung himself upon his cousin, tore off his +gloves, and stuffed them under his bed-clothes, and was looking for the +others, when he was sent down in turn by Sam. + +"You savage beast!" cried the latter. "I'll teach you to do that;" and +flinging himself on Tom's chest, he nipped him with his knees, and began +to belabour him with his fists. + +Then a fierce struggle began. Sam was jerked off, and for a few moments +there was an angry up-and-down wrestle, ending in Sam becoming the +undermost, with Tom occupying his position in turn, and holding his +cousin down just as the bedroom door was opened, and Mr James Brandon +entered in his dressing-gown, and holding up a candle above his head. + +"What is the meaning of all this?" he cried angrily, as Tom sprang up +and darted into bed. + +"Yes, you may well say that, father," cried Sam, rising slowly, and +beginning to try and fasten the neck of his shirt, but vainly, for the +button-hole was torn and the button off. "If that country wild beast is +to stop here I shan't sleep in the same room." + +Sam's father turned to Tom, who now lay in bed staring, mentally stunned +by the tone his cousin had taken. + +"What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "How dare you, sir!" + +"Why, he began at me, uncle, while I was asleep, and--" + +"Silence, sir! I will not have the calm and repose of my house +disturbed by such disgraceful conduct. Past twelve o'clock, you ought +to be asleep, and here is a regular riot in the place." + +"There, I told you how it would be," said Sam in an ill-used, +remonstrative tone. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, but no more, for a hot feeling of indignation +forced him to be silent, stung as he was by the injustice of the +disturbance being laid at his door. + +"_Oh_! indeed!" cried his uncle. "It is scandalous, sir. Out of +charity and compassion for your forlorn state, I give you a home and +brilliant prospects, and you set yourself to work in every way possible +to make me repent my kindness. It is abominable. You make friends with +the servants; you are idle and stupid and careless beyond belief; and +when you come back at night to my peaceful quiet home, you must +introduce your low, blackguardly habits, and begin quarrelling and +fighting with your cousin." + +"I can't speak--I won't speak," said Tom to himself, as he set his teeth +hard. "And as for Sam, I'll--" + +He had not time to say to himself what he would do to his cousin, for +his uncle had worked himself up now to deliver a sounding tirade upon +his base, disgraceful conduct, finding plenty of epithets suitable as he +considered for the occasion, and making the poor lad writhe as he lay +there, hot and panting beneath the undeserved reproaches till he was +quite out of breath; while, to make matters worse, Sam put in a word or +two in a murmuring tone--"He knew how it would be," and "It was of no +use for him to speak," and the like. And all the time Tom's indignation +made him feel more stubbornly determined to hold his peace. + +"It's of no use for me to complain," he thought. "Uncle hates me, and +he will not believe, and it's too hard to bear." + +"Once for all, sir," cried his uncle, "remember this--if you stay here +there must be a marked improvement in your conduct, both as to your work +at the office and your behaviour in my house. I won't have it--do you +hear? I won't have it. That sulky way too won't go down with me. Here +you, Sam, undress and get to bed, and if he interferes with you again, +call me at once; but if I do come up, unwilling as I should be, I shall +feel called upon, out of my duty to his mother, to read him a very +severe lesson, such as his schoolmaster should have read him years ago. +Now silence, both of you; and as for you, sir, bear in mind what I have +said, for, as you ought to know by this time, I am a man of my word." + +The door was shut loudly, and the resounding steps were heard, followed +by the banging of the bedroom door on the next floor. + +"There, now you know, bumpkin," said Sam, with a sneering laugh. + +Tom sat up in bed as if a spring had been touched. + +"You sneak!" he cried. + +"What?" + +"I say you sneak--you miserable, cowardly sneak!" + +"Look here," cried Sam, "you say another word and I'll call the guv'nor, +and you know what he meant; he'll give you a good licking, and serve you +right." + +"Oh!" muttered Tom between his teeth, while his cousin went on quietly +undressing. + +"That would soon bring you to your senses. I wanted to be friendly with +you, and have just a bit of a game, but you must turn nasty, and it just +serves you right." + +"Oh!" muttered Tom again. + +"I thought that would quiet you, my lad. He'd bring up his old rattan, +and loosen that stiff hide of yours. There, go to sleep, bumpkin, and +think yourself lucky you got off so well." + +A minute later the candle was extinguished, and Sam jumped into bed, to +fall asleep directly, but Tom lay with his head throbbing till the pale +dawn began to creep into the room; and then only did he fall into a +troubled doze, full of unpleasant dreams one after the other, till it +was time to rise, get his breakfast alone, and hurry off to the office. +For breakfast was late, and aunt, uncle, and cousin did not put in an +appearance till long after Tom had climbed upon his stool in Gray's Inn. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +That day and many following Tom sat over his books or copying, musing +upon the injustice of the treatment he was receiving, and feeling more +and more the misery of his new life. He looked with envy at nearly +every boy he met, and thought of the happy, independent life they seemed +to lead. But he worked hard all the same. + +"I won't give up," he would say through his set teeth. "Uncle shall see +that if I'm not clever I can persevere, and master what I have to +learn." + +But in spite of his determination he did not progress very fast, for the +simple reason that he expected to learn in a few months the work of many +years. + +The weeks did not pass without plenty of unpleasant encounters with his +cousin, while pretty well every day there was a snubbing or downright +bullying from his uncle. + +"But never you mind, Mr Tom," Pringle would say; "things always come +right in the end." + +One of Tom's greatest troubles was his home life, and the evident +aversion shown to him by his aunt. She had received him coldly and +distantly at the first, and her manner did not become warmer as the +months wore on. Possibly she had once been a sweet, amiable woman, but +troubles with her husband and son had produced an acidity of temper and +habit of complaining which were not pleasant for those with whom she +lived. Her husband escaped, from the fact that she held him in fear, +while Sam was too much idolised to receive anything but the fondest +attentions. + +Tom's perceptions were keen enough, and he soon saw for himself that his +uncle repented his generosity in taking him into his home; while his +aunt's feeling for him was evidently one of jealousy, as if his presence +was likely to interfere with her darling's prospects. + +She resented his being there more and more; and though Tom tried hard to +win her love and esteem, he found at the end of six months that he was +as far from his object as ever. + +"I'm only in the way there," he often said to himself; "I wish I could +live always here at the office." + +But as he thought this he looked round with a slight shiver, and thought +of how dreary it would be shut up there with the law-books, tin boxes, +and dusty papers, and he gave up the idea. + +Often of a night it was like a temptation to him--that intense longing +to be free; and he would sit with a book before him, but his mind +wandering far away, following the adventures of boys of his own age who +had gone away to seek their fortunes, and if they had not found all they +sought, had at least achieved some kind of success. + +And how grand it would be, he thought, with his cheeks flushing, to be +independent, and work his own way without encountering day by day his +uncle's sour sneers and reproaches, his aunt's cold looks, and his +cousin's tyranny. + +"I could make my way, I know I could," he thought, and the outlook grew +day by day more rosy. Those were pleasant paths, he told himself, that +he wanted to tread, and it never occurred to him that if he went among +strangers they might be harder than his uncle. + +But the outcome of these musings was always the same: there was the +stern figure of Duty rising before him to remind him of his promise to +his mother, and with his brow knitting, his hands would clench beneath +table or desk as he softly muttered to himself-- + +"I'm going to be a lawyer, and I will succeed." + +But it has been written by a wise man, "There's a divinity that shapes +our ends, rough-hew them how we will," and Tom Blount was soon to find +out its truth. + +Matters had been going very badly at Mornington Crescent, and the boy's +life was harder than ever to bear, for, presuming upon his patience, Sam +Brandon was more tyrannical than ever. Words failing to sting +sufficiently, he had often had recourse to blows, and these Tom had +borne patiently, till, to his cousin's way of thinking, he was about as +contemptible a coward as ever existed. + +One morning at the office Sam was seated opposite to his cousin writing, +Pringle was busily employed in the other room, and Tom was putting +stamps on some letters, when his eye lit upon one standing edgewise +against a gum-bottle between him and his cousin. + +Just then Mr Brandon bustled in looking very stern and angry, and he +gave a sharp look round the office. Then his eyes lit upon Tom and his +task. + +"What letters are those?" he said. + +"The tithe notices, sir, you told me to fill up and direct from the +book," replied Tom. + +"Humph! yes, quite right. Oh, by the way, Samuel, did you post that +letter to Mr Wilcox yesterday afternoon?" + +"Yes, father," said Sam promptly; and as he raised his eyes he saw his +cousin's gazing at the letter standing on edge between them. + +Sam turned pale as he now met Tom's keen look. + +It was all momentary, in the interval of Mr Brandon's first words and +his next question. "Then how is it that Mr Wilcox has not received it, +and been on to me at home full of anxiety about not having my answer to +an important question?" + +"I don't know, father," said Sam sharply. + +"Are you sure you posted the letter?" + +"Oh yes, father. No; I recollect now: some one came in on business, to +ask for you, and I told Tom Blount here to take it directly. Oh!" he +cried, "I say, it is too bad. Why, you didn't take it, Tom. Here's the +letter, father, all the time." + +He took up and held out the unfortunate missive, shaking his head at Tom +the while. + +"You never told me to take any letter yesterday," said Tom quietly. + +"Oh--my! What a lie, to be sure!" cried Sam, as if perfectly astounded. +"Pringle must have heard me at the time." + +"Of course," said his father, speaking with his lips tightly compressed, +so that his voice sounded muttering and indistinct. Then aloud--"Here, +Pringle." + +_Scroop_ went Pringle's stool, and he hurried in. "You call, sir?" + +"Yes. What time was it when you heard Mr Samuel tell his cousin to go +out and post a letter?" + +"Never heard anything of the kind, sir, at any time." + +"That will do," said his employer. + +"Row on," thought Pringle. "I hope he isn't going to catch it again." + +Then as the door closed Mr Brandon, whose countenance was flushed and +his eyes angry-looking, turned upon his son. + +"Do you think I am blind, sir?" he said sharply. + +"No, father: I don't know what you mean." + +"Then I'll tell you, sir. I mean that you have told me a miserable +falsehood--a disgraceful falsehood." + +"I haven't, father. I told Tom here to take the letter;" and he gave +his cousin a fierce look which evidently said, "Say I told you, or it +will be the worse for you," and he accompanied the look with a sharp +kick under the desk, which took effect on Tom's shin, rousing him to a +pitch of fury and obstinate determination. + +"Oh, you haven't, eh?" said Mr Brandon. "Tom, did your cousin tell you +to post that letter?" + +"Yes, you know I did," cried Sam. + +"No, uncle." + +"I did. You've forgotten it, or else you're saying that out of spite," +cried Sam desperately. + +"I haven't forgotten it, and I'm not saying what I did out of spite," +said Tom firmly. "Indeed I spoke the truth, uncle." + +"Yes; I believe you," said Mr Brandon. + +"Shall I go and post the letter now, sir?" + +"No; it is too late. Here, Samuel, come into my room." + +Mr Brandon walked into his room, while Sam got down slowly from his +stool, leaning over toward his cousin the while. + +"I'll serve you out for this," he whispered, and then crossed to his +father's room. + +There was a low murmur of voices from within as soon as the door was +closed; but that door fitted too closely for any of the conversation to +be heard. Not that Tom was listening, for he was feeling a kind of pity +for his cousin's position, and more warmly towards his uncle for his +simple act of justice than he had felt for months. + +Just then there was a faint creaking sound, and looking behind him, it +was to see that the inner office door was open, and Pringle standing +there framed as it were, and going through a pantomimic performance +expressive of his intense delight, grimacing, rubbing his hands, and +laughing silently. Then he gesticulated and pointed toward the private +office, and rubbed his hands again, till there was a sound in the +private room, and he darted back and closed the door. + +All this was meant for Tom's amusement, and as congratulation; but the +boy did not feel in the least elated, but sat waiting for his cousin's +return, fully intending to offer him his hand and whisper, "I am sorry-- +but you should have told the truth." + +A good half-hour passed before Sam came out, looking very red in the +face; but when he took his place on his stool, Tom did not reach across +to offer his hand, for his cousin's face repelled him, and he felt that +something would come of all this--what he could not tell. Still there +was one gratifying thing left: his uncle had taken his word before that +of his cousin, and this little thing comforted him during the remainder +of that unpleasant day. + +Before the afternoon was half over Mr Brandon came to his door and +called Sam, who went in, and then took his hat and went away, to Tom's +great relief, for it was far from pleasant to be sitting at a double +desk facing one who kept on darting scowling looks full of threatenings. + +An hour later Mr Brandon left, after sending Pringle upon some errand, +and for the rest of the afternoon the boy had the office to himself. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +In due time Tom locked up the safe and strong-room, saw that no +important papers were left about, and started for Mornington Crescent in +anything but the best of spirits, for he did not look forward with any +feeling of pleasure to his next meeting with his cousin. Upon reaching +home he found from divers signs that company was expected to dinner; for +the cloth was laid for five, the best glass was on the table, there were +flowers and fruit, and sundry fumes from the kitchen ascended into the +hall, suggesting extra preparations there as well. + +Tom had hardly reached this point when his cousin came out of the +library scowling. + +"Here, bumpkin," he cried, "you're to look sharp and put on your best +things. It's not my doing, I can tell you, but the pater says you're to +come in to dinner." + +"Who's coming?" said Tom. + +"What's that to you? Pretty cheeky that. I suppose you ought to have +been asked whether we might have company." + +"Oh, no," said Tom, good-temperedly; "I only wanted to know." + +"Did you? Well, you won't know till dinnertime. Now then, don't stand +staring there, but go and wash that dirty face, and see if you can't +come down with your hands and nails fit to be seen." + +"Clean as ever yours are," was on Tom's lips; but he remembered his +cousin's trouble of that morning, pitied him, and felt that he had some +excuse for feeling irritable and strange. + +"Well, go on; look sharp," said Sam, manoeuvring so as to get behind his +cousin. + +"All right; I'm going," replied Tom, who was suspicious of something +coming after his cousin's promise of revenge; and he wanted to remain +facing any danger that might be threatening. But he felt that he could +not back away, it would look so cowardly, and, daring all, he went +slowly to the pegs to hang up his overcoat. + +"Get on, will you," cried Sam; "don't be all night. We don't want to +wait for you." + +"Oh, I shan't be long," said Tom quietly; "I'll soon be down." + +He was on the mat at the foot of the stairs as he said this, conscious +the while that Sam was close behind; and he was in the act of stepping +up, when he received so savage a kick that he fell forwards on to the +stairs, striking his nose violently, and creating a sensation as if that +member had suddenly been struck off. + +"You got it that time, did you?" said Sam, with a satisfied chuckle. +"You generally play the wriggling eel, but I was too quick for you, my +lad." + +Sam said no more, for his triumph was only short-lived. He was looking +triumphantly at his cousin as the lad got up heavily, feeling his nose +to find out whether it was there. The next instant Sam was feeling his +own, for he had at last gone too far. Tom had borne till he could bear +no more; and in the anguish of that kick he had forgotten company, +dressing for dinner, everything but the fact that Sam was there, and +quick as lightning he struck him full in the face. + +This satisfied him--acting like a discharging rod for his electric rage? + +Nothing of the kind: there was a supreme feeling of pleasure in striking +that blow. It, was the outlet of any amount of dammed-up suffering; and +seeing nothing now but his cousin's malignant face, Tom followed up that +first blow with a second, till, throwing his remaining strength into a +blow intended for the last, it took effect, and Sam went over backwards, +flung out his right hand to save himself, and caught and brought down a +great blue china jar, which shivered to pieces on the floor, covering +Sam with fragments, and giving him the aspect of having been terribly +cut, for his nose was bleeding freely. + +So was Tom's, as he caught a glimpse of himself in the glass of the hall +table, while his lip had received a nasty cut, and in the struggle the +stains had been pretty well distributed over his face. + +But he had no time to think of that, for the crash had alarmed those +up-stairs as well as down, and hurrying steps were heard. + +The first to arrive was the cook, who, on reaching the head of the +kitchen stairs, uttered a kind of choking gasp as she saw Sam lying +apparently insensible among the ruins of the china jar. + +"Oh, Master Tom, what have you been and done?" she cried. + +"Been and done?" came like an angry echo from the landing above, where +Mr Brandon had arrived. But before he could say more there was a +piercing shriek, he was pushed aside, and Mrs Brandon rushed down the +remaining stairs crying wildly-- + +"Oh, my darling boy! my darling boy! He has killed him--he has killed +him!" + +She dropped upon her knees by where Sam lay, apparently insensible; but +uttered a cry of pain and sprang up again, for the broken china was full +of awkward corners. + +"Oh, James! James! look what that wicked wretch has done!" + +"Look, woman! Do you think I'm blind? That vase was worth fifty +pounds, if it was worth a penny." + +"I--I wasn't thinking about the ch-ch-ch-china," sobbed Mrs Brandon, +"but about my darling Sam. Oh, my boy! my boy! don't say you're dead!" + +"Don't you make an exhibition of yourself before the servants," cried +her husband angrily. "Here you, sir: I always knew that you'd make me +repent. How came you to break that vase?" + +"I didn't, sir," said Tom quietly; "Sam caught hold of it as he was +falling." + +Sam was lying insensible the moment before, but this was reviving. + +"I didn't, father; he knocked me down, and then seized the vase and +dashed it at me." + +"Yes, yes," cried Mrs Brandon, as Sam lapsed into insensibility once +more. "The wretch has had a spite against his cousin ever since he has +been here. Oh, my darling, darling boy!" + +Sam uttered a low groan which made his mother shriek and fling herself +down by him again. + +"Oh, Mary! cook!" she cried, "help--help!" + +"Yes, mum," said the former; "shall I bring a dustpan and brush, and +take up the bits?" + +"No, no! Water--sponge--help!" + +"Indeed, indeed, I did not break the vase," pleaded Tom, as his uncle +suddenly caught him by the collar and drew a gold-headed malacca cane +from the umbrella-stand. + +"I'll soon see about that," said Mr Brandon, with a fierce drawing-in +of the breath. + +"Yes; beat him, beat him well, James, the wretch, the cruel wretch, and +then turn him out of the house." + +"Don't you interfere," cried Mr Brandon, with a snap. Then to Tom--"I +suppose you'll say you were not fighting?" + +"Yes, sir, I was fighting; but Sam began at me, and all because I +wouldn't screen him to-day." + +"Hah! never mind that," said Mr Brandon. + +"Don't beat me, sir," pleaded Tom, excitedly. "I can't bear it." + +"You'll have to bear it, my fine fellow. Here, come into the library." + +"Yes, James, beat the wretch well," cried Mrs Brandon. "Oh, my +darling, does it hurt you very much?" + +"Oh!" groaned Sam, and his mother shrieked; while a struggle was going +on between Tom and his uncle, the boy resisting with all his might. + +"He has killed him! he has killed him!" sobbed Mrs Brandon; "and you +stand there, cook, doing nothing." + +"Well, mum, what can I do? I'm wanted down-stairs. Them soles is +a-burning in the frying-pan. You can smell 'em up here." + +"Yes; nice preparations for company," said Mr Brandon, stopping to +pant, for Tom had seized the plinth at the foot of the balustrade and +held on with all his might. "Go down in the kitchen, cook, and see to +the dinner." + +The cook turned to go, but stopped short and turned back. + +"Oh, my darling! my darling!" cried Mrs Brandon. + +"Oh-h-h-h!" groaned Sam. + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said cook, speaking very loudly, "but please +you ain't going to whip Mr Tom, are you?" + +"Silence, woman! Go down to your kitchen!" roared her master. + +"Yes, sir--directly, sir; but Mr Sam's allus at him, and he begun it +to-night, for I heared him." + +"Will you go down and mind your own business, woman?" + +"Yes, sir; but I can't bear to see you lay your hand on that poor boy, +as ain't done nothing to deserve it, and I will speak out, so there." + +"Silence, woman!" + +"No, sir, nor I won't silence neither; and don't you please call me +woman, because I won't take it from nobody, not for no wages. I behaves +respectful to you and missus, and expect the same, so there." + +"Cook, you leave at a month's end," cried Mrs Brandon. "Oh, Sam, Sam, +speak to your broken-hearted mother." + +"Cert'ny, mum, and very glad to go," said cook, who was working herself +up into a passion. "To-night if you like. No, I won't; I'll go now, as +soon as I've packed my boxes; and if Mary's the girl I take her for, +she'll go too, and not stand here sweeping up your nasty old china." + +"Am I to take you by the shoulders, woman, and bundle you down-stairs?" +roared Mr Brandon. + +"No, sir, you ain't. Just you dare to touch me, that's all; and what's +more, you ain't a-going to beat Master Tom, so there now. I wouldn't +stand here and see him punished for what he don't deserve. It's all +that Mr Sam, who's ma's spoilt him, and indulged him, till he's grown +into a nasty, overbearing, cigarette-smoking wretch, as treats servants +as if they was the dirt under his feet." + +"Fanny," cried the lawyer, who felt that he was losing dignity in an +unequal struggle, "send this woman down-stairs. Now, sir, you let go of +that balustrade and come here." + +"No," cried Tom, between his teeth; "you shan't beat me for nothing. It +was all Sam." + +"Come here!" roared his uncle, making a savage drag at the boy, which +was intercepted by cook forcing herself between, and trying to shelter +him. + +"You shan't beat him, not while I'm here," she cried. + +"He is not going to beat him," said a quiet, firm, grave voice; and all +started to see that "the company," who had been standing quite +unobserved on the upper landing, a silent spectator of the scene, was +now coming down. + +"Oh, Richard!" cried Mrs Brandon; "look here! The wretch--the wretch!" + +"Yes, he does look a pretty object certainly," said the visitor. "Here +you, sir, get up and go to your room, and wash yourself. Don't lie +groaning there." + +"Oh--oh--oh!" cried Mrs Brandon, hysterically, "I didn't mean Sam." + +"If you'd go and stop in the drawing-room, Richard, and not interfere, I +should feel obliged." + +"Nothing would have pleased me better, James," said his brother coldly; +"but the riot was getting too loud--I was obliged to come." + +"Then, now go and wait. The dinner will be ready soon." + +"That it just won't," cried cook viciously; "and if you're a gentleman, +though you are master's own brother, you'll come and help me." + +"There is no need," said Uncle Richard, in his quiet way. "Mr Brandon +is not going to beat his nephew. He was very angry, no doubt, but +that's all over now; and as to the dinner, my dear madam, while I act +the peacemaker, I hope you will bear in mind that I am very hungry, and +should be very glad of some of the good things you were preparing, when +in your genuine, womanly way you felt yourself called upon to defend +this boy." + +"Look here, Richard," began Mr Brandon. + +"Tut--tut--tut, man, be quiet. Tom, my lad, go up-stairs to your room +and make yourself decent. Fanny, my good girl, you are spoiling an +expensive dress put on in my honour. Mary, my child, there are two or +three sharp pieces of the broken vase here. Would you mind? Thank you. +These things are very sharp. Now you, Sam, jump up, and go and wash +yourself. Do you hear?" + +"Confound it all, Richard!" began Mr Brandon. + +"Tut--tut, quiet, man!" said Uncle Richard; "there's nothing the matter +with the fellow." + +"He's half killed--dangerously hurt," protested Mrs Brandon. + +"Not he, my dear Fanny. I saw him watching the proceedings with one eye +open. Come, Sam, no nonsense. Get up, and go to your room; and don't +you dare to interfere with Tom, because if you do I shall come up +myself. Let me see; I think I have a bit of a hold on you, have I not?" + +Sam's eyes both opened widely, and he rose to his feet, then directed an +imploring look at his uncle, who drew back, pointed up the stairs, and +the lad shivered slightly as he went slowly by him, and began to ascend. + +"Hang it all, Richard, is this house mine or is it yours?" said James +Brandon. + +"Mine," said his brother--"while I am your guest, of course. Thank you, +Jem, I'll take my cane, if you please. It is a favourite old malacca--a +presentation." + +He took the cane quietly from his brother's hand and replaced it in the +stand, with the result that cook uttered a titter and hurried +down-stairs, followed by Mary, bearing a dustpan full of broken sherds. + +"Come, that's better," said Uncle Richard, disregarding his brother's +angry gesture. "Now, my dear Fanny, let me take you to the +drawing-room. The storm's over, and the sun is coming out. Don't let's +spoil my visit because the boys fell out and broke a vase." + +"No, no, Richard," said Mrs Brandon, half hysterically, as she yielded +at once and took her brother-in-law's arm. "But you don't know. That +boy has the temper of a demon." + +"What, Sam?" + +"No, _no_, No! That boy Thomas. We haven't had a day's peace since he +came into the house. And now a fifty-pound vase broken. Oh! the wicked +boy." + +"I didn't do it, aunt. It was Sam," came from the head of the +staircase. + +"Ah! Silence there, sir!" shouted Uncle Richard. "How dare you stand +there listening! Be off, and make yourself decent for dinner." + +"Richard!" cried Mrs Brandon, in a tone of remonstrance, "you surely +would not have that boy down to dinner now!" + +"Why not, my dear sister?" he said, as they reached the drawing-room +floor. + +"After breaking that vase?" + +"Never mind the vase, Fanny." + +"And nearly killing his cousin?" + +"Nonsense, my dear, partial, motherly judge. Lookers-on see most of the +game," said Uncle Richard good-humouredly. "I was looking on from the +landing for some time, and from what I saw, I have no hesitation in +saying that Master Tom got as good as he gave." + +"But oh, Richard!" + +"Tut--tut! Listen to me, my dear. Boys will quarrel and fight +sometimes. I can remember a good many sets-to with Jem when we were +young. These two have fought, and it's all over." + +"But you really don't know," began Mrs Brandon. + +"Oh yes, I do. Master Tom is not perfect. There, there, forget it all +now; and let me send you a vase to replace the one broken. By the way, +I hope they will not be long with that dinner." + +"Oh no, it will not be long now--that is, if that insolent woman will +condescend to send us up some." + +"But she will," said Uncle Richard good-humouredly. "If she does not, +and the worst comes to the worst, we'll storm her kitchen and finish the +cooking ourselves. I'm a good cook in my way. Bachelors have their +whims." + +"Ah, you don't know what London servants are." + +"No," said Uncle Richard, smiling pleasantly at the flurried lady, who +was still troubled by the domestic storm through which she had just +passed. "Mrs Fidler is a very good old soul in her way, and the maid +has been with me some time now, and has evidently made up her mind to +stop. I don't give them much trouble, except with my fads." + +"And do you still go on with--with those--those--" + +"Crazes?" said Uncle Richard smilingly. "To be sure I do. Ah, here's +James. Well, old fellow, is it all right again?" + +"Right again?" said Mr Brandon, who had just entered the room; "no, it +is not. But there, I'm sorry there should be all this disturbance when +you are here. It all comes of being charitable in the course of duty. +But there, I'll say no more." + +"That's right," said Uncle Richard, just as Mary entered the room with-- + +"If you please, ma'am, dinner is served." + +"Hah!" cried Uncle Richard, rising to offer his arm to his +sister-in-law. "But the boys are not down." + +"No; and they are not coming," said Mr Brandon angrily. + +"Oh, James dear!" protested Mrs Brandon. + +"My dear Jem!" said Uncle Richard, smiling, "I put in my petition. The +fight is over, so now let's have peace and--dinner." + +"Oh, very well," said Mr Brandon. "Mary, go and tell Mr Samuel that +we are waiting dinner for him." + +"And, Mary, you will convey the same message to Mr Thomas," said Uncle +Richard. + +"Yes, sir," said the girl, with a smile; and before her master could +protest she was gone. + +Five minutes elapsed, during which Uncle Richard seemed to have +forgotten his dinner in eager explanation of some piece of mechanism +that he was making, and about which he had come up to town. At the end +of that time Tom entered nervously, looking as if he had had his share +of cuts and bruises; but to his great satisfaction no one said a word; +and then Sam came in, looking very puffy about the eyes, and with one +side of his mouth drawn down into a peculiar swollen smile. + +"Oh!" exclaimed his mother, and she rose to fly to his side; but Uncle +Richard was prepared for her, and took her hand to draw through his arm. + +"That's right," he cried. "I am awfully hungry;" and he led her out of +the room, followed by Mr Brandon, while Tom and Sam followed in silence +down the stairs, each intent upon the plans he had in his breast, and +fully determined to carry them out. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +It was a capital dinner, but Sam felt that he could not eat a bit for +mental troubles, while his cousin felt the same from bodily reasons +connected with a terrible stiffness at one angle of his lower jaw. + +Consequently Sam made a very poor dinner, to his mother's grief; but Tom +ate heartily and enjoyed everything, forgetting his cares for the time +being, as he listened in astonishment to the way in which his cold, +grave uncle could brighten up, and keep the whole table interested by +his conversation relating to discoveries in the world of science, +especially in connection with light, and researches in what he spoke of +as "The Vast Abyss." + +Then came tea in the drawing-room, and on the part of the two boys an +early movement in the direction of bed. + +Tom was on his guard as soon as they were alone, fully expecting that +his cousin would in some way renew hostilities, the more especially as +neither Mr nor Mrs Brandon had had an opportunity of speaking to them +with warning or appeal. + +But Sam did not even look at him, undressing himself in sulky silence, +throwing his clothes here and there, and plunging into bed and turning +his face to the wall as he began to make his plans respecting a campaign +he intended to carry out for the destruction of his cousin's peace, +without running risks of getting himself injured as he had been that +night. + +"For," said Sam to himself, "everything seems to be against me. I only +forgot that letter, and instead of helping a fellow out of a hole that +beastly young sneak betrayed me. Then when I meant to pay him out, all +the luck was on his side; and lastly, old moony Uncle Dick must turn +upon me about that money affair. But wait a bit, I'll pay him back, and +then he may tell the guv'nor if he likes. What did he say when I went +and told him what a hole I was in over that account, and was afraid the +guv'nor would know;--that it was embezzlement, and a criminal offence, +and that if I had done such a thing for a regular employer, I might have +found myself in the felon's dock? Rubbish! I only borrowed the money +for a few weeks, and meant to pay it back. He shall have it again; and +let him tell the old man if he dares. A coward, to throw that in my +teeth! Wonder if they'll ask him what he meant. But all right, Master +Tom Blount, you shall pay for this." + +Meantime the object of his threatenings had undressed in silence too, +extinguished the light, remembered by his bedside the old mother-taught +lesson, and added a prayer for pardon in regard for that which he had +made up his mind to do. Then, as his head pressed the pillow, he lay +thinking of all that had taken place since he had been at his uncle's, +and came finally to the conclusion that he could bear no more. + +"I can't help being a fool," he said to himself, dolefully. "I have +tried, but all these law things slip out of my head as fast as I read +them. Of course it makes uncle bitter and angry, when he has tried to +help me, and would go on trying if it was not for Sam." + +Then the long, weary time of his stay came up, and in succession the +series of injuries and petty annoyances to which he had been subjected +by his cousin passed before him, strengthening his determination. + +But in spite of all these, he would have fought down the desire so +strong upon him if it had not been for the past evening's scene. Even +as he lay in bed his face flushed, and he quivered with shame and +indignation. For here it all was vividly before his mind's eye. What +had he done to deserve it? Nothing. He had spoken the truth, and +declined to take his cousin's lapse upon his own shoulders about that +letter; and then on getting home Sam had turned upon him, and any boy, +Tom argued, would have done as he did, and struck back. He'd have been +a mean-spirited coward if he had not. + +"No, I can't stand it," he muttered, with his head beneath the clothes. +"He was going to beat me in spite of all I said, and it was too +horrible. I wouldn't have minded so much if I had been in the wrong, +but even then it was too cruel before aunt--before the servants, and +with Sam lying there shamming to be so bad, and watching all the time in +his delight. No, I won't alter my mind in the morning. Poor father +used to say, `Sleep on it, my lad;' but I can't sleep on this. I must +go now before things get worse." + +He threw the clothes from his face and lay listening, to try and make +out whether his cousin was awake. He was not, for a heavy stuffy +breathing could be heard, consequent upon Sam's mouth being open, a +peculiar puffy swelling about the nose preventing him from breathing in +the usual way. + +This brought a gleam of mental sunshine into Tom's sad and blackened +horizon. Naturally a bright, merry lad, for months past he had not had +a hearty laugh; but now, as he recalled his cousin's appearance, the +smile broadened, and for a few moments he shook with suppressed +laughter. + +But the mirth passed away directly, for the matter was too serious, and +he now lay with knitted brows, listening to his cousin's breathing, and +continuing his plans. + +He would wait another hour, and then begin. + +He waited for some time listening till the last sound had died out in +the house, thinking that he must move about very silently, for his +uncle's room was beneath, and the servants were only separated from them +by a not too thick wall. + +"Poor cook! poor Mary!" he thought. "I should like to kiss them and say +good-bye. How brave cook was; and she is sure to lose her place for +taking my part. Aunt and uncle will never forgive her. How I wish I +had a home of my own and her for housekeeper. But perhaps I shall never +have one now, for what am I going to do when I go?" + +That was the great puzzle as he lay there gazing at the window-blind, +faintly illumined by the gas-lamps in the Crescent. What was he to do? +Soldier?--No; he was too young, and wanting in manly aspect. Sailor?-- +No. He would like to go to sea, and have adventures; but no, if his +father and mother had lived it would have given them pain to know that +he had run away to enlist, or get on board some coasting vessel. + +No; he could not do that. It might be brave and daring, but at the same +time he had a kind of feeling that it would be degrading, and he would +somehow do better than either of those things, and try and show his +uncles, both of them, and Sam too, that if he was a fool, he was a fool +with some good qualities. + +But it was quite an hour since it had struck twelve, and it was time to +act. The first thing was to test Sam's sleep--whether he was sound +enough to enable him to make his preparations unheard. + +What would be the best thing to do? came again. How could he get work +without a character? What answer could he give people who asked him who +he was, and whence he came? + +No answer came, think hard as he would. All was one black, impenetrable +cloud before him, into which he had made up his mind to plunge, and what +his future was to be he could not tell. But let it be what it would, he +mentally vowed that it should be something honest, and he would not let +the blackness of that cloud stay him. No; his mind was fully made up +now. This was his last night at his uncle's house, and he would take +his chance as to where he would next lay his head. + +"I shall be free," he muttered half aloud; "now I am like a slave." + +It was time to act. Not that he meant to leave the house that night. +No; his mind was made up. He would pack a few things in the little +black bag in which he took his law-books to and fro, place it ready in +the hall as usual, and go in to his breakfast; and when he started for +the office, just call in and say good-bye to Pringle, who would not +hinder him. On the contrary, he would be sure to give him advice, and +perhaps help him as to his future. + +"Poor old Pringle won't say stay," he muttered; and reaching out of bed, +he felt in his trousers pocket on the chair for a halfpenny. He could +not spare it, but it was the only missile he could think of then, and he +held it poised ready to throw as he listened to his cousin's heavy +breathing. + +He threw the coin forcibly, so that it struck the wall just above Sam's +head, and fell upon his face. + +There was no movement, and the heavy, guttural breathing went on. + +Tom waited a few minutes, and then slipped out of bed, crossed to his +cousin's side, and gave the iron bedstead a slight shake, then a hard +one. Next he touched his shoulder, and finished by laying a cold hand +upon his hot brow. + +But the result was always the same--the heavy, hoarse breathing. + +Satisfied that he might do anything without arousing his cousin, he +returned to his own bed, slipped on his trousers, and sat down to think. + +There was the bag of books on the top of his little chest of drawers, +and he had only to take them out, lay them down, and after carefully +pulling out the drawer, pack the bag full of linen, and add an extra +suit. It would be a tight cram, but he would want the things, and they +would prove very useful. + +But there was a hitch here. All these things were new, his old were +worn-out, and his uncle had paid for all these in spite of his aunt's +suggestion, that there were a good many of Sam's old things that might +be altered to fit. + +He stumbled over this. They were not his; and at last, in a spirit of +proud independence, he ignored his own services to his uncle, and +stubbornly determined that he would take nothing but the clothes in +which he stood. + +"And some day I'll send the money to pay for them," he said proudly, +half aloud. + +"Gug--gug--gug--ghur-r-r-r," came from his cousin's bed as if in +derision. + +But Tom's mind was made up, and undressing once more he lay down to +think, but did not, for, quite satisfied now as to his plans, no sooner +had his head touched the pillow than, utterly wearied out, he dropped +asleep. + +It seemed to him that he had only just closed his eyes, when, in a +dreamy way, he heard the customary tapping at his door, followed by a +growl from Sam, bidding Mary not make "that row." + +Then Tom was wide-awake, thinking of his over-night plans. + +And repentant? + +Not in the least. He lay there thinking fiercely, only troubled by the +idea of what he would do as soon as he had made his plunge penniless +into that dense black cloud--the future. + +But there was no lifting of the black curtain. He could see his way to +the office to bid Pringle good-bye. After that all was hidden. + +At the end of a quarter of an hour he jumped up and began to dress, +while Sam lay with his back to him fast asleep, or pretending. + +It did not matter, for he did not want to speak to him; and after +dressing, and duly noting that there was only a scratch or two, no +swelling about his face, he went down with his bag of books to the +breakfast-room, to read as usual for an hour before his uncle and aunt +came down. + +In the hall he encountered the cook, who had to "do" that part of the +housework, and she rose from her knees to wish him so hearty a +good-morning, that a lump rose in Tom's throat, there was a dimness in +his eyes, and his hand went out involuntarily for a silent good-bye. + +To his surprise a pair of plump arms were flung round him, and he +received two hearty kisses, and then there was a warm whisper in his +ear-- + +"Don't you mind a bit, my dear. You didn't deserve it; and as for Mr +Sam, he's a beast." + +"Thank you, cook," said Tom huskily, "thank you. Good-bye." + +"What! Oh no, it ain't good-bye neither, my dear. They'd like me to +go, and so I won't. I'll stop just to spite them, so there!" + +Cook went off to seize a door-mat, carry it out on the front steps, and +then and there she banged it down, and began to thump it with the head +of the long broom, as if in imagination she had Sam beneath her feet. + +"She didn't understand me," said Tom to himself, as he hurried into the +breakfast-room, feeling that after all it would be very painful to go, +but not shaken in his determination. + +"Morning, Mr Tom," said Mary, who looked bright and cheerful in her +clean print dress, as she made pleasant morning music by rattling the +silver spoons into the china saucers. "Ain't it a nice morning? The +sun's quite hot." + +"Yes, a beautiful morning," said Tom sadly, as he gave the girl a +wistful look, before going into a corner, sitting down and opening +_Tidd's Practice_ for what his cousin called a grind. + +Then with a sigh he went on reading, giving quite a start when Mary had +finished her preparations for breakfast, and came to whisper-- + +"Cook ain't going, sir; she says she wouldn't go and leave you here +alone for nothing, and I won't neither." + +Tom felt as if he could not speak, and he had no need to, for the maid +slipped out of the room, and the next minute Uncle Richard entered to +nod to him gravely. + +"Morning, my lad," he said rather sternly. "That's right--never waste +time." + +How cold and repellent he seemed: so different to his manner upon the +previous night, when the boy had felt drawn towards him. The effect was +to make Tom feel more disposed than ever to carry out his plan, and he +was longing for the breakfast to be over, so that he could make his +start for the office. + +But it wanted half-an-hour yet, and the boy had just plunged more deeply +into his book, when Uncle Richard said-- + +"And so you don't like the law, Tom?" + +The boy started, for there was a different ring in the voice now. It +sounded as if it were inviting his confidence, and he was about to +speak, when his elder went on-- + +"To be sure, yes; you told me so last time I saw you." + +"I have tried, sir, very hard," said Tom apologetically; "but it seems +as if my brains are not of the right shape to understand it." + +"Humph, perhaps not," said his uncle, gazing at him searchingly; and Tom +coloured visibly, for it seemed to him that those penetrating eyes must +be reading the secret he was keeping. "And you don't like your cousin +Sam either?" + +Tom was silent for a few moments. + +"Why don't you answer my question, sir?" + +"I was thinking, uncle, that it is Cousin Sam who does not like me." + +"How can he when you knock him down, and then dash china vases at him, +sir?" + +"I suppose I did knock him down, uncle, but not until he had kicked and +struck me. Throw vases at him!" cried the boy indignantly; "I wouldn't +be such a coward." + +"Humph!" grunted his uncle, taking up the morning paper that Mary had +just brought in; and without another word he sat back in his chair and +began to read, while Tom, with his face still burning, turned once more +to his book, with a strange elation beginning to take the place of the +indignation he felt against his uncle, for it had suddenly occurred to +him that this was the last time he would have to make his head ache over +the hard, brain-wearying work. Then the elation died out again, for +what was to be his future fate? + +He was musing over this, and wondering whether after all he dare trust +Pringle, when the door suddenly opened, Uncle Richard rustled and +lowered the paper, and Mrs Brandon entered the room, looking +wonderfully bright and cheerful. + +"Good-morning, Richard," she cried; "I am so sorry I am late. James +will be down directly. Good-morning, Tom." + +Tom jumped in his chair at this pleasantly cordial greeting, and stared +dumbfounded at his aunt. + +"Not a bit late," said Uncle Richard, after a glance at his watch. "You +are very punctual. Hah, here is James." + +For at that moment Mr Brandon, looking clean-shaven and pleasant, +entered the room. + +"Morning, Dick," he cried; "what a lovely air. Ah, Tom, my boy, got +over the skirmish?" + +Tom babbled out something, and felt giddy. What did it mean? Could +they have divined that he was about to run away, and were going to alter +their treatment; or had Uncle Richard, who seemed again so grave and +cold, been taking his part after he had gone to bed? + +But he had very little time for dwelling upon that; the question which +troubled him was, How could he go away now? + +The thoughts sent him into a cold perspiration, and he glanced anxiously +at the clock, to see that it was a quarter past eight, and that in +fifteen minutes, according to custom, he must start for the office--for +the office, and then--where? + +Just then Mary entered with the breakfast-tray, and, chatting +pleasantly, all took their seats. Mary whisked off two covers, to +display fried ham and eggs on one, hot grilled kidneys on the other. + +Tom grew hotter and colder, and asked himself whether he was going out +of his mind, for there was no thin tea and bread-and-butter that +morning. + +"Tea or coffee, Tom?" said his aunt; and Tom's voice sounded hoarse as +he chose the latter. + +He was just recovering from this shock when his uncle said-- + +"Ham and eggs or kidneys, Tom? There, try both--they go well together." + +"Thank you, uncle," faltered the boy; and he involuntarily looked up at +Uncle Richard, who sat opposite to him, and saw that, though his face +was perfectly stern and calm, his eyes were fixed upon him with a +peculiar twinkling glitter. + +"Bread, my boy?" he said quietly, and he took up a knife and the loaf. + +"Try a French roll, Tom," said his aunt, handing the dish. + +"How can I run away?" thought Tom, as he bent over his breakfast to try +and hide his agitation, for his breast was torn by conflicting emotions, +and it was all he could do to continue his meal. "It's of no use," he +said to himself, as the conversation went on at the table; and though he +heard but little, he knew that it was about the guest departing that +morning for his home in Surrey. + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, "I must get back, for I'm very busy." + +"And not stay another night?" said Aunt Fanny sweetly. + +"No, not this visit, thanks. I'll get back in good time, and astonish +Mrs Fidler. Hallo, squire, you're late; Tom has half finished the +kidneys." + +"Morning, uncle," said Sam sourly; "I didn't know it was so late. I've +got a bad headache this morning, ma." + +"Have you, dear?--I am so sorry. But never mind, I've a nice strong cup +of tea here, and I'll ring for some dry toast." + +"No, don't, ma," said Sam, scowling at Tom, and looking wonderingly at +his cousin's plate. "I'll have coffee and a hot roll." + +"But they will be bad for your head, love." + +Sam made no reply, but felt his plate, which was nearly cold, and then +held it out to his father for some kidneys. + +"Oh, Sam, my darling, don't have kidneys, dear. I'm sure they'll be bad +for you." + +"No, they won't, ma," he said pettishly; and his father helped him +liberally. + +Uncle Richard went on with his breakfast, making believe to see nothing, +but Tom noticed that his keen eyes glittered, and that nothing escaped +him. Those eyes were wonderful, and fascinated the boy. + +Suddenly, just as he had made a very poor breakfast, the clock on the +chimney-piece gave a loud _ting_. It was the half-hour, and Tom rose +quickly after a hasty glance at his uncle and aunt. He had had +breakfast for the last time, and feeling that this change of treatment +was only due to his Uncle Richard's presence, he was more determined +than ever to go. + +"Good-bye, Uncle Richard," he said firmly, but there was a husky sound +in his voice. + +"No, no, sit down, Tom," was the reply. "We won't say good-bye yet." + +Sam stopped eating, with a bit of kidney half-way to his mouth, and +stared. + +"Yes, sit down, Tom," said Mr Brandon, giving a premonitory cough, +after a glance at his wife. "The fact is, my lad, your uncle and I had +a little conversation about you after you were gone to bed last night." + +Tom, who had subsided into his chair, took hold of the table-cloth, and +began to twist it up in his agitation, as a peculiar singing noise came +in his ears; and as he listened he kept on saying to himself--"Too +late--too late; I must keep to it now." + +"Yes, a very long talk," said Uncle Richard. + +"Very," acquiesced his brother; "and as we--as he--" + +"As _we_, James," said Uncle Richard. + +"Exactly--could not help seeing that you do not seem cut out for the +law--er--hum--do not take to it--he has been kind enough to say that he +will give you a trial with him down in the country." + +Tom's head, which had been hanging down, was suddenly raised, and the +words were on his lips to say No, he could not go, when he met the keen, +bright, piercing eyes fixed upon his, and those words died away. + +"He has not definitely decided as to what he will put you to, but means +to test you, as it were, for a few months." + +The singing in Tom's ears grew louder. + +Go with that cold stern man, who had never seemed to take to him? It +would be like jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire. Impossible! +He could not--he would not go. + +"There," said Mr Brandon in conclusion, after a good deal more, of +which Tom heard not a word; "it is all settled, and you will go down +with your uncle this morning, so you had better pack up your box as soon +as we leave the table. Now what have you to say to your uncle for his +kindness?" + +"No: I will not go," thought Tom firmly; and once more he raised his +eyes defiantly to that searching pair, which seemed to be reading his; +but he did not say those words, for others quite different came halting +from his lips--"Thank you, Uncle Richard--and--and I will try so hard." + +"Of course you will, my boy," said the gentleman addressed, sharply. +"But mind this, the country's very dull, my place is very lonely, all +among the pine-trees, and you will not have your cousin Sam to play +with." + +"Haw haw!" + +This was a hoarse laugh uttered by the gentleman in question. + +"I beg your pardon, Sam?" said Uncle Richard, raising his eyebrows. + +"I didn't speak, uncle," said Sam, "but I will, and I say a jolly good +job too, and good riddance of bad rubbish." + +"Sam, dear, you shouldn't," said his mother, in a gentle tone of +reproof. + +"Yes, I should; it's quite true." + +"Hold your tongue, sir." + +"All right, father; but we shall have some peace now." + +"And I am to have all the disturbance, eh?" said Uncle Richard; "and the +china vases thrown at me and smashed, eh?" + +Tom darted a quick look at his uncle, and saw that he was ready to give +him a nod and smile, which sent a thrill through him. + +"You'll have to lick him half-a-dozen times a week," continued Sam. + +"Indeed," said Uncle Richard good-humouredly; "anything else?" + +"Yes, lots of things," cried Sam excitedly; "I could tell you--" + +"Don't, please, my dear nephew," said Uncle Richard, interrupting him; +"I could not bear so much responsibility all at once. You might make me +repent of my determination." + +"And you jolly soon will," cried Sam maliciously; "for of all the--" + +"Hush, Sam, my darling!" cried his mother. + +"You hold your tongue now, sir," said Mr Brandon; "and I should feel +obliged by your making haste down to the office. You can tell Pringle +that your cousin is not coming any more." + +Tom started, and looked sharply from one to the other. + +"Mayn't I go and say good-bye to Pringle, uncle?" he cried. + +"No, sir," said his Uncle James coldly; "you will only have time to get +your box packed. Your uncle is going to catch the ten fifty-five from +Charing Cross." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard; "and you can write to your friend." + +"Or better not," said Mr Brandon. "Tom has been rather too fond of +making friends of people beneath him. There, my lad, you had better go +and be getting ready; and I sincerely hope that you will make good use +of your new opportunity." + +Tom hardly knew how he got out of the room, for he felt giddy with +excitement. Then he was not going to run away, but to be taken down +into Surrey by his Uncle Richard--and for what? + +Would he behave well to him? He looked cold and stern, but he was not +on the previous night. Young as he was, Tom could read that there was +another side to his character. Yes, he must go, he thought; and then he +came face to face with Mary, who came bustling out of a bedroom. + +"La! Master Tom, how you startled me. Not gone to the office?" + +"No, Mary. I'm going away for good with Uncle Richard." + +"Oh, I am glad! No, I ain't--I'm sorry. But when?" + +"This morning--almost directly." + +"My! I'll go and tell cook." + +Tom reached his room, packed up his things as if in a dream, and bore +the box down-stairs, his cousin having left the house some time. Then, +still as if in a dream, he found himself in the breakfast-room, and +heard Mary told to whistle for a cab. + +Ten minutes later his uncle's Gladstone was on the roof side by side +with the modest old school box; and after saying good-bye to all, they +were going down the steps. + +"Jump in first, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "and let's have no silly +crying about leaving home." + +Tom started, and stared at his uncle with his eyes wonderfully dry then, +but the next moment they were moist, for two female figures were at the +area gate waving their handkerchiefs; and as the boy leaned forward to +wave his hand in return, mingled with the trampling of the horse, and +the rattle of the wheels, there came his uncle's voice shouting Charing +Cross to the cabman from the kerb, and from the area gate-- + +"Good-bye, Master Tom, good-bye!" + +"Why, the boy's wet-eyed!" said Uncle Richard in a peculiarly sneering +voice. "What a young scoundrel you must have been, sir, to make those +two servants shout after you like that! There, now for a fresh home, +boy, and the beginning of a new life, for your dear dead mother's sake." + +"Uncle!" gasped Tom, with the weak tears now really showing in his eyes, +for there was a wonderful change in his companion's voice, as he laid a +firm hand upon his shoulder. + +"Yes, Tom, your uncle, my boy. I never quarrel with my brother James or +his wife, but I don't believe quite all that has been said about you." + +All thought of running away to seek his fortune faded out of Tom +Blount's brain, as he sat there with his teeth pressed together, staring +straight away between the horse's ears, trying hard to be firm. + +But after long months of a very wretched life it was stiff work to keep +his feelings well within bounds. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +"Now, Tom, cloak-room; come along. I've got some tackle to take down +with us. Only ten minutes before we start. Here, porter, luggage-- +quick!" + +A man came forward with a barrow, and after taking the luggage from the +cab, followed to the cloak-room, from whence sundry heavy, +peculiar-looking packages and a box were handed out and trundled to the +train; and in a few minutes, with his heart beating wildly, and a +feeling of excitement making him long to jump up and shout aloud, Tom +sat there watching the houses and trees seem to glide more and more +swiftly past the windows as the speed increased. For to him it was like +being suddenly freed from prison; and instead of the black cloud which +had been hanging before his eyes--the blank curtain of the future which +he had vainly tried to penetrate--he was now gazing mentally ahead along +a vista full of bright sunshine and joy. + +There were two other passengers in the carriage, who, like his uncle, +were soon absorbed in their papers, and not a word was spoken until +these two got out at the first stopping-place, twenty miles from town; +and as soon as the porter had given the door that tremendous unnecessary +bang so popular with his fraternity, and the train was speeding on +again, Uncle Richard threw down his paper with a loud "Hah!" and turned +to his nephew. + +"Well, Tom," he said, "I don't know what I am to do with you now I have +got you. You don't want to go on with the law?" + +"Oh no, sir, I am too stupid," said Tom quickly. + +"Why do you say `sir,' my boy? Will not uncle do for your mother's +brother?" + +"Uncle James told me always to say `sir,' sir--uncle I mean." + +"Ah, but I'm not your Uncle James, and I like the old-fashioned way. +Well, as you are too stupid for the law, I suppose I must try you with +something easier--say mathematics." + +Tom looked at him aghast. + +"A nice pleasant subject, full of calculations. But we shall see. I +suppose you will not mind helping me?" + +"I shall be glad to, uncle." + +"That's right; but you don't know yet what I want you to do. You will +have to take your coat off sometimes, work hard, put on an apron, and +often get dirty." + +"Gardening, uncle? Oh, I shall like that." + +"Yes; gardening sometimes, but in other ways too. I do a deal of +tinkering now and then." Tom stared. + +"Yes, I mean it: with tin and solder, and then I try brass and turning. +I have a regular workshop, you know, with a small forge and anvil. Can +you blow bellows?" + +Tom stared a little harder as he gazed in the clear grey eyes and the +calm unruffled countenance, in which there was not the dawn of a smile. + +"I never tried," said Tom, "but I feel sure I could." + +"And I feel sure you cannot without learning; some of the +easiest-looking things are the hardest, you know. Of course any one can +blow forge bellows after a fashion, but it requires some pains to manage +the blast aright, and not send the small coal and sparks flying over the +place, while the iron is being burned up." + +"Iron burned up?" said Tom. + +"To be sure. If I put a piece in the forge, I could manage the supply +of oxygen so as to bring it from a cherry heat right up to a white, +while possibly at your first trial you would burn a good deal of the +iron away." + +"I did not know that," said Sam. + +"And I suppose there are a few other little things you do not know, my +boy. There's a deal to learn, Tom, and the worst or best of it is, that +the more you find out the more you realise that there is no end to +discovery. But so much for the blacksmith's work." + +"But you are not a blacksmith, uncle." + +"Oh yes, I am, Tom, and a carpenter too. A bad workman I know, but I +manage what I want. Then there is my new business too at the mill." + +"Steam mill, uncle?" + +"Oh no, nor yet water. It's a regular old-fashioned flour-mill with +five sails. How shall you like that business?" + +Tom looked harder at his uncle. + +"Well, boy, do I seem a little queer? People down at Furzebrough say I +am." + +"No, sir," said Tom, colouring; "but all this does sound a little +strange. Do you really mean that you have a windmill?" + +"Yes, Tom, now. My very own, my boy. It was about that I came up +yesterday--to pay the rest of the purchase-money, and get the deeds. +Now we can set to work and do what we like." + +Tom tried hard, but he could not help looking wonderingly at his uncle, +of whom he had previously hardly seen anything. He knew that he had +been in India till about a year before, and that his mother had once +spoken of him as being eccentric. Now it appeared that he was to learn +what this eccentricity meant. + +"Did you learn any chemistry when you were at school, Tom?" said his +uncle, after a pause. + +"Very little, uncle. There were some lectures and experiments." + +"All useful, boy. You know something about physics, of course?" + +"Physics, uncle?" faltered Tom, as he began to think what an +empty-headed fellow he was. + +"Yes, physics; not physic--salts and senna, rhubarb and magnesia, and +that sort of thing; but natural science, heat and light, and the wonders +of optics." + +Tom shook his head. + +"Very little, uncle." + +"Ah, well, you'll soon pick them up if you are interested, and not quite +such a fool as your uncle made out. Do you know, Tom, that windmill has +made me think that I never could have been a lawyer." + +Tom was silent. Things seemed to be getting worse. + +"Four times have I had to come up to town and see my lawyer, who had to +see the seller's lawyer over and over again--the vendor I ought to have +said. Now I suppose you wouldn't have thought that I was a vendee, +would you?" + +"Oh yes, I know that," said Sam. "You would be if you bought an +estate." + +"Come, then, you do know something, my lad. But it has been a tiresome +business, with its investigation of titles and rights of usance, and +court copyhold fines, and--Bother the business, it has taken up no end +of time. But there, it's all over, and you and I can go and make the +dust fly and set the millstones spinning as much as we like. Thumpers +they are, Tom, three feet in diameter. I wish to goodness they had been +discs of glass instead of stone." + +"Do you, uncle?" said Tom, for his companion was evidently waiting for +an answer. + +"Yes; we could have tried some fine experiments with them, whereas they +will be useless and unsalable I expect." + +To Tom's great relief the conversation reverted to his life at Gray's +Inn and Mornington Crescent, for the impression would keep growing upon +him that what people said about his uncle's queerness might have some +basis. But this opinion was soon shaken as they went on, for he was +questioned very shrewdly about his cousin and all that had passed +between them, till all at once his companion held out his hand. + +"Shake hands, Tom, my boy. We are just entering Furzebrough parish, and +I want to say this:--You came to me with an execrable character--" + +"Yes, uncle; I'm very sorry." + +"Then I'm not, my lad. For look here: I have been questioning you for +the last hour, and I have observed one thing--in all your statements +about your cousin, who is an abominably ill-behaved young whelp, you +have never once spoken ill-naturedly about him, nor tried to run him +down. I like this, my lad, and in spite of all that has been said, I +believe that you and I will be very good friends indeed." + +"Thank you, uncle," said Tom, huskily. "I mean to try." + +"I know that, or I wouldn't have brought you home. There, there, look! +quick! before it runs behind that fir clump, that's the old madman's +windmill." + +Tom turned sharply to the window, and caught sight of a five-sailed +windmill some five miles away, on a long wooded ridge. + +"See it?" + +"Yes, uncle; I just caught sight of it." + +"That's right; and in five minutes, when we are out of the cutting, you +can see Heatherleigh in the opening between the two fir-woods." + +"That's your house, uncle?" + +"Yes, my lad--that's my house, where I carry on all my diabolical +schemes, and perform my incantations, as old Mother Warboys says. You +didn't know what a wicked uncle you had." + +"No, sir," said Tom, smiling. + +"Oh, I'm a dreadful wretch; and you did not know either, that within +five-and-thirty miles of London as the crow flies, there is as much +ignorance and superstition as there was a couple of hundred years or so +ago, when they burnt people for being witches and wizards, and the like. +There, now look; you can just see Heatherleigh there. No; too late-- +it's gone." + +Tom felt puzzled. One minute he was drawn strongly towards his uncle, +the next he felt uneasy, for there was something peculiar about him. +Then he grew more puzzled as to whether the eccentricity was real or +assumed. But he soon had something else to think of, for five minutes +after a run through a wild bit of Surrey, that looked gloriously +attractive with its sandy cuttings, commons, and fir-trees, to a boy who +had been shut up closely for months in London, his uncle suddenly cried, +"Here we are!" and rose to get his umbrella and overcoat out of the +rack. + +"Let's see, Tom," he said; "six packages in the van, haven't we? Mind +that nothing is left behind." + +The train was slackening speed, and the next minute they were standing +on the platform of a pretty attractive station, quite alone amongst the +fir-trees. The station-master's house was covered with roses and +clematis, and he and the porters were evidently famous gardeners in +their loneliness, for there was not a house near, the board up giving +the name of the station as Furzebrough Road. + +"Shall I take the luggage, sir?" said a man, touching his hat; and at +the same moment Tom caught sight of a solitary fly standing outside the +railings. + +"Yes; six packages. By the way, Mr Day, did a box come down for me?" + +This to the station-master, who came up as the train glided off and +disappeared in a tunnelled sandhill a hundred yards farther. + +"Yes, sir; very heavy box, marked `Glass, with care.' Take it with +you?" + +"Yes, and let it be with care. Here, I'll come and pay the rates. Tom, +my lad, see that the things are all got to the fly." + +Tom nodded; and as his uncle disappeared in the station-master's office, +he went to where the two porters were busy with a barrow and the +luggage. + +They were laughing and chatting with the flyman, and did not notice +Tom's approach, so that he winced as he heard one of the porters say-- + +"Always some fresh contrapshum or another. Regular old lunatic, that's +what he is." + +"What's he going to do with that old mill?" said the other. + +"Shoot the moon they--Is this all, sir?" said the flyman, who caught +sight of Tom. + +The boy nodded, and felt indignant as well as troubled, for he had +learned a little about public opinion concerning his uncle. + +"Be careful," he said; "some of those things are glass." + +"All right, sir; we'll be careful enough. Look alive, Jem. Where will +you have the box as come down by's mornin's goods?" + +"On the footboard. Won't break us down, will it?" + +"Tchah! not it. On'y about a hundredweight." + +By the time the luggage was stowed on and about the fly, Uncle Richard +came out, and expressed his satisfaction. + +"Rather a lonely place in winter, Tom," he said, as he entered the +stably-smelling old fly. + +"Yes, but very beautiful," replied Tom. "Have we far to go?" + +"Three miles, my lad, to the village, and a quarter of a mile further to +the house." + +It was a very slow ride, along sandy lanes, through which, as soon as +there was the slightest suggestion of a hill, the horse walked; but +everything looked lovely on this bright summer day. High banks where +ferns clustered, plantations of fir, where brilliantly-plumaged +pheasants looked up to see them pass, and every now and then rabbits +scuttled up the steep sandy slopes, showing their white cottony tails +before they disappeared amongst the bracken, or dived into a hole. +Wild-flowers too dotted the sides of the lane, and as Tom sat gazing out +of the window, drinking in the country sweets, his uncle nodded and +smiled. + +"Will it do, my boy?" he said. + +"Do!" cried Tom, ecstatically; "it's lovely!" + +"Humph! yes. Sun shines--don't rain." + +In due time they reached and passed through a pretty flowery village, +dotted about by the sides of a green, and with several houses of a +better class, all looking as if surrounded by large gardens and +orchards. Then, all at once, Tom's companion exclaimed-- + +"Here's the mill!" and he had hardly glanced at the tall round brick +tower, with its wooden movable cap, sails, and fan, all looking +weather-beaten and dilapidated, when his uncle exclaimed--"Here we are!" +and down on a slope, nearly hidden in trees, he saw the red-tiled gables +of a very attractive old English house, at whose gate the fly stopped. + +"Drive in, sir?" + +"Yes, of course. I'll have the boxes in the stable-yard. Pull up at +the door first. But ring, and the gardener will come to help." + +The gate was swung back and the fly was led in, now, between two wide +grassy borders, with the soft, sandy gravel making hardly a sound +beneath the wheels. This drive wound in and out, so that a couple of +minutes had elapsed before they came in sight of the front of the house, +with its broad porch and verandah. + +"Welcome to Heatherleigh, Tom--our home," said his uncle. "Ah, here's +Mrs Fidler." + +This was as a very grim, serious-looking, grey-haired woman appeared in +the porch. + +"Back again, Mrs F.," cried Uncle Richard cheerily. "Here, this is my +nephew, who has come to stay. Get my telegram?" + +"Oh yes, sir, and everything's ready, sir." + +Just then a sun-browned man, with a blue serge apron rolled up and +tucked in round his waist, came up, touched his hat, and looked at the +luggage. + +"Morning, David. The box and portmanteau for indoors. The boxes to be +very carefully placed in the coach-house. Glass, mind. Here, driver, +give your horse some hay and water; David will see to it, while you go +round to the kitchen for a crust of bread-and-cheese. Mind and be +careful with those packages." + +"Oh yes, sir, certainly," said the man; and he led the horse on amongst +the shrubs; while as Tom followed his uncle into the prettily-furnished +museum-like hall, he thought to himself-- + +"I wonder whether uncle knows how they laugh at him behind his back." + +"Dinner at two, Mrs Fidler, I suppose?" said Uncle Richard just then. + +"Yes, sir, precisely, if _you_ please," was the reply. + +"That's right. Here, Tom, let's go and see if they have smashed the +glass in the packages." + +Uncle Richard led the way out through a glass door, and across a velvety +lawn, to a gate in a closely-clipped yew hedge. This opened upon a +well-gravelled yard, where the rusty-looking old fly was standing, with +its horse comfortably munching at the contents of its nose-bag, and +David the gardener looking on with a pail of water at his feet. + +"Why, David, how was it that the horse was not put in the stable and +given a feed?" + +"He's having his feed, sir," said the gardener. "Them's our oats. The +driver said he'd rather not take him out, because the harness do give +so, sir, specially the traces; so he had the nose-bag pretty well +filled, and the horse have been going at 'em, sir, tremenjus." + +"Boxes all right?" + +"Yes, sir; I don't think we've broke anything; but that big chest did +come down pretty heavy." + +"What?" cried his master; and he hurried into the coach-house to examine +the packing-case. "Humph! I hope they have not broken it," he +muttered; "I won't stop to open it now. Come, Tom, we'll just walk +round the garden, so that you may see my domain, and then I'll show you +your room." + +The domain proved to be a fairly extensive garden in the most perfect +order, and Tom stared at the tokens of abundance. Whether he was gazing +at fruit or flowers, it was the same: the crop looked rich and tempting +in the extreme. + +"We won't stop now, my lad. Let's go and see if Mrs F. has put your +room ready." + +Uncle Richard led the way, with Tom feasting his eyes upon the many +objects which filled him with wonder and delight; and even then it all +seemed to be so dreamlike, that he half expected to wake up and find +that he had been dozing in the hot office in Gray's Inn. + +But it was all real, and he looked with delight at the snug little room, +whose window opened upon the garden, from which floated scents and +sounds to which he had long been a stranger. + +"Look sharp and wash your hands, boy, the dinner-bell will ring in ten +minutes, I see, and Mrs Fidler is very particular. Will your room do?" + +"Do, uncle!" cried Tom, in a tone which meant the extreme of +satisfaction. + +"That's right. You see they've brought up your box. Come down as soon +as you are ready." + +He went out and closed the door; and, with his head in a whirl, Tom felt +as if he could do nothing but stand there and think; but his uncle's +words were still ringing in his ears, and hurriedly removing the slight +traces of his journey, he took one more look from his window over the +soft, fresh, sloping, far-stretching landscape of garden, orchard, +fir-wood, and stream far below in the hollow, and then looked round to +the right, to see standing towering up within thirty yards, the +windmill, with its broken sails and weatherworn wooden cap. + +He had time for no more. A bell was being rung somewhere below, and he +hurried down, eager to conform to his uncle's wishes. + +"This way, Tom," greeted him; and his uncle pointed to the hat-pegs. +"You'd better take to those two at the end, and stick to them, for Mrs +Fidler's a bit of a tyrant with me--with us it will be now. Place for +everything, she says, and everything in its place--don't you, old lady?" + +"Yes, sir," said the housekeeper, who was just inside the little +dining-room door, in a stiff black silk dress, with white bib and apron, +and quaint, old-fashioned white cap. "It saves so much trouble, Master +Tom, especially in a household like this, where your uncle is always +busy with some new contrivance." + +"Quite right," said Uncle Richard. "So take your chair there, Tom, and +keep to it. What's for dinner? We're hungry." + +Mrs Fidler smiled as she took her place at the head of the table, and a +neat-looking maid-servant came and removed the covers, displaying a +simple but temptingly cooked meal, to which the travellers did ample +justice. + +But Tom was not quite comfortable at first, for Mrs Fidler seemed to be +looking very severely at him, as if rather resenting his presence, and +sundry thoughts of his being an interloper began to trouble the lad, as +he wondered how things would turn out. Every now and then, too, +something was said which suggested an oddity about his uncle, which +would give rise to all sorts of unpleasant thoughts. Still nothing +could have been warmer than his welcome; and every now and then +something cropped up which made the boy feel that this was not to be a +temporary place of sojourning, but his home for years to come. + +"There," exclaimed Uncle Richard, when they rose from the table, "this +is a broken day for you, so you had better take your cap and have a good +look round at the place and village. Tea at six punctually. Don't be +late, or Mrs Fidler will be angry." + +"I don't like to contradict you, sir," said the housekeeper, smiling +gravely; "but as Master Tom is to form one of the household now, he +ought, I think, to know the truth." + +"Eh? The truth? Of course. What about?" + +"Our way of living here, Master Tom," said the housekeeper, turning to +him. "I should never presume to be angry with your uncle, sir; I only +carry out his wishes. He is the most precise gentleman I ever met. +Everything has to be to the minute; and as to dusting or moving any of +the things in his workshop or labour atory, I--" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Uncle Richard, grinding his teeth and screwing up his +face. "My good Mrs Fidler, don't!" + +"What have I done, sir?" exclaimed the housekeeper. + +"Say workshop, and leave laboratory alone." + +"Certainly, sir, if you wish it." + +"That's right. Well, Tom, what are you waiting for?" + +"I thought, if you wouldn't mind, I should like to help you unpack the +boxes." + +"Oh, by all means, boy. Come along; but I'm going to have a look over +the windmill first--my windmill, Mrs Fidler, now. All settled." + +"I'm very glad you've got over the bother, sir." + +"Oh, dear me, no," said Uncle Richard, laughing; "it has only just +began. Well, what is it?" + +"I didn't speak, sir." + +"No, but you looked volumes. What have they been saying now?" + +"Don't ask me, sir, pray," said the housekeeper, looking terribly +troubled. "I can't bear to hear such a good man as you are--" + +"Tut! stuff, woman. Nothing of the kind, Tom. I'm not a good man, only +an overbearing, nigger-driving old indigo planter, who likes to have his +own way in everything. Now then, old lady, out with it. I like to hear +what the fools tattle about me; and besides, I want Tom here to know +what sort of a character I have in Furzebrough." + +"I--I'd really rather not say, sir. I don't want to hear these things, +but people will talk to David and cook and Jenny, and it all comes to +me." + +"Well, I want to hear. Out with it." + +"I do wish you wouldn't ask me, sir." + +"Can't help it, Mrs Fidler. Come." + +"Bromley the baker told cook, sir, that if you were going to grind your +own flour, you might bake your own bread, for not a loaf would he make +of it." + +"Glad of it. Then we should eat bread made of pure wheat-meal without +any potatoes and ground bones in it. Good for us, eh, Tom?" + +"Better, uncle," said the boy, smiling. + +"Well, what next?" + +"Doctor told David out in the lane that he was sure you had a bee in +your bonnet." + +"To be sure: so I have; besides hundreds and thousands in the hives. Go +on." + +"And Jane heard down the village that they're not going to call it +Pinson's mill any more." + +"Why should they? Pinson's dead and gone these four years. It's +Richard Brandon's mill now." + +"Yes, sir, but they've christened it Brandon's Folly." + +"Ha, ha! So it is. But what is folly to some is wisdom to others. +What next? Does old Mother Warboys say I am going to hold wizards' +sabbaths up in the top storey, and ride round on the sails o' windy +nights?" + +"Not exactly that, sir," said Mrs Fidler, looking sadly troubled and +perplexed; "but she said she was sure you would be doing something +uncanny up there, and she hoped that no evil would descend upon the +village in consequence, for she fully expected that we should be smitten +for your sins." + +"Did she tell you this?" + +"No, sir; she said it to Mr Maxted." + +"Told the vicar?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And what did he say?" + +"She says he insulted her, sir, and that she'll never go into his church +any more. She's been telling every one so--that he called her a silly, +prejudiced old woman." + +"Is that all?" + +"It's all I can remember, sir." + +"And enough too. Look here, Tom, you had, I think, better call David, +and tell him to put the pony in and drive you back to the station. I'm +sure you would rather go back to your uncle James, and be happy with +your cousin Sam." + +Tom smiled. + +"You can't want to stay here." + +"Are you going up to the mill now, uncle?" said Tom, with a quaint look. + +"Oh yes, directly, if you are going to risk it. Ready?" + +"Yes, uncle." + +"Then come on." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +Uncle Richard frowned and looked very serious, but he uttered a low +chuckle as he led the way into a snug little room, half-library, +half-museum. A long, heavy chest stood on one side, formed of plain, +dark-coloured wood; but upon its being opened, Tom saw that it was all +beautifully polished ornamental wood inside, and full of drawers, trays, +and fittings for bright saws, hammers, chisels, and squares. + +"My old tool-chest, Tom. I used to have that at Sattegur in my +bungalow, and do most of my carpentering myself, for the natives there +are not much of hands when you want anything strong. When you want a +tool--bradawl, gimlet, pincers, anything--here they all are." He opened +and shut drawers rapidly as he spoke. "Nails, screws, tacks, you'll +know where to find them, only put things back when done with. What did +I come for? Oh, a rule. Here we are." He took a new-looking boxwood +rule from its place, closed the lid, and then led the way out into the +garden, up a flight of steps formed of rough pieces of tree, and leading +in a winding way through a shrubbery to a doorway in a wall. Passing +through this, they were in a narrow lane, and close to the yard which +enclosed the great brick tower of the mill. + +"Nice and handy for conveying the flour-sacks to and fro, Tom, eh?" said +Uncle Richard, smiling. "Now then, let's have another inspection of the +new old property." + +He took out a bunch of old keys, unlocked the gate, and entered; and +then they crossed the yard, which was littered with old wood, and with +here and there a worn-out millstone leaning against the walls, two extra +large ones bound with rusty iron standing up like ornaments on either +side of the mill-tower door, one above whitened with ancient flour, +having evidently been used for loading carts drawn up close beneath. + +"Splendid place, eh, Tom?" said Uncle Richard, as he unlocked the door, +which uttered a low groan as its unoiled hinges were used, and a +peculiar odour of old mildewed flour came from within. "We shall have a +place now in case of invasion or civil war, ready for retreat and +defence. We can barricade the lower doors, and hurl down the upper and +nether millstones on the enemies' heads, set the mill going, and mow +them down with the sails, and melt lead ready to pour down in ladlefuls +to make them run from the scalding silver soup. A grand tower for +practising all those old barbaric delights." + +"Yes, sir," said Tom uneasily, for his uncle looked at him +penetratingly, as if expecting an answer. + +"Is he serious, or only joking me?" thought Tom the next moment. "He +must be a little wrong. Got windmills in his head, like Don Quixote." + +"Yah! yah! Who shot the moon?" came in a coarse yell from outside the +gate. + +Tom started, flushed, and turned round angrily, with his fists +involuntarily clenching. + +"Yah! yah! old wind-grinders!" cried the voice again, followed by +several heavy bangs on the gate, evidently delivered with a stick. + +"The impudent scoundrel!" cried Uncle Richard. "Go and tell that fellow +that--" + +But he got no further, for, taking all this as an insult meant for his +uncle, Tom had darted off for the gate, which he threw open, and found +himself face to face with a big, shambling, hobbledehoy sort of fellow +of about eighteen or nineteen, who stepped back for a yard or two, +swinging a heavy stick to and fro, while a mangy-looking cur, with one +eye and a very thin tail like a greyhound's, kept close at his heels. + +"What is it?" said Tom hotly. "Did you knock at the gate like that?" + +"What's it got to do with you?" said the lad, insolently. "Get in, or +I'll set the dog at yer." + +Tom glanced at the dog and then at its master, and felt as he often had +when his cousin Sam had been more than usually vicious. + +"I'll jolly soon let yer know if yer give me any o' your mouth. Here, +Badger, smell him, boy--ciss--smell him!" + +The cur showed his teeth, and uttered a low snarling growl, as its +master advanced urging him on; while Tom drew one leg a little back +ready to deliver a kick, but otherwise stood his ground, feeling the +while that everything was not going to be peaceful even in that lovely +village. + +But before hostilities could begin, and just as the dog and his master +were within a yard, the gate was suddenly snatched open, and Uncle +Richard appeared, when the lout turned sharply and ran off along the +lane, followed by his dog, the fellow shouting "Yah! yah! yah!" his +companion's snapping bark sounding like an imitation. + +"Come in, Tom," said Uncle Richard. "I don't want you to get into rows +with Master Pete Warboys. Insolent young rascal!" + +Tom looked at his uncle inquiringly. + +"That's the pest of the village, Tom. Nice young scoundrel. An idle +dog, who has had a dozen places and will not stay in them, though he has +no Cousin Sam to quarrel with." + +Tom winced, for the words were a decided hit at him. + +"So he has settled down into a regular nuisance, who does a bit of +poaching, steals fruit, breaks windows, and generally annoys every one +in the place. If he were not such an ugly, shambling cub some +recruiting sergeant might pick him up. As it is, we have to put up with +him and his ways." + +"Yah!" came from a distance; and Tom's nerves tingled, for he did not +like to hear the insult directed at his uncle, however strange he might +be. + +"There, let's go on with our inspection, my boy," and the gate was +closed again, and they walked together up the slope into the mill. + +There was not much to see on the ground-floor, save the whitened brick +walls, a huge pillar or post in the middle, and a ladder-like flight of +steps on one side, up which Uncle Richard led the way; and as Tom +emerged from a trap-door, he found himself in a circular chamber, a +little less than the one below, with three windows at the sides, the +doorway he had seen from without, and three pairs of millstones placed +horizontally, and connected by shafts with the mechanism above the +cobwebby and flour-whitened ceiling. There was a flight of steps, too, +here, and Tom now noticed that there was a trap-door overhead, formed +with two flaps and a hole in the middle, while a similar one was at his +feet. + +"For sending the sacks up and down," said Uncle Richard. "The floors +are thoroughly solid, and made of good stuff. Excellent," he continued. +"Let's go up to the top." + +He led the way up the second flight of steps into the next chamber, +which was wonderfully like the floor below, minus the millstones; but +the roof, instead of being a flat ceiling of boards and beams, was a +complication of rafters, ties, posts, and cog-wheels, while at one side +was the large pivot passing out through well-greased and blackened +bearings, which bore the five sails of the mill, balanced to a great +extent by the projecting fan, which, acted upon by the wind, caused the +whole of the wooden cap which formed the top to revolve. + +"There's the way out to repair the sails, or oil the great fan," said +Uncle Richard, pointing to a little sloping doorway in the curved cap +roof. "Think the place will do? It's a good fifteen feet from the +floor to the curve." + +"Do, sir?" + +"Do, _uncle_, please. Yes, do! The whole top revolves easily enough, +and will do so more easily when there are no sails or fan." + +"Do you mean for defence, uncle?" stammered Tom. + +"Defence?--nonsense. Attack, boy. The roof will only want modifying, +and a long narrow shutter fitting, one that we can open or close easily +from within. The place when cleaned, scraped, painted, and coloured +will be all that one could wish, and is strong enough to bear anything. +We can mount a monster here." + +Tom looked more puzzled than ever. Monster? + +"In the floor below make our laboratory, and keep chemicals and plates." + +"Yes, uncle," said Tom; for he could understand that. + +"And on the ground-floor do our grinding and fining." + +"But the millstones are on the floor above," said Tom. + +"Yes, I know, my boy, for the present; but I'll soon have them lowered +down. There, the place will do splendidly, and Mrs Fidler will be at +peace." + +Tom did not see how Mrs Fidler could be at peace if the corn was ground +on the basement-floor of the mill, but he said nothing. + +"Now we'll go down," said Uncle Richard. "I'm more than satisfied. +I'll have two or three stout fellows to lower down the stones; the rest +we will do ourselves." + +He led the way down, locked up the mill again and the outer gate, and +then entered the garden and crossed it to the coach-house, where the +packages brought down were waiting. + +"Go to the tool-chest and fetch an iron chisel and the biggest hammer," +said Uncle Richard. "No, it's screwed down. Bring the two largest +screw-drivers." + +Tom hurried away, and soon returned, to find that his uncle had opened +one of the packages he had brought down, and was untying some brown +paper, which proved to contain brass tubes and fittings, with slides and +rack-work. + +"Know what these are?" said Uncle Richard. + +"They look like part of a photographic camera," said Tom. + +"A good shot, my lad, but not right. Now for the big chest. I hope +they are not broken. Try and get out some of the screws." + +These were gradually drawn from the very stout chest, the lid lifted, a +quantity of thickly-packed straw removed, and a round package of brown +paper was revealed. + +"Out with it, Tom," said his uncle. "No, don't trust to the string." + +Tom bent down to lift out the package, but failed, and his uncle +laughed. + +"Let's both try," he said, and getting their fingers down, they lifted +out something exceedingly heavy, and bore it to a stout bench. "Now for +the other," said Uncle Richard; and after removing more straw, a second +package was seen precisely like the first, which on being taken out and +opened, proved to be a great solid disc of ground-glass made fairly +smooth but quite opaque. + +"Bravo! quite sound," cried Uncle Richard. "Now the other." + +This proved also to have borne the journey well, and Tom looked from the +two great discs to his uncle. + +"Well," said the latter; "do you see what these are for?" + +"To grind flour much finer?" + +"To grind grandmothers, boy! Nonsense! Not to grind, but to be ground. +Out of those Tom, you and I have to make a speculum of tremendous +power." + +"A looking-glass, sir?" said Tom, feeling rather depressed at his +uncle's notion. For what could a sensible man want with looking-glasses +made round, and weighing about a hundredweight each? + +"Yes, a looking-glass, boy, for the sun and moon, and Jupiter, Venus, +Mars, Saturn, and the rest to see their faces in, or for us to see them. +I can't afford to give five or six hundred pounds for a telescope, so +you and I will make a monster." + +"Telescope!" cried Tom, as scales seemed to fall from before his eyes. +"Oh, I see!" + +"Well, didn't you see before?" + +"No, uncle, I couldn't make it out. Then that's what you want the +windmill for, to put the telescope in, with the top to turn round any +way?" + +"To be sure; it will make a splendid observatory, will it not?" + +"Glorious, uncle!" cried the boy, whose appearance underwent a complete +change, and instead of looking heavy and dull, his eyes sparkled with +animation as he exclaimed eagerly, "How big will the telescope be?" + +"A little wider than the speculum--about eighteen inches across." + +"And how long?" + +"Fifteen feet, boy." + +"Yes," cried Tom, excitedly. "And when are you going to begin, uncle?" + +"Now, my boy. At once." + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +"Uncle James was always calling me a fool," said Tom the next morning; +"and I must be, or I shouldn't have thought poor Uncle Richard half +crazy. What a lot of stuff I did get into my head." + +He was dressing with his window wide open; the sun was shining warmly, +though it was only about six o'clock, and a delicious scent floated in +from the garden and the pine-woods beyond. + +"Grinding corn and turning miller!" he said, and he burst into a merry +fit of laughter, and then stopped short with a hair-brush in his hand, +staring at his face in the glass, for he hardly knew it; he looked so +different to the sad, depressed lad whose countenance had gazed wearily +at him from the mirror when he rose of a morning in London. + +"It must be the fresh country air," he said to himself; but all the same +he felt that it must be something more, and he hastened to finish +dressing and go down, so as to have a good look round before breakfast +punctually at eight. + +"Seems like coming out for a holiday, or being at home again," he +thought, as he went down-stairs softly, wondering whether he could +easily get out, but to find that the front door was wide open, and hear +the servants busy in the kitchen; while, as he stepped out on to the +lawn, he suddenly heard the musical sound of a scythe being sharpened, +and the next minute he was alongside of David, who had just begun to +sweep the keen implement round and lay the daisies low. + +"Mornin', sir, mornin'. Going to be reg'lar hot day.--Eh? Want to get +up into the pine-woods. Best go straight to the bottom of the garden, +and out into the field, and then strike up to your left." + +Tom hurried through the bright grounds, followed the directions, and in +a few minutes he was climbing a slope of rough common-land, here velvety +short turf full of wild thyme, which exhaled its pungent odour as his +feet crushed its dewy flowers, there tufted with an exceedingly +fine-growing, soft kind of furze, beyond which were clumps of the +greater, with its orange and yellow blooms, and rough patches of +pale-bloomed ling and brilliant yellow broom. + +Beyond this wide strip the closely-growing fir-trees began, forming a +dense, dark-green wood. + +It was for this that he was aiming; but as he reached the edge, he +turned to stand in the bright sunshine looking down at the village. + +There was the square-towered, ivy-covered church, with its clock-face +glistening, and the hands pointing to twenty minutes past six. Beyond +it, what seemed to be an extensive garden beside the churchyard, and the +ivy-covered gables of a house that he immediately concluded was the +Vicarage. Other attractive cottage-like houses were dotted about. Then +he caught sight of the green, with its smaller places. Another more +pretentious place or two, and as his eyes swept round, he reached, close +at hand, his uncle's home--his home now, with the windmill towering +above it just on the top of the ridge. + +"What nonsense!" he said half aloud; and then he burst into a merry +laugh, which ceased as he heard what sounded like a mocking echo, and a +long-tailed black and white bird flew out of a fir-tree, with the sun +glistening upon its burnished green and purple tail feathers. "Why it's +a magpie!" he cried, and another flew out to follow the first. + +As he stood watching them, his eyes rested upon a flashing of water here +and there, showing where a stream ran winding through the shallow +valley; while a couple of miles beyond it he could trace the railway now +by a heavy goods train panting slowly along, with the engine funnel +leaving a long train of white flocculent steam behind. + +"Oh, it's lovely," he said softly. "Who could help being happy down +here!" + +There was rather a swelling in his throat, for he felt the change for a +few moments. But the next minute the exploring desire was strong upon +him, and he plunged in amongst the bronze, pillar-like stems of the +fir-trees, and began wandering on and on in a kind of twilight, flecked +and cut by vivid rays of sunshine, which came through the dense, +dark-green canopy overhead. The place was full of attractions to such a +newly-released prisoner, and his eyes were everywhere, now finding +something to interest him in the thick soft carpet of pine-needles over +which his feet glided. Then he caught sight of a squirrel which ran up +a fir-tree, and stopped high up to watch the intruder. Then he came to +an open place where trees had been felled; the stumps and chips dotted +the ground, and bluebells had sprung up abundantly, along with patches +of briar and heath revelling in the sunshine. + +Here the sandy ground was showing soft and yellow in places, where it +had been lately turned over, and in a minute or two he knew what by, for +a rabbit sprang up from close to his feet, ran some fifty yards, and +disappeared in a burrow; while from the trees beyond came a series of +harsh cries, and he caught sight of half-a-dozen jays jerking themselves +along, following one another in their soft flight, and showing the pure +white patch just above their tails. + +"There must be snakes and hedgehogs, and all kinds of wild things here," +thought Tom, with all a boy's eagerness for country sights and sounds; +"and look at that!" + +He obeyed his own command, stopping short to watch, as he heard first a +peculiar squealing sound, and directly after saw another rabbit come +loping into sight, running in and out among the pine stumps, and keeping +up the pitiful squealing sound as it ran. + +"Must have been that," he thought; and he was about to run after it, +when he suddenly saw something small and elongated appear among the +bluebells. For a moment it appeared to be a large snake making its way +unnaturally in an undulating, vertical way, instead of horizontally; but +he directly after made out that it was a weasel in pursuit of the +rabbit, going steadily along, evidently hunting by scent, and the next +minute it had disappeared. + +"I must not go much further," thought Tom after a while. "I ought to be +back punctually to breakfast, and get my boots cleaned first." + +He looked down at them, to see that the dew and sand had taken off all +the polish, and stepping out now, he hurried for a mound, intending to +make it the extent of his journey, and walk back from there to the +village. + +The mound was pine-crowned, and he had nearly reached the top, noting +that the sand was liberally burrowed by rabbits, when all at once one of +the little white-tailed creatures darted over the top into sight and +rushed towards him; there was another rush, a big dog came into sight, +overtook the rabbit before it could take refuge in a hole; there was a +craunch, a squeal, and the dog was trotting back with the little animal +drooping down on each side from its steel-trap jaws, quite dead. + +"Poor rabbit," muttered Tom. "Why, it's that boy's dog." + +He increased his pace, following the dog up the sandy mound; while the +animal paid no heed to him, but went steadily on, with its thin, +greyhound-like, bony tail hanging in a curve, till reaching the highest +part of the eminence, the forepart with the rabbit disappeared, and then +the tail curved up for a moment in the air and was gone. + +Tom Blount felt interested, and hurried up now over the sand and +fir-needles, till his head was above the top of the slope; and the next +minute he was looking down at the back of the dog's master, as he was +calmly stuffing the body of the defunct rabbit inside the lining of his +coat, a slit in which served for a pocket. The dog was looking on, and +just in front lay another rabbit, while a couple of yards away there was +a hole scratched beneath the root of a tree, and the clean yellow sand +scattered all about over the fir-needles. + +The next moment Tom's sharp eyes detected that a couple of holes near at +hand were covered with pieces of net, one of which suddenly began to +move, and the dog drew its master's attention by giving a short low +bark. + +The warning had its effect, for the lad rose from his knees, stepped to +the hole, and picked up something which Tom saw at once to be a long, +reddish, writhing ferret. This snaky animal the lad thrust into his +breast, stuffed the little piece of net into his pocket, picked up three +more scraps from the mouths of other holes, and finally took the rabbit +from the ground to pack inside his jacket lining, when the dog caught +sight of Tom, and gave a sharp, angry bark. + +The boy looked round, saw that he was observed, and started to run. But +realising the next moment who it was, he hesitated, stopped, and +hurriedly getting the second rabbit out of sight, put on a defiant air. + +Tom smiled to himself. + +"Poaching, or he wouldn't have begun to run.--I say," he said aloud, +"whose wood is this?" + +"What's that got to do with you?" cried the lad insolently. "'Tain't +yours. And just you lookye here, if I ketches you sneaking arter and +watching me again, I'll give you something as'll make that other side o' +your face look swelled." + +Tom involuntarily raised his hand to a tender spot on his right cheek, +left from his encounter with his cousin, and the lad grinned. + +"No, not that side, t'other," said the fellow. "Now then, just you hook +it. You 'ain't no business here." + +"As much business as you have," said Tom stoutly, for the lad's manner +made his blood begin to flow more freely. + +"No, you 'ain't; you're only a stranger, and just come." + +"Anybody must have a right to come through here so long as he isn't +poaching." + +The lad gave a sharp look round, and then turned menacingly to Tom, with +his fist doubled, and thrust his face forward. + +"Just you say as I've been poaching agen, and I'll let you know." + +His manner was so menacing that the dog read war, and set up a few hairs +on the back of his neck, and uttered a low snarl. + +"Yes, and I'll set the dog at yer too. Who's been poaching? Just you +say that again." + +"You look as if you had," said Tom stoutly, but with a very +uncomfortable feeling running through him, for the dog's teeth were +white and long, and looked just the kind to get a good hold of a running +person's leg. + +"Oh, I do, do I?" said the lad. "I'll soon let you know about that. +Just you tell tales about me, and I'll half smash yer. I don't know as +I won't now." + +His manner was more menacing than ever, and Tom was beginning to feel +that he would be compelled to place himself upon his defence, and +signalise his coming to Furzebrough with another encounter, when, +faintly-heard, came the striking of a church clock, borne on the soft +morning breeze, arousing Tom to the fact that he must be a good way on +towards an hour's walk back to his uncle's, and bringing up memories of +his punctuality. + +"Mustn't be late the first morning," he thought, just as the young +rabbit poacher gave him a thrust back with his shoulder, and turning +sharply he darted among the trees, and began to run toward his new home. + +"Yah! coward!" was yelled after him, and a lump of sandy iron-stone +struck him full in the back, making him wince; but he did not stop, only +dodged in and out among the pine-trees, taking what he believed to be +the right direction for the village. Then he ran faster, for he heard +his assailant's voice urging on the dog. + +"Ciss! Fetch him, Bob!" and glancing over his shoulder, he saw that the +mongrel-looking brute was in full pursuit, snarling and uttering a low +bark from time to time. + +Tom's first and natural instinct was to run faster, in the hope that the +dog would soon weary of the pursuit, and faster he did run, suffering +from an unpleasant feeling of fear, for it is by no means pleasant to +have a powerful, keen-toothed dog at your heels, one that has proved its +ability to bite, and evidently intending to repeat the performance. + +Tom ran, and the dog ran, and the latter soon proved that four legs are +better for getting over the ground than two; for the next minute he was +close up, snapping at the boy's legs, leaping at his hands, and sending +him into a profuse perspiration. + +"Ciss! fetch him down, boy!" came from a distance, and the dog responded +by a bark and a snap at Tom's leg, which nearly took effect as he ran +with all his might, and made him so desperate that he suddenly stopped +short as the dog made a fresh snap, struck against him, and then from +the effort rolled over and over on the ground. + +Before it could gather itself up for a fresh attack Tom, in his +desperation, stooped down and picked up the nearest thing to him--to +wit, a good-sized fir-cone, which he hurled at the dog with all his +might. It was very light, and did not hit its mark, but the young +poacher's dog was a bad character, and must have known it. Certainly it +had had stones thrown at it before that morning, and evidently under the +impression that it was about to have its one eye knocked out or its head +split, it uttered a piercing whining cry, tucked its thin tail between +its legs, and began to run back toward its master as fast as it could +go, chased by another fir-cone, which struck the ground close by it, and +elicited another yelp. + +Tom laughed, and at the same time felt annoyed with himself. + +"Why didn't I do it at first?" he said; "and that isn't the worst of +it--that fellow will think I ran away because I was afraid of him." + +This last thought formed the subject upon which Tom dwelt all the way +back, and he was still busy over an argument with himself as to whether +he had been afraid of the young poacher or no, when, after missing the +way two or three times among the firs, he caught sight of the church +clock pointing to a quarter to eight. + +"Just time to get in," he said, as he increased his pace; and +then--"Yes, I suppose it was afraid of him, for he is a good deal bigger +and stronger than I am." + +"Hullo, Tom! been for a walk?" saluted him, as he was hurrying at last +along the lane which divided his uncle's grounds from the new purchase. + +Tom looked up quickly, and found that Uncle Richard was looking over the +wall of the mill-yard. + +"That's right," continued his uncle. "What do you think of the place?" + +"Glorious!" said Tom. + +"Hungry?" + +"Terribly, uncle." + +"That's right. Come along, Mrs Fidler's waiting for us by now." + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +Directly after breakfast Tom followed his uncle to the coach-house, and +from there up a ladder fastened to the side into the loft, where he +looked around wonderingly, while his companion's face relaxed into a +grim smile. + +"It was originally intended for botanical productions, Tom," he said; +"for a sort of _hortus siccus_, if you know what that means." + +"_Hortus_--garden; _siccus_--I don't know what that means, uncle, unless +it's dry." + +"That's right, boy. Glad you know some Latin beside the legal. Dry +garden, as a botanist calls it, where he stores up his specimens. But +only a few kinds were kept here: hay, clover, oats, and linseed, in the +form of cake. Now, you see, I've turned it into use for another +science." + +"Astronomy, uncle?" + +"To be sure; but it's _very_ small and inconvenient. But wait till we +get the windmill going." + +"Is this your telescope?" cried Tom. + +"Yes, Tom; but it's too small. You'll have to work hard on my big one." + +"Yes, uncle," said Tom, with quiet confidence, as he eagerly examined +the glass with its mounting, and the many other objects about the place, +one of which was a kind of trough half full of what seemed to be +beautifully clear water, covered with a sheet of plate-glass. + +"There, as soon as you've done we'll go to the mill, for I don't want to +lose any time." + +"I could stay here for hours, uncle," said Tom. "I want to know what +all these things are for, and how you use them; but I'm ready now." + +"That's right. The men are coming this morning to begin clearing away." + +"So soon, uncle?" + +"Yes, so soon. Life's short, Tom; and at my age one can't afford to +waste time. Come along." + +Tom began thinking as he followed his uncle, for his words suggested a +good deal, inasmuch as he had been exceedingly extravagant with the time +at his disposal, and much given to wishing the tedious hours to go by. + +"Here they are," said Uncle Richard; for there was the sound of a +horse's hoofs, and the crushing noise made by wheels in the lane. + +"But I thought you were going to make the place into an observatory +yourself, uncle, with me to help you?" + +Uncle Richard smiled. + +"It would be wasting valuable time, Tom," he said, "even if we could do +it; but we could not. I've thought it over, and we shall have to +content ourselves with making the glass." + +On reaching the mill-yard it was to find half-a-dozen people there with +ladders, scaffold-poles, ropes, blocks, and pulleys. There was a short +consultation, and soon after the men began work, unbolting the woodwork +of the sails, while others began to disconnect the millstones from the +iron gearing. + +This business brought up all the idlers of the village, who hung about +looking on--some in a friendly way, others with a sneering look upon +their countenances, as they let drop remarks that contained anything but +respect for the owner of the place. But though they were careful not to +let them reach Uncle Richard's ears, it seemed to Tom that more than +once an extra unpleasant speech was made expressly for him to hear; and +he coloured angrily as he felt that these people must know why the mill +was being dismantled. + +The work went on day after day, and first one great arm of the mill was +lowered in safety, the others following, to make quite a stack of wood +in a corner of the yard, but so arranged that one side touched the +brickwork, as there was no need to leave room now for the revolution of +the sails. + +By this time the building had assumed the appearance of a tower, whose +sides curved up to the wooden dome top, and the resemblance was +completed as soon as the fan followed the sails. + +Meanwhile the iron gearing connected with the stones had been taken down +inside; then the stones had followed, being lowered through the floors +into the basement, and from thence carefully rolled, to be leaned up +against the wall. + +"Hah!" said Uncle Richard, "at the end of a week," as he went up to the +top-floor of the mill with his nephew. + +"Is it only a week, uncle?" said Tom. "Why, it seems to me as if I had +been here for a month." + +"So long and tedious, boy?" + +"Oh no, uncle," said Tom confusedly. "I meant I seem to have been here +so long, and yet the time has gone like lightning." + +"Then you can't have been very miserable, my boy?" + +"Miserable!" cried Tom. + +That was all; and Uncle Richard turned the conversation by pointing to +the roof. + +"There," he said, "that used to swing round easily enough with the +weight of those huge sails, which looked so little upon the mill, but so +big when they are down. It ought to move easily now, boy." + +Tom tried, and found that the whole of the wooden top glided round upon +its pivot with the greatest ease. + +"Yes, that's all very well," said his uncle, "but it will have to be +disconnected from the mill-post. I shall want that to bear the new +glass." + +"That?" said Tom, gazing at the huge beam which went down through the +floor right to the basement of the mill. + +"Yes, boy; that will make a grandly steady stand when wedged tight. To +a great extent this place is as good as if it had been built on purpose +for an observatory. I shall be glad though when we get rid of the +workmen, and all the litter and rubbish are cleared away." + +That afternoon a couple of carpenters began work, devoting themselves at +first to the wooden dome-like roof, which they were to furnish from top +to bottom with a narrow shutter, so formed that it could be opened to +turn right over on to the roof, leaving a long slip open to the sky. + +That night, after he had gone up to his bedroom, Tom threw open his +window, to sit upon the ledge, reaching out so as to have a good look at +the sky which spread above, one grand arch of darkest purple spangled +with golden stars. To his right was the tower-like mill, and behind it +almost the only constellation that he knew, to wit, Charles's Wain, with +every star distinct, even to the little one, which he had been told +represented the boy driving the horses of the old northern waggon. + +"How thick the stars are to-night," he thought, as he traced the light +clusters of the Milky Way, noting how it divided in one place into two. +Then he tried to make out the Little Bear and failed, wondered which was +the Dog Star, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, and ended by giving his ear a +vicious rub. + +"A fellow don't seem to know anything," he thought. "How stupid I must +seem to Uncle Richard. But I mean to know before I've done. Hark!" + +He listened attentively, for in the distance a nightingale was singing, +and the sweet notes were answered from somewhere beyond, and again and +again at greater distances still, the notes, though faint, sounding +deliciously pure and sweet. + +"Who would live in London?" he said to himself; and a curiously mingled +feeling of pleasure and sadness came over him, as he dwelt upon his +position now, and how happy life had suddenly become. + +"And I thought of running away," he said softly, as he looked down now +at the dimly-seen shrubs about the lawn. "Uncle Richard doesn't seem to +think I'm such a fool. Wonder whether I can learn all about the stars." + +Just then he yawned, for it was past ten, and the house so quiet that he +felt sure that his uncle had gone to bed. + +"Yes, I'll learn all about them and surprise him," he said. "There are +plenty of books in the study. Then I shall not seem so stupid when we +begin. What's that?" + +He had put out his candle when he opened the casement to look at the +stars, so that his room was all dark, and he was just about to close the +window, and hurry off his clothes, when a faint clinking sound struck +upon his ear. + +The noise came from the mill-yard to his right, where he could dimly +make out the outlines of the building against the northern sky; and it +sounded as if some of the ironwork which had been taken down--bolts, +nuts, bands, and rails--and piled against the wall had slipped a little, +so as to make a couple of the pieces clink. + +"That's what it is," thought Tom, and he reached out to draw in his +casement window, when he heard the sound again, a little louder. + +"Cat walking over the iron," thought Tom; but the noise came again, only +a faint sound, but plain enough in the stillness of the night. + +All at once a thought came which sent the blood flushing up into the +boy's cheeks, and nailed him, as it were, to the window. + +"There's some one in the yard stealing the old iron." + +The lad's heart began to beat heavily, and thoughts came fast. Who +could it be? Some one who knew where it all was, and meant to sell it. +Surely it couldn't be David! + +Tom leaned out, gazing in the direction of the sounds, which still +continued, and he made out now that it was just as if somebody was +hurriedly pulling bolts and nuts out of a heap, and putting them in a +bag or a sack. + +Hot with indignation, as soon as he had arrived at this point, against +whoever it could be who was robbing his uncle, Tom half turned from the +window to go and wake him. + +No, he would not do that. It must be some one in the village, and if he +could find out who, that would be enough, and he could tell his uncle in +the morning. + +Tom had only been a short time at Furzebrough, but it was long enough to +make him know many of the people at sight, and, in spite of the +darkness, he fancied that he would be able to recognise the marauder if +he could get near enough. + +He did not stop to think. There was a heavy trellis-work covered with +roses and creepers all over his side of the house, and the sill of his +window was not much over ten feet from the flower-beds below. + +He had no cap up-stairs, and he was in his slippers, but this last was +all the better, and with all a boy's activity he climbed out of the +window, got a good hold of the trellis, felt down with his feet for a +place, and descended with the greatest ease, avoided the narrow flower +border by a bit of a spring, and landed upon David's carefully-kept +grass. + +Here for a moment or two he paused. + +The gate would be locked at night, and it would be better to get out at +the bottom of the garden. + +Satisfied with this, he set off at a trot, the velvety grass deadening +his steps. Then, getting over the iron hurdle, he passed through a bit +of shrubbery, found a thick stick, and got over the palings into the +lane. + +Here he had to be more cautious, for he wanted to try and make out who +was the thief without being seen, and perhaps getting a crack over the +head, as he put it, with a piece of iron. + +The lane would not do, and besides, the gate would be locked, and the +wall awkward to climb. + +Another idea suggested itself, and stopping at the end of the mill-yard, +he passed into a field, and with his heart increasing its pulsations, +partly from exertion, as much as from excitement, he hurried round on +tiptoe to the back of the mill-yard, and cautiously raising himself up, +peered over the top of the wall, and listened. + +To his disappointment, he found that though he could look over the top +of the wall, it was only at the mill--all below in the yard was +invisible, but the place was all very still now. Not a sound fell upon +his ear for some minutes, and then a very faint one, which sounded like +a load being lifted from the top of the wall, but right away down by +where he had entered the field. + +Tom stole back, bending low the while, but saw nothing, nobody was +carrying a burden, and he was getting to be in despair, when all at once +there was the sound of a stifled sneeze, evidently from far along the +lane. + +That was enough. Tom was back in the lane directly, keeping close to +the hedge, and following, he believed, some one who was making his way +from the village out toward the open country. + +At the end of a minute he was sure that some one was about thirty yards +in front of him, and perfectly certain directly after that whoever it +was had turned off to the right along a narrow path between two hedges +which bounded the bottom of his uncle's field. + +The path led round to the outskirts of the village, where there were +some scattered cottages beyond the church, and feeling sure that the +thief--if it was a thief--was making for there, Tom followed silently, +guided twice over by a faint sniff, and pausing now and then to listen +for some movement which he heard, the load the marauder carried brushing +slightly against the hedge. + +Then all at once the sounds ceased, and though Tom went on and on, and +stopped to listen again and again, he could hear nothing. He hurried on +quickly now, but felt that nobody could be at hand, and hurried back, +peering now in the darkness to try and make out where the object of his +search had struck off from the narrow way. + +But in the obscurity he could make out nothing, for he was very ignorant +about this track, never having been all along it before; and at last, +thoroughly discouraged, he went back, growing more and more annoyed at +his ill-success, and wishing he had made a rush and seized the thief at +once. + +And now, feeling thoroughly tired, as well as damped in his ardour, Tom +reached the paling, climbed over into the shrubbery, reached the lawn, +over which he walked slowly toward the darkened house, where he paused, +and reached over to grasp the stout trellis, and spare David's +flower-bed. + +It was very easy, almost as much so as climbing a ladder, and in a +minute he had reached first one arm and then the other over the +window-sill, and was about to climb in, when he almost let go and nearly +dropped back into the garden. + +For there was a loud scratching noise, a line of light, and a wax-match +flashed out, and then burned steadily, lighting up Uncle Richard's stern +face and the little bedroom, as he stood a couple of yards back from the +window. + +"Now, sir, if you please," came in severe tones. "What is the meaning +of this?" + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +It did not mean apples nor pears from the garden, for they were nearly +as hard as wood, and it did not mean going out to carry on some game +with a companion, for Tom knew no one there. + +Uncle Richard was aware of this when he heard Tom stealing down the +trellis, and peeped at him from a darkened window. Hence his stern +question. + +"Oh, uncle!" said Tom, in a subdued voice, "how you frightened me." + +"I'm glad of it, sir," said Uncle Richard, holding the little match to +the candle and increasing the illumination as Tom climbed in. "I meant +to. Now, sir, if you please, explain." + +"Yes, uncle," said Tom calmly, and making his uncle frown. + +"The impudent young dog!" he said to himself; and then he stood nodding +his head, and gradually growing more satisfied that he had after all +been right in his estimate of his nephew, though the night's business +had rather shaken his faith. + +"Then you didn't make out who it was, Tom," he said, when Tom had +explained. + +"No, uncle; it was very stupid of me, I suppose." + +"Very foolish to be guilty of such an escapade." + +"Foolish!" said Tom, growing more damped than before; "but he was +stealing the ironwork." + +"Yes, evidently carrying it off; but it was old iron." + +"But it was just as bad to steal old iron as new, uncle," said Tom. + +"Ahem! yes, of course, my boy; but you must not be so venturesome. I +mean that it was not worth while for you to risk being stricken down for +the sake of saving some rubbish. Thieves are reckless when caught." + +"I wasn't thinking of saving the old iron, uncle; I wanted to see who it +was, so as to be able to tell you. I didn't think of being knocked +down." + +"Well, perhaps it was all a mistake, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "for it +was in the dark." + +"Yes, uncle, but I feel sure that some one was helping himself to the +pieces of iron." + +"Look in the morning, my boy. Get to bed now, and never do such a thing +as that again. Good-night." + +Uncle Richard nodded to the boy kindly enough and left him, while Tom +soon turned in to bed, to lie dreaming that the man came back to fetch +more iron, and kept on carrying it off till it was all gone. Then he +came back again, lifted the mill sails as if they were mere twigs, and +took them away, and lastly he was in the act of picking up one of the +millstones, and putting it on his head, when Tom awoke, and found that +it was a bright sunshiny morning. + +It did not take him very long dressing, by which time it was nearly six, +and he hurried down so as to get into the mill-yard before the +carpenters came to work. + +Sure enough, when he reached the heap of iron in the left-hand corner of +the place, it was plain to see that a number of small pieces had been +taken away, for not only had the heap been disturbed by some being +removed, but the surface looked black, and not rusty like the rest, +showing that a new surface had been exposed. + +Satisfied that he was right, and there being no embargo placed upon his +acting now, Tom went over the ground he had traversed the night before, +and upon reaching the corner of the yard close to the lane, he came upon +the spot where the bag must have been rested in getting it over; and as +ill-luck would have it for the thief, the head of a great nail stuck out +from between two bricks, a nail such as might have been used for the +attaching of a clothes-line. This head had no doubt caught and torn the +bag, for an iron screw nut lay on the top of the bricks. + +Tom seized it, leaped the wall, and got into the lane, to find another +nut in the road just where his uncle's field ended, and the narrow path +went down between the two hedges. + +This was a means of tracking, and, eager now to trace the place where +the thief must have turned off, Tom went on with his hunt, to find the +spot easily enough just at the corner of a potato field, where the hedge +was so thin that a person could easily pass through. + +"This must have been the place," thought Tom. "Yes, so it is. Hurrah!" +he cried, and pressing against the hedge the hawthorn gave way on each +side, and he pounced upon a piece of iron lying on the soft soil between +two rows of neatly earthed-up potatoes. Better still, there were the +deeply-marked footprints of some one who wore heavy boots, running +straight between the next two rows, and following this step by step, Tom +found two more nuts before he reached, the hedge on the other side of +the field, and passed out into the lane in front of the straggling patch +of cottages, from one of which the blue wood smoke was rising, and a +little way off an old bent woman was going toward the stream which ran +through this part of the village. She was carrying a tin kettle, and +evidently on her way to fill it for breakfast. + +Tom stopped in this lane undecided as to which way to go, for the thief +might just as likely have passed to the left or right of these to +another part of the village as have entered one of them. + +He looked for the footprints, but they were only visible in the +freshly-hoed field. There was not a sign in the hard road, and feeling +now that he was at fault, he walked slowly down the lane, and then +returned along the path close in front of the cottages. Just as he +reached the gate leading into the patch of garden belonging to the one +with the open door, and from which came the crackling of burning wood, +his attention was taken by the loud yawning of some one within, and a +large screw lying upon the crossbar of the palings which separated this +garden from the next. + +This screw was about four yards from the little gate, and it might have +belonged to the occupants, but, as Tom darted in, certain that it was +part of the plunder, he saw that it was muddy and wet, and just in front +of him there was its imprint in the damp path, where it had evidently +been trampled in and then picked out. + +Tom felt certain now; and just then the little gate swung to, giving a +bang which brought the yawner to the doorway in the person of the big +lad who had shouted after Uncle Richard on the afternoon of Tom's first +arrival, and next morning had been caught poaching. In fact, there was +a ferrets' cage under the window with a couple of the creatures +thrusting out their little pink noses as if asking to be fed. + +The boys' eyes met, and there was no sleepiness in the bigger one's eyes +as he caught sight of the screw in Tom's hand. + +"Here!" he cried, rushing at him and trying to seize the piece of iron; +"what are you doing here? That's mine." + +"No, it isn't," cried Tom sturdily. "How did it come here?" + +"What's that to you? You give that here, or it'll be the worse for +you." + +"Where did you get it?" cried Tom. + +"It's no business of yours," cried the lad savagely. "Give it up, will +yer." + +He seized Tom by the collar with both hands, and tried then to snatch +away the screw, but Tom held on with his spirit rising; and as the +struggle went on, in another minute he would have been striking out +fiercely, had not there been an interruption in the arrival of the old +woman with the newly-filled kettle. + +"Here, what's this?" she croaked, in a peculiarly hoarse voice; and as +Tom looked round he found himself face to face with a keen-eyed, +swarthy, wrinkled old woman, whose untended grey hair hung in ragged +locks about her cheeks, and whose hooked nose and prominent chin gave +her quite the aspect of some old witch as fancied by an artist for a +book. + +"Do you hear, Pete, who's this?" she cried again, before the lad could +answer. "What does he want?" + +"Says that old iron screw's his, granny." + +"What, that?" cried the old woman, making a snatch with her thin +long-nailed finger at the piece of iron Tom held as far as he could from +his adversary. + +She was more successful than the lad had been, for she obtained +possession of it, and hurriedly thrust it into some receptacle hidden by +the folds of her dirty tea-leaf-coloured dress. + +"Mine!" she cried, "mine! Who is he? Want to steal it?" + +"Yes. D'yer hear? Be off out of our place, or I'll soon let you know." + +"I shall not go," cried Tom, who was now bubbling over with excitement. +"You stole the iron from our place--from the mill last night." + +The old woman turned upon him furiously. + +"The mill," she cried; "who pulled the poor old mill down, and robbed +poor people of their meal? No corn, no flour. I know who you are now. +You belong to him yonder. I know you. Cursed all of you. I know him, +with his wicked ways and sins and doings. Go away--go away!" + +She raised her hands threateningly, after setting down the kettle; and +Tom shrank back in dismay from an adversary with whom he could not cope. + +"Not till he brings out the iron he came and stole," cried Tom. + +"Stole?--who stole? What yer mean?" cried the lad. "Here, let me get +at him, granny. He ain't coming calling people stealers here, is he? +It's your bit o' iron, ain't it?" + +"Yes, mine--mine," cried the old woman; "send him away--send him away +before I put a look upon him as he'll never lose." + +"D'yer hear? you'd better be off!" cried the lad; and, completely +beaten, Tom shrank away, the old woman following him up, with her lips +moving rapidly, her fingers gesticulating, and a look in her fiercely +wild eyes that was startling. He was ready in his excitement to renew +his struggle with the lad, in spite of a disparity of years and size; +but the old woman was too much, and he did not breathe freely till he +was some distance away from the cottages, and on his way back to +Heatherleigh. + +The first person he encountered was his uncle, who was down the garden +ready to greet him with-- + +"Morning, Tom, lad; I'm afraid you were right about the iron." + +"Yes, uncle; and I found who stole it. I traced it to one of the +cottages," and he related his experience. + +"Ah!" he said; "so you've fallen foul of old Mother Warboys. You don't +believe in witches, do you, Tom?" + +"No, uncle, of course not; but she's a horrible old woman." + +"Yes, and the simple folk about here believe in her as something no +canny, as the Scotch call it. So you think it was Master Pete Warboys, +do you?" + +"Yes, uncle, I feel sure it was; and if you sent a policeman at once, I +dare say he would find the bag of iron." + +"Hardly likely, Tom; they would have got rid of it before he came there +if I did send one, which I shall not do." + +"Not send--for stealing?" + +"No, Tom," said Uncle Richard quietly. "Police means magistrates, +magistrates mean conviction and prison. Master Pete's bad enough now." + +"Yes, uncle; he poaches rabbits." + +"I dare say," said Uncle Richard; "and if I sent him to prison, I +should, I fear, make him worse, and all for the sake of a few pieces of +old iron. No, Tom, I think we'll leave some one else to punish him. +You and I are too busy to think of such things. We want to start upon +our journey." + +"Are we going out, uncle?" said Tom eagerly. + +"Yes, boy, as soon as the great glass is made: off and away through the +mighty realms of space, to plunge our eyes into the depths of the +heavens, and see the wonders waiting for us there." + +Tom felt a little puzzled by Uncle Richard's language, but he only said, +"Yes, of course," and did not quite understand why Master Pete Warboys, +who seemed to be as objectionable a young cub as ever inhabited a +pleasant country village, should be allowed to go unpunished. + +That day was spent in the mill, where the carpenters were working away +steadily; and as the time sped on, the wooden dome-like roof was +finished, the shutter worked well, and a little railed place was +contrived so that men could go out to paint or repair, while at the same +time the railings looked ornamental, and gave the place a finish. Then +some rollers were added, to make the whole top glide round more easily; +and the great post which ran up the centre of the mill was cut off level +with the top chamber floor, and detached from the roof. + +"That will be capital for a stand," said Uncle Richard; "and going right +down to the ground as it does, gives great steadiness and freedom from +vibration." + +A few days more, and white-washing and a lining with matchboard had +completely transformed the three floors of the mill, a liberal allowance +of a dark stain and varnish giving the finishing touches, so that in +what had been a remarkably short space of time the ramshackle old mill +had become a very respectable-looking observatory, only waiting for the +scientific apparatus, which had to be made. + +The next thing was the clearing out of the yard, where, under David's +superintendence, a couple of labouring men had a long task to cut up old +wood and wheel it away, to be stacked in the coach-house and a shed. +The great millstones were left--for ornament, Uncle Richard said; and as +for the old iron, he said dryly to Tom, as they stood by the heap-- + +"Seems a pity that so many of these pieces were too heavy to lift." + +"Why; uncle? Two men can lift one." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard; "but one boy can't, or it would all have been +cleared away for me." + +Tom looked in the dry quaint face, which appeared serious, although the +boy felt that his uncle was in one of his humorous moods. + +"There must be a strange fascination about stealing, Tom," he continued, +"for, you see, quite half of that old iron is gone." + +"More," said Tom. + +"Yes, more, my boy. Strange what trouble rogues will take for very +little. Now, for instance, I should say that whatever might have been +its intrinsic worth, whoever stole that old iron could not possibly +altogether have sold it for more than five shillings, that is to say, +about one shilling per week." + +"Is it five weeks since the men began to pull down, uncle?" + +"Five weeks yesterday; and that amount could have been earned by an +industrious boy in, say, four days, and by a labouring man in two. I'm +afraid, Tom, that dishonesty does not pay." + +David, who was close by, helping to load the remainder of the old iron +into a cart, edged up to Tom as soon as Uncle Richard had gone into the +mill. + +"Strikes me, Master Tom," he said, "as I could put my hand on him as +stole that there old iron." + +"Who do you think it was, David?" + +"Not going to name no names, sir," said David, screwing up his lips, and +tightening a roll of blue serge apron about his waist. "Don't do to +slander your neighbours; but if you was to say it was old Mother +Warboys' hulking grandson, I wouldn't be so rude as to contradick you; +not as I say it is, mind you, but I've knowed that chap ever since he +was a dirty little gipsy whelp of a thing, and I never yet knowed him +take anything as was out of his reach." + +Tom laughed. + +"But I just give him fair warning, Master Tom, that if he comes after my +ribstons and Maria Louisas this year--" + +"Did he come last year?" said Tom eagerly. + +"Never you mind that, Master Tom. I don't say as he did, and I don't +say as he didn't; but I will say this, and swear to it: them Maria +Louisas on the wall has got eyes in their heads, and stalks as does for +tails, but I never see one yet as had legs." + +"Nor I neither, David," said Tom, laughing. + +"No, sir; but all the same they walked over the wall and out into the +lane somehow. So did lots of the ribstons and my king pippins. But +tchah! it's no use to say nought to your uncle. If somebody was to come +and steal his legs I don't b'lieve he'd holler `Stop thief!' but when it +comes to my fruit, as I'm that proud on it grieves me to see it picked, +walking over the wall night after night, I feel sometimes as it's no +good to prune and train, and manoor things." + +"Ah, it must be vexatious, David!" + +"Waxashus is nothing to it, sir. I tell you what it is, sir: it's made +me wicked, that it has. There's them times when I've been going to +church o' Sundays, and seen that there Pete Warboys and two or three +other boys a-hanging about a corner waiting till everybody's inside to +go and get into some mischief. I've gone to my seat along with the +singers, sir, and you may believe me when I tell you, I've never heered +a single word o' the sarmon, but sat there seeing that chap after my +pears and apples all the time." + +"Then you do give Pete Warboys the credit of it, David?" + +"No, I don't, sir. I won't 'cuse nobody; but what I do say is this, +that if ever I'm down the garden with a rake or hoe-handle in my hand, +and Pete Warboys comes over the wall, I'll hit him as hard as I can, and +ask master afterwards whether I've done right." + +"David," said Tom eagerly, "how soon will the pears be ripe?" + +"Oh, not for long enough yet, sir; and the worst of it is, if you're +afraid of your pears and apples being stole, and picks 'em soon, they +s'rivels up and has no taste in 'em." + +"Then we must lie in wait for whoever it is, when the fruit is ripe, and +catch them." + +David shut both of his eyes tight, wrinkled his face up, and shook +himself all over, then opened his eyes again, nodded, and whispered +solemnly-- + +"Master Tom, we just will." + +Then he went off to the loading of the iron, saw the last load carted +out, and was back ready, after shutting the gate, to take his master's +orders about turning the mill-yard into a shrubbery and garden. + +A week with plenty of help from the labourers completely transformed the +place. Then plenty of big shrubs and conifers were taken up from the +garden, with what David called good balls to their roots, and planted +here and there, loads of gravel were brought in, the roller was brought +into action, and a wide broad walk led with a curve to the mill-door; +there was a broad border round the tower itself, and a walk outside +that; and Tom and Uncle Richard stood looking at the work one evening in +a very satisfied frame of mind. + +"There, Tom, now for tying up my money-bag. That's all I mean to spend. +Now you and I will have to do the rest." + +The next day was devoted to furnishing the interior with the odds and +ends of scientific apparatus. The small telescope was mounted in the +top-floor, the new apparatus, boxes, bottles, and jars were placed on +tables and shelves in the middle floor, and the two great glass discs +were carefully carried into the stone-floored basement, where a cask was +stood up on end, a hole made in the head, and barrowful after barrowful +of the fine silver sand plentiful in amongst the pine-trees was wheeled +up and poured in, like so much water, with a big funnel, till the cask +was full. + +"What's that for?" said Uncle Richard, in response to an inquiry from +his nephew. "That, Tom, is for a work-bench, meant to be so solid that +it will not move. Try if you can stir it." + +Tom gave it a thrust, and shook his head. + +"I don't think three men could push it over, uncle," he said. + +"Two couldn't, Tom. There, that will do. We mustn't have any accident +with our speculum. Now then, to begin. Ready? Tuck up your sleeves." + +Tom obeyed, and helped his uncle to lift one of the glass discs on to +the top of the cask, where it was easily fixed by screwing three little +brick-shaped pieces of wood on to the head close against the sides of +the glass. + +Uncle Richard paused after tightening the last screw, and stood looking +at his nephew. + +"What a queer boy you are, Tom," he said. + +"Am I, uncle?" said the lad, colouring. + +"To be sure you are. Most boys would be full of questions, and ask why +that's done." + +"Oh," cried Tom, who smiled as he felt relieved, "I'm just the same, +uncle--as full of questions as any boy." + +"But you don't speak." + +"No, uncle; it's because I don't want you to think I'm a trouble, but I +do want to know horribly all the same." + +"I'm glad of it, boy, because I don't want what the Germans call a +dummkopf to help me. I see; I must volunteer my information. To begin +with then, that disc of glass is--" + +"For the speculum," said Tom eagerly; "and you're going to polish it." + +"Wrong. That's only for the tool. The other is for the speculum, and +we are going to grind it upon the tool." + +He turned to the other flat disc of ground-glass, where it lay upon a +piece of folded blanket upon a bench under the window, and laid his head +upon it. + +"Doesn't look much, does it, Tom?" he said. + +"No, uncle." + +"And I'm afraid that all we have to go through may seem rather +uninteresting to you." + +"Oh no, uncle; it will be very interesting to make a telescope." + +"I hope you will feel it so, boy, for you do not stand where I do, so +you must set your young imagination to work. For my part, do you know +what I can see in that dull flat piece of glass?" + +Tom shook his head. + +"Some of the greatest wonders of creation, boy. I can look forward and +see it finished, and bringing to our eyes the sun with its majestic +spots and ruddy corona, fierce with blazing heat so great that it is +beyond our comprehension; the cold, pale, dead, silver moon, with its +hundreds of old ring-plains and craters, scored and seamed, and looking +to be only a few hundred miles away instead of two hundred and forty +thousand; Jupiter with its four moons--perhaps we shall see the fifth-- +its belts and great red spot as it whirls round in space; brilliant +Venus, with her changes like our moon; bright little Mercury; Saturn, +with his disc-like ring, his belts and satellites; leaden-looking +Neptune; ruddy Mars; the stars that look to us of a night bright points +of light, opened out by that optic glass, and shown to be double, +triple, and quadruple. Then too the different misty nebulas; the comets +and the different-coloured stars--white, blue, and green. In short, +endless wonders, my boy, such as excite, awe, and teach us how grand, +how vast is the universe in which our tiny world goes spinning round. +Come, boy, do you think you can feel interested in all this, or will you +find it dry?" + +"Dry, uncle! Oh!" panted Tom, with his eyes flashing with eagerness, +"it sounds glorious." + +"It is glorious, my boy; and you who have read your _Arabian Nights_, +and stories of magicians and their doings, will have to own that our +piece of dull glass will grow into a power that shall transcend +infinitely anything the imagination of any storyteller ever invented. +Now, what do you say? for I must not preach any more." + +"Say, uncle!" cried Tom. "Let's begin at once!" + +"I beg pardon, sir," said a pleasant voice; "but would you mind having a +bell made to ring right in here?" + +"No, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard; "we will lay down iron pipes +underground to make a speaking-tube, so that you can call when you want +me. What is it--lunch?" + +"Lunch, sir!" said Mrs Fidler; "dear me, no; the dinner's waiting and +getting cold." + +"Bother the old dinner!" thought Tom. + +"Come, my lad, we must eat," said Uncle Richard, with a smile. "We +shall not finish the telescope to-day." + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +"Now then, we'll begin," said Uncle Richard; "and the first thing is to +make our mould or gauge, for everything we do must be so exact that we +can set distortion at defiance. We must have no aberration, as +opticians call it." + +"Begin to polish the glass, uncle?" + +"Not yet. Fetch those two pieces of lath." Tom fetched a couple of +thin pieces of wood, each a little over twelve feet long. These were +laid upon the bench and screwed together, so as to make one rod just +over twenty-four feet long. + +Then at one end a hole was made, into which a large brass-headed nail +was thrust, while through the other end a sharp-pointed bradawl was +bored, so as to leave its sharp point sticking out a quarter of an inch +on the other side. + +"So far so good," said Uncle Richard. "Do you know what we are going to +do, Tom?" Tom shook his head. + +"Strike the curve on that piece of zinc that we are to make our +speculum." + +"Curve?" said Tom; "why, it's quite round now." + +"Yes; the edge is, but we are going to work at the face." + +"But arn't you going to polish it into a looking-glass?" + +"Yes; but not a flat one--a plane. That would be of no use to us, Tom; +we must have a parabolic curve." + +"Oh," said Tom, who only knew parabolas from a cursory acquaintance with +them through an old Greek friend called Euclid. + +"Be patient, and you'll soon understand," continued Uncle Richard, who +proceeded to secure the sheet of zinc to a piece of board by means of +four tacks at its corners, and ended by carrying it out, and fixing the +board just at the bottom of the border, close to the window. + +A couple of strong nails at the sides of the board were sufficient, and +then he led the way in. + +"Now, Tom, take that ball of twine and the hammer, and go up to the top +window, open it, and look out." + +The boy did not stop to say "What for?" but ran up-stairs, opened the +window, and looked out, to find his uncle beneath with the long rod. + +"Lower down the end of the string," he cried; and this was done, Tom +watching, and seeing it tied to the end of the rod where the brass nail +stuck through. + +"Haul up, Tom." + +The twine was tightened, and the end of the rod drawn up till Tom could +take it in his hand. + +"Now take away the string." + +This was done. + +"Get your hammer." + +"It's here on the window-sill, uncle." + +"That's right. Now look here: I want you to lean out, and drive that +nail in between two of the bricks, so that this marking-point at my end +may hang just a few inches above the bottom of my piece of zinc. I'll +guide it. That's just right. Now drive in the nail." + +"Must come an inch higher, so that the nail may be opposite a joint." + +"Take it an inch higher, and drive it in." + +This was done, and the rod swung like an immensely long wooden pendulum. + +"That's right," cried Uncle Richard; "the nail and this point are +exactly twenty-four feet apart. Now keep your finger on the head of the +nail to steady it while I mark the zinc." + +Tom obeyed, and looked down the while, to see his uncle move the rod to +and fro, till he had scored in the sheet of zinc a curve as neatly and +more truly than if it had been done with a pair of compasses. + +"That's all, Tom," he said. "Take out the nail and lower the rod down +again carefully, or it will break." + +All this was done, and Tom descended to find that both the rod and the +sheet of zinc had been carried in, the latter laid on the bench, and +displaying a curve deeply scratched upon it where the sharp-pointed +bradawl had been drawn. + +"There, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "that curve is exactly the one we have +to make in our speculum, so that we may have a telescope of twelve feet +focus. Do you understand?" + +"No," said Tom bluntly. + +"Never mind--you soon will. It means that when we have ground out the +glass so that it is a hollow of that shape, all the light reflected will +meet at a point just twelve feet distant from its surface. Now we have +begun in real earnest." + +He now took a keen-edged chisel, and pressing the corner down proceeded +to deepen the mark scored in the zinc with the greatest care, until he +had cut right through, forming the metal into two moulds, one of which +was to gauge the lower disc, the other the upper. The edges of these +were then rubbed carefully together as they lay flat upon the bench, +till their edges were quite smooth; then some of the unnecessary zinc +was cut away, a couple of big holes punched in them, and they were hung +upon a couple of nails over the bench ready for use. + +"Next thing," cried Uncle Richard, "is to begin upon the speculum +itself, so now for our apparatus. Here we have it all: a bowl of fine +sifted silver sand, a bucket of water, and a sponge. Very simple things +for bringing the moon so near, eh?" + +"But is that all we want, uncle?" + +"At present, my boy," said Uncle Richard, proceeding to wet some of the +sand and pretty well cover the disc of glass fixed upon the cask-head. +"That's for grinding, as you see." + +"Yes, uncle; but what are you going to rub it with?" + +"The other disc. Here, catch hold. Be careful." + +Tom obeyed, and the smooth piece of plate-glass was laid flat upon the +first piece, crushing down the wet sand, and fitting well into its +place. + +"Now, my boy, if we rub those two together, what will be the effect?" + +"Grind the glass," said Tom. "I once made a transparent slate like +that, by rubbing a piece of glass on a stone with some sand and water. +But I thought you wanted to hollow out the glass?" + +"So I do, Tom." + +"But that will only keep the pieces flat." + +"I beg your pardon, my boy. If we rub and grind them as I propose, one +of the discs will be rounded and the other hollowed exactly as I wish." + +Tom stared, for this was to his way of thinking impossible. + +"Are you sure you are right, uncle? Because if you are not, it would be +so much trouble for nothing." + +"Let's prove it," said Uncle Richard, smiling. "Go to the kitchen door, +and ask the cook for a couple of good-sized pieces of salt and the +meat-saw." + +The cook stared, but furnished the required pieces, which were soon +shaped into flat slabs with the saw. Then a sheet of newspaper was +spread, and one of the flat pieces of salt placed upon the other. + +"There you are, Tom," said his uncle. "I want you to see for yourself; +then you will work better. Now then, grind away, keeping the bottom +piece firm, and the top going in circular strokes, the top passing half +off the bottom every time." + +Tom began, and worked away, while from time to time the lower piece was +turned round. + +"Nice fine salt," said Uncle Richard; "cook ought to be much obliged." + +"It will be as flat as flat," said Tom to himself, "but I don't like to +tell him so." + +"There, that will do," said Uncle Richard, at the end of ten minutes. +"Now then, are the pieces both flat?" + +"No, uncle; the bottom piece is rounded and the top hollowed, but I +can't see why." + +"Then I'll tell you: because the centre gets rubbed more than the sides, +Tom. There, take paper and salt back, and we'll begin." + +Tom caught up the paper, and soon returned, eager to commence; and after +a little instruction as to how he was to place his hands upon the top +glass, Uncle Richard placed himself exactly opposite to his nephew, with +the upturned cask between them. + +"Now, Tom, it will be a very long and tedious task with this great +speculum; hot work for us too, so we must do a bit now and a bit then, +so as not to weary ourselves out. Ready?" + +"Yes, uncle." + +"Then off." + +"It will be a tiresome job," thought Tom, as, trying hard to get into +regular swing with his uncle, the top glass was pushed to and fro from +one to the other; but at each thrust Uncle Richard made a half step to +his left, Tom, according to instructions, the same, so that the glass +might be ground regularly all over. At the end of a quarter of an hour +it was slid on one side, and more water and sand applied. Then on +again, and the grinding continued, the weight of the glass making the +task very difficult. But Tom worked manfully, encouraged by his uncle's +assurance that every day he would grow more accustomed to the work, and +after two more stoppages there was a cessation. + +"There!" cried Uncle Richard; "one hour's enough for the first day. It +wants faith to go on with such a business, Tom." + +As he spoke the future speculum was carefully lifted off the lower one, +sponged with clean water, and on examination proved to be pretty well +scratched in the middle in a round patch, but the marks grew less and +less, till at the edge of the glass it was hardly scratched at all. + +"There, you see where we bite hardest," said Uncle Richard; "now we'll +give it a rest, and ourselves too." + +"But we shall never get done like this," cried Tom. + +"Oh yes, we shall, boy; and I'm not going to leave off our work. Let's +see: this we must call the workshop, the floor above our laboratory, and +the top of course the observatory. Now then, let's go up into our +laboratory, and I'll give you a lesson in elutriation." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +"I haven't got a dictionary here, uncle," said Tom, with a smile, as +they stood at the massive table under the window in the laboratory. "I +don't know what elutriation means." + +"I dare say not. I didn't till I was nearly fifty, Tom, but you soon +shall know. Fetch that tin off the shelf." + +Tom obeyed, and found a label on the top, on which was printed "Best +Ground Emery." + +"Well, you know what that is?" + +"Emery? Powdered glass," said Tom promptly. + +"Wrong. Diamond cuts diamond, Tom, but we want something stronger than +powdered glass to polish itself. Emery is a mineral similar in nature +to sapphire and ruby, but they are bright crystals, and emery is found +in dull blocks." + +"Then it's very valuable?" said Tom. + +"Oh, no. It is fairly plentiful in Nature, and much used. Now then, we +want coarse emery to grind our speculum after we have done with the +sand, and then different degrees to follow, till we get some exquisitely +fine for polishing. How are we to divide the contents of that tin so as +to graduate our grinding and polishing powder?" + +"Sift it, of course, uncle." + +"And where would you get sieves sufficiently fine at last?" + +"Muslin?" + +"Oh, no. Here is where elutriation comes in, Tom; and here you see the +use of some of the things I brought back from London the other day. To +work. Bring forward that great pan." + +This was done. + +"Now empty in the contents of this packet." + +Tom took up a little white paper of something soft, opened it, and +poured the contents into the pan. + +"Powdered gum arabic?" he said. + +"Yes. Now empty the tin of emery upon it." + +Tom opened the tin, and found within a dark chocolate-looking powder, +which felt very gritty between his finger and thumb. This he emptied +upon the gum arabic, and, in obedience to instructions, thoroughly mixed +both together. + +"To make the fine emery remain longer in suspension," said his uncle, +"keep on stirring, Tom." + +"All right, uncle. What, are you going to pour water in? It's like +making a Christmas pudding." + +For Uncle Richard took up a can of water, and began to pour a little in +as Tom stirred, changing the powder first into a paste, then into a +thick mud, then into a thin brown batter, and at last, when a couple of +gallons or so had been poured in and the whole well mixed, the great pan +was full of a dirty liquid, upon the top of which a scum gathered as the +movement ceased. This scum Uncle Richard proceeded to skim off till the +surface was quite clear, and then he glanced at his watch. + +"Is that scum the elutriation?" said Tom, with a faint grin. + +"No, boy, the impurity; throw it down the sink. Now, Tom, we want to +get our finest polishing emery out of that mixture, and it will take an +hour to form--sixty-minute emery, the opticians call it; so while it is +preparing, we'll go and have another turn at the speculum." + +They descended, leaving the pan standing on the heavy table, and after +spreading wet sand upon the lower disc of glass, the loose one was once +more set in motion, and uncle and nephew, with quarter-hour rests for +examination and wetting the surfaces, patiently ground away for an hour, +by which time, upon the speculum being sponged, it was found that the +greater part of the upper glass was deeply scratched. + +"This is going to be an awfully long job," thought Tom. + +"Yes, it is," said his uncle, who aptly read his thoughts, "a very long +job, Tom; but good things have to be worked for, boy." + +"Oh, I'm not going to be tired, uncle. It's like working for a grand +prize." + +"It is. Now then, let's see to the emery. Our finest must be ready by +now. Now I want all the water, from which the emery has settled down to +the bottom, drawn off into that great white basin. How is it to be +done?" + +"Pour it off," said Tom. + +"No; couldn't be done without disturbing the bottom. Let's try +syphoning." + +Uncle Richard placed the basin upon a stool below the level of the +table, took up a glass tube bent somewhat in the shape of a long-shanked +hook, placed the short end gently beneath the surface of the nearly +clear water, his lips to the long end, drew out the air, and the water +followed directly from the atmospheric pressure, and ran swiftly into +the basin. + +As it ran, and Tom watched, Uncle Richard carefully held the short arm +of the syphon, guiding it till the sediment at the bottom of the pan was +nearly reached, when he quickly withdrew it, and the basin was then +placed beside the pan. + +"There, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "that's our sixty-minute emery." + +"But I thought you said you wanted it very fine. You've only washed +it." + +"We're playing at cross purposes, Tom," said Uncle Richard. "You are +talking about the contents of the pan, I about those of the basin." + +"What! the clear water--at least nearly clear?" + +"Ah, there you have hit it, boy--nearly clear. That water contains our +finest polishing powder, and it will have to stand till to-morrow to +settle." + +"Oh!" said Tom, who felt very much in the dark, and he followed his +uncle to the neat sink that had been fitted in the laboratory, and +helped him wash a series of wide-mouthed stoppered bottles, which were +afterwards carefully dried and labelled in a most methodical way. + +"Saves time, Tom, to be careful," said Uncle Richard, who now took up a +pen and wrote upon the label of the smallest bottle "Emery, 60 min." + +"There, that's for the contents of the big basin." + +"Want a genii to get a pailful into that little bottle, uncle," said +Tom, laughing. + +"We'll get all we want into it to-morrow, Tom," was the reply. "Now +then, how do you feel--ready for one hour's more grinding at the +speculum, or shall we leave it till to-morrow?" + +"I want to finish it, and see the moon," said Tom sturdily, as he rolled +up his sleeves a little more tightly. "Let's get on, uncle, and finish +it." + +"Or get an hour nearer," said Uncle Richard; and they went down and +ground till Mrs Fidler summoned them to their meal. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +The next morning came a letter from Mornington Crescent, announcing that +James Brandon had met with an accident, and been knocked down by a cab. +The letter was written by Sam, evidently at his father's dictation, and +on the fly-leaf was a postscript self-evidently not at James Brandon's +dictation, for it was as follows-- + + "P.S.--Dear Uncle, there isn't much the matter, only a few bruises, + only the pater makes such a fuss. Thought you'd like to know." + +"Charming youth, your cousin," said Uncle Richard, as he rose and went +into his little study to answer the letter, leaving Tom at liberty for a +few minutes, which he utilised by going down the garden to where David +was busy. + +"Morning, sir. How's the machine getting on?" + +"Capitally, David." + +"That's right, sir. I hope you and the master 'll make some'at out of +it, for people do go on dreadful about it down the village." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Well, sir, of course it's their higgorance. You and me knows better, +and I shouldn't like master to know, but they lead me a horful life +about it all. They say master's got a crack in his head about that +thing he's making, and that he ought to be stopped." + +"Why?" said Tom, laughing. + +"Oh, it's nothing to laugh about, sir. They say the place won't be +safe, for he'll be having a blow-up one of these days with his +contrapshums." + +"What nonsense!" + +"Well, sir, I don't know about that. He did have one, and singed all +his hair off, and blew out his libery window." + +"Tom!" + +"Coming, uncle." + +"Don't you say a word to him, sir, please." + +"Oh, no; all right, David; and next time the people say anything to you +about uncle's experiments, you tell them they're a pack of bull-geese!" + +"Bull-geese!" said David, turning the word over two or three times as if +he liked it, "bull-geese! Yes, sir, I will," and he began to chuckle, +while Tom joined his uncle, who was already on his way to the mill. + +As Tom reached the lane he was just in time to meet Pete Warboys, who +came slouching along with his hands as far down in his pockets as he +could reach, his boots, two sizes too large, unlaced, and his dog close +behind him. + +Pete's body went forward as if all together, but his eyes were on the +move the while, searching in every direction as if for prey, and settled +upon Tom with a peculiarly vindictive stare, while the dog left his +master's side, and began to sniff at Tom's legs. + +"Not afraid of you now," thought the boy, as he remembered the +fir-cones, and felt sure that a stone would send the dog flying at any +time. But as he met Pete's eye he did not feel half so sure. For Pete +was big-boned and strong, and promised to be an ugly customer in a +battle. + +"And besides, he's so dirty," thought Tom, as he passed on to the gate, +through which his uncle had just passed. + +Pete said nothing until Tom had closed the gate. Then there was the +appearance of a pair of dirty hands over the coping of the wall, the +scraping noise made by a pair of boot toes against the bricks, and next +Pete's head appeared just above the wall, and he uttered the +comprehensive word expressive of his contempt, defiance, and general +disposition to regard the boy from London as an enemy whose head he felt +disposed to punch. Pete's word was-- + +"Yah!" + +Tom felt indignant. + +"Get down off that wall, sir!" he cried. + +This roused Pete Warboys, who, as the daring outlaw of Furzebrough, +desired to play his part manfully, especially so since he was on the +other side of the said wall; and, wrinkling up his snub nose, he cried-- + +"She-arn't! 'Tain't your wall." + +"Get down!" cried Tom fiercely. + +"Get down yerself. Who are you, I should like to know?" + +Tom stooped and picked up a clod of earth, and Pete ducked his head, the +motion causing his toes to slip out of a crevice between two bricks, and +he disappeared, but only to scramble up again. + +"You heave that at me," he cried fiercely, "and I'll come over and smash +yer." + +Tom felt disposed to risk the smashing, and drew back his hand to throw +the clod, when his wrist was caught, for his uncle had heard what +passed, and returned to the door. + +"Don't do that, my boy," he said quietly. Then to Pete, "Get down off +that wall." + +"She-arn't! Who are you?" cried the great hulking fellow, and he +scrambled a little more upward, so as to hang over with his elbows on +the top bricks. + +"Then stop there," said Uncle Richard quietly. "Don't take any notice +of him, Tom; the fellow is half an idiot." + +"So are you!" yelled Pete. "Yah! Who pulled the--" + +_Whack_! + +"Ow! ah!" A scramble, and Pete disappeared as an angry voice was heard +on the other side of the wall. + +"How dare you, sir? Insolent young scoundrel! Be off with you!" + +"Don't you hit me!" came in a yelping, snivelling tone. "Don't you hit +me! You hit me, and I'll--Get out!" + +There was a dull thud, a yell, and the succession of cries uttered by a +dog in pain, generally known as "chy-ike." For, unable to vent his +spleen upon his aggressor, Pete had turned upon his wretched dog, which +was unfortunate enough to get between his master's legs, nearly sending +him down as he backed away from a quivering malacca cane. The dog +received an awful kick, and ran down the narrow lane, and Pete followed +him in a loose-jointed, shambling trot, turned into the pathway between +the hedges at the bottom of Uncle Richard's field, thrust his head back, +relieved his feelings by yelling out "Yah!" and disappeared. + +By this time Tom and his uncle were down at the yard gate, which they +threw open, to find themselves face to face with the vicar, a little +fresh-coloured, plump, grey man of five-and-forty. His brow was +wrinkled with annoyance, and his grey hair and whiskers seemed to +bristle, as he changed the stout cane into his left hand, pulled off his +right glove, and shook hands. + +"Good-morning," he cried; "good-morning--nephew, arn't you? Glad to +know you. Only came back last night, Brandon, and the first thing I +encounter in my first walk is that young scoundrel insulting you." + +"Oh, it's nothing," said Uncle Richard, smiling. + +"But it is something, my dear sir. After all the pains I took with that +boy at our school--when I could get him there--he turns out like this. +Really," he continued, laughing very good-humouredly, and looking down +at his cane, "I ought not to have done it,--not becoming in a +clergyman,--but the young dog was insulting you, and he was stretched +over the wall so tightly. Really--ha, ha!--it was so tempting that I +felt obliged." + +"Yes, it must have been tempting," said Uncle Richard. "Well, have you +come back quite strong?" + +"Seems like it," said the vicar, laughing. Then seriously, "Yes, thank +heaven, I feel quite myself again." + +"That's good," said Uncle Richard. "I am very glad." + +"I know you are. And oh, Brandon, you can't think how glad I am to get +back to the dear old place again. My garden looks delightful; and +yours?" + +"Capital." + +"But, my dear fellow, what in the world are you doing with the old mill. +I heard you had bought it. Sails gone, mended, painted. Why, surely-- +yes--no--yes, I have it--observatory." + +"Right." + +"Splendid idea. Capital. You ought to have a big telescope for that." + +"Making it," said Uncle Richard laconically. + +"Glad of it. Wish I could join you. There, good-bye, so much to do; +can't tell me, I suppose, what to do with that lad Pete Warboys?" + +Uncle Richard shook his head, and the vicar shook his hand. Then as he +went through the same process with Tom, he said-- + +"Glad to know you; I'm sure we shall be very good friends;" and then he +hurried away, and the others closed the gate and went into the workshop, +where the speculum was waiting to be ground. + +"You'll like Mr Maxted," said Uncle Richard quietly. "A thorough, +true-hearted gentleman, who preserves all the best of his boyhood; but +come now, work." + +"Grinding?" said Tom, stripping off his jacket. + +"Not yet--elutriation, Tom," said Uncle Richard, as he led the way up to +the laboratory, where the big pan was lifted down upon the stool, and +the syphon used to pour the water in the white basin back again. + +But not quite all. It was clear now, and at the bottom there was just a +film of chocolate mud, which was most carefully trickled off with some +of the water into the ready labelled little bottle. + +"There, Tom, that tiny spoonful or two of paste is our finest emery, and +valuable in the extreme--to us. The next thing is to get a grade +coarser." + +"The same way?" said Tom. + +"Nearly. Stir the whole up again." + +This was carefully done, but there was no scum now. + +"We left the other sixty minutes, Tom," said Uncle Richard; "this time +we'll leave it thirty minutes. Come along; time for two quarter-hour +grinds at the speculum." + +They went down, wetted the sand, and ground away for fifteen minutes; +washed the glass, started again, and at the end of another fifteen +minutes went up to repeat the process of drawing off the thick water +into the basin. This was left to stand till evening, when the water was +poured back, and about a double quantity of thin paste to that obtained +in the morning placed in a size larger bottle, and labelled +"thirty-minute emery." + +Again the whole was well stirred, and left for fifteen minutes; the +process repeated, and a much larger quantity obtained and bottled. + +The next day the emery was stirred, and allowed to settle for five +minutes; then for two minutes, and the remainder bottled by itself, this +being by far the largest quantity, and in fact so much strong sharp +grit. + +"There!" cried Uncle Richard; "now, going backwards, we have six +different grades of material, beginning with the coarse, and going up to +the fine sixty-minute powder or paste for polishing, for these things +have to be made exquisitely fine." + +At the next attack upon the glass to dig it out into a hollow, the sand +was all carefully washed away, showing the disc to be thoroughly +scratched all over, and looking somewhat like the inside of a +ground-glass globe. + +"So far so good, Tom," said Uncle Richard; "now let's try our mould." + +He took down the convex-shaped piece of zinc, and placed it upon the +newly-ground-glass, into whose face it descended a little way, but only +a very little. + +"Not deep enough yet, Tom," he said; "the mould ought to fit into it +exactly." + +"Yes, I understand now," said Tom; "we have got to grind more out of the +middle." + +"Exactly." + +"Shall I fetch the sand back?" + +"No, we will use the coarsest emery now; I dare say that will dig out +enough. Now then, number one." + +The large-stoppered bottle was fetched from its shelf, and a small +portion of the most coarse ground emery taken out with a spatula, spread +upon the fixed glass, the speculum carefully laid upon it, and turned a +little to spread the material more equally, a few drops of water having +been added, and the slow, tedious grinding went on again. + +"Hard work, my boy," said Uncle Richard, as they paused at last from +their laborious work, the disc they moved to and fro and round and +round, as they slowly changed their positions, being exceedingly heavy. + +But Tom, as soon as he got his breath, was too much interested to mind +the labour, and after helping to lift one disc from the other, he looked +on eagerly at his uncle's busy fingers, as he carefully sponged and +cleaned both glasses. + +"See how the coarse emery we began with has become ground down." + +"Yes, into a slime," said Tom. + +"Partly glass," said Uncle Richard, as he drew attention now to the face +of the speculum, which was scratched more deeply already, and displayed +a different grain. + +Fresh emery out of the bottle was applied, moistened a little more, and +the grinding went on for a while. Then there was a fresh washing, more +of the coarse emery applied, and so the task went on hour after hour +that day and the next, when in the afternoon when the zinc mould was +applied to the surface it fitted in almost exactly, and Tom gave a +cheer. + +"Yes, that will do," said Uncle Richard, whose face glowed with the +exertion. + +"What next then?" said Tom eagerly. + +"The next grade of emery, boy," was the reply; "our task is of course +now not to grind the speculum deeply, but to grind out all these +scratches till it is as limpid as the surface of pure water." + +"Don't look possible," said Tom. "Well, we will try." + +The next morning they worked for an hour before breakfast in precisely +the same way, gave a couple of hours to the task after breakfast, two +more in the afternoon, and one in the evening--"a regular +muscle-softener," Uncle Richard called it; but when for the last time +the finely-ground emery number two was washed off, and the speculum +examined, its surface looked much better, the rougher scratchings having +disappeared. + +Tom was all eagerness to begin the next day, when the number three emery +was tried in precisely the same way. Then came work with the number +four, very little of which was used at a time; and when this was put +aside for number five, Tom again cheered, for the concave surface had +become beautifully fine. + +"Two more workings, and then the finishing," said Uncle Richard. "Think +we shall polish out all the scratchings?" + +"Why, they are gone now," cried Tom. + +"Yes, it shows what patience will do," said Uncle Richard; "a man can't +lift a house all at once, but he could do it a brick at a time." + +The speculum was carefully placed aside after its cleansing, and the +pair of amateur opticians locked up the place after hanging up their +aprons. + +"Wouldn't do to break that now, Tom, my boy." + +"Break it?" cried the boy; "oh, it would be horrible. Why, we should +have to make another, and go through all that again." + +"Yes, Tom, but we could do it. I know of a gentleman who made a hundred +of these specula with his own hands. But there will be something more +interesting for you to see to-morrow." + +"What, shall we get it done?" + +"By no means; but first thing of all I must test it, and to do this +easily, we must be up early when the sun is shining in at the east +window of our workshop. Do you think you can call me by five?" + +"I'm sure of it, uncle," cried Tom. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +Tom kept his word, for he started into wakefulness in the grey dawn out +of an uncomfortable dream, in which he had seen the unfinished speculum +fall off the bench on to the stone-floor, roll like a wheel out of the +door, down the slope to the gate, bound over, and then go spinning down +the lane and across the green, straight for the ragstone churchyard +wall, where it was shivered to pieces. + +"Only a dream," he said, as he leaped out of bed, ran to the window, and +saw by the church clock that it was only half-past four. + +"Time to go over and see if it is all right," he said, as he finished +dressing, "and then come back and call uncle." + +Going down-stairs, he took the keys of the mill from where they hung by +the front door, went out into the garden, unlocked the gate, and went +across to the mill, where, on peering through the window, he could see +the glass lying just as it had been left. + +"That's all right," said Tom; and he walked round by the back of the +tower to see how the flowers and shrubs looked, when, to his startled +surprise, he found footprints made by a heavy, clumsy pair of boots on +the border beneath the wall. + +Their meaning was plain enough. Some one had walked along there, and +got out of the yard over the wall, while, upon a little further search, +he found the spot where whoever it was had entered the yard by jumping +down, the prints of two heels being deeply-marked in the newly-dug +earth. + +"That must have been Pete," said Tom, flushing; and he looked over the +wall, half expecting to see the slouching figure of the lad. + +But there was no one within sight, and he looked round the yard in +search of the visitor's object. There was nothing but the old +millstones stealable, and they stood here and there where they had been +leaned against tower and wall; and at ten minutes to five, after noting +that the sun was shining brightly, Sam went back to his uncle and called +him, and at half-past five they went together to the mill-yard, where +the footprints were pointed out. + +"Have to keep the door carefully locked, Tom," said Uncle Richard. +"Hah! capital! the sun will be shining right through that window in a +few minutes." + +They entered the workshop, where a bench was drawn opposite to the last +window, and about twelve feet away. To this, with Tom's help, the +partly-polished speculum was borne. + +"Not very bright for a reflector, Tom," said Uncle Richard. "What am I +to do to make it brighter?" + +"Go on polishing, uncle." + +"Ah, but I want to test it this morning, to see if we have a good +curve," said Tom's elder, smiling. "Fill the sponge with clean water +and bring it here." + +This was done, and the finely-ground surface was freely wetted, with the +effect that it became far more luminous directly. + +"Now, Tom," said his uncle, "I'm going to show you something in +reflection. The sun is not quite high enough for the speculum, so give +me that piece of looking-glass." + +This was handed to him, and he held it on high, so that the low-down sun +shone into it, and a reflection was cast from it back upon the wall just +above the window. + +"See that?" + +"Yes, uncle. Done that many a time. Used to call it making +jack-o'-lanterns." + +"Well, that is the effect of a reflection from a flat or plane surface; +the rays of light strike back at the same angle as they hit the surface. +Now then, I'll show you what happens from a curved surface." + +He passed the sponge rapidly over the ground speculum again, so as to +glaze it--so to speak--with water, raised it upon its edge with the +carefully-ground face directed at the window just as the sun rose high +enough to shine in; and then by turning the great mirror slightly, the +light reflected from it struck upon the wall at the side of the window. + +"Now, Tom, what do you see?" + +"A round spot of light about as big as a two-shilling piece," said the +boy. + +"Yes; all the rays of light which fall upon our mirror, gradually drawn +together to where they form an image of the sun. It is only dull, my +boy, but so far finely perfect, and we can say that we have gone on very +successfully." + +As he spoke he laid the mirror down upon its back. + +"Is that all you are going to do?" asked Tom. + +"Yes; I can test it no better till it is more advanced, my boy. It may +seem a little thing to you, but it is enough to show me that we may go +on, and not begin our work all over again. Now for a good turn until +breakfast-time. Two good hours' work ought to produce some effect." + +The lower disc, now become convex, was wetted and lightly touched over +with number five emery, which seemed soft enough for anything; the +well-advanced mirror was turned over upon it, fitting now very closely, +and with the sweet morning air floating in from the pine-woods, and the +birds singing all around, the monotonous task went on with its +intermissions till Uncle Richard gave the final wash off, and +said--"Breakfast!" + +They were so far advanced now that Tom was as eager to recommence as his +uncle, and by that evening so much progress had been made that the +setting sun was made to shine in upon it, to be reflected back in a +bright spot on the wall without the aid of water; while two evenings +later, when the great round glass was stood all dry the polish upon it +was limpid, and seemed to be as pure as could be. There was not the +faintest scratch visible, and Tom cried in triumph-- + +"There, now it is done! Oh, uncle, it is grand!" + +"Grand enough so far, my boy. We have succeeded almost beyond my +expectations; but that is only the first stage." + +"First--stage?" faltered Tom, looking at his uncle aghast. + +"Yes, boy; we have succeeded in making a beautiful spherical concave +mirror, which could be of no use whatever for my purpose." + +"Then why did we make it?" cried Tom. "For practice?" + +"No, boy; because it is the step towards making an ellipse, or, as they +call it when shaped for a reflecting telescope, a parabola. You know +what an ellipse is?" + +"Gooseberry," said Tom bluntly. + +"Gooseberry-shaped," said his uncle. "Well then, what is a parabola?" + +"One of those things we used to learn about in geometry." + +"Good. Well, to-morrow we must begin polishing, or rather I must, to +turn our glass from a spherical-curved mirror into a parabola." + +"You'll let me help, uncle?" + +"As much as I can, my boy; but the amount I have to polish off, in what +is called figuring, is so small that it requires the most delicate of +treatment, and first of all we have to prepare a small polisher to work +by hand." + +This was formed of lead in the course of the next day--a nearly flat but +slightly convex disc, with a handle upon its back, and when made +perfectly smooth it was covered with hot pitch, which, as it cooled, was +made to take the exact curve of the nearly finished mirror, by being +pressed upon it, the pitch yielding sufficiently for the purpose. + +This done the pitch was scored across and across, till it was divided +into squares, with little channels between them, so that the polishing +powder and water might run freely between; then a final pressure was +given upon the mirror and the implement was left to harden till the next +day. + +"Now for a few hours' polishing," said Uncle Richard the next morning, +as he took up the curved pitch tool and moistened it, no longer with +emery, but with fine moistened rouge; "and if I am successful in +slightly graduating off the sides here, and flattening them in an +infinitesimal degree, we shall have a good reflector for our future +work." + +But upon testing it the result that evening was not considered +satisfactory. There were several zones to be corrected. + +It was the same the next day, and the next. But on the fourth Uncle +Richard cried "Hold: enough! I think that is as good as an amateur can +make a speculum, and we'll be content." + +That night Tom slept so soundly that he did not dream till morning, and +then it was of the sun resenting being looked at, and burning his cheek, +which possessed some fact, for the blind was a little drawn on one side, +and the bright rays were full upon his face. + +"All that time spent in making the reflector!" thought Tom; "and all +that work. I wonder what the next bit will be." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +"Now, uncle, what's the next thing to be done?" said Tom at breakfast +that morning. + +"I think we may begin the body of the telescope now, Tom," said his +uncle. + +"The body?" + +"Yes; the speculum is what we might call the life of the whole +instrument, and the rest will be simplicity itself. We've got to bring +a little mechanical work to bear, and the thing is done." + +"But it will want a lot of glasses fixed about in a big tube, won't it?" + +"No; nothing but the flat and eye-pieces, and I have the lenses to make +these. By the way, I have some letters to write, and shall be busy all +the morning. Your uncle seems to be still unwell, and I must write to +him, for one thing. I tell you what I want done. We have no place +there for keeping papers or drawings in, and where one can sit down and +write at times, and lock up afterwards. I've been thinking that I'll +have the big old bureau desk with its drawers taken out of the study, +and carried up into the laboratory. It can stand beneath the shelves on +the right of the east window; and you might take up a chair or two, and +a piece of old carpet as well. Get David to help you." + +"All right, uncle." + +So when breakfast was over, Tom went out and found David, who was +sticking stakes along the outside of the asparagus bed, and tying tarred +twine from one to the other, so as to keep the plume-like stems from +blowing about and breaking. + +"Mornin', Master Tom," he said. "I say, my Maria Louisas are swelling +out fast. We shall soon have to be on the look-out for pear-ketchers." + +"All right, David, I'll help you. I hope it is Pete Warboys. I should +like to give him stick." + +"We'll give him stake instead, Master Tom." + +"Never mind that now. I want you to help me move that chest of drawers +and desk out of uncle's study to the laboratory." + +"Very good, sir; but you might call a spade a spade." + +"What do you mean?" said Tom, staring. + +"Labor hatory, sir! why don't you say windmill?" + +"Because it has been made into an observatory, laboratory, and workshop +all in one," said Tom, rather stiffly. + +"Just as you like, Master Tom; but you may take the sails off, and the +fan, and put all the rattle-traps in it you like, but it can't make it +anything but what it was born to be, and that was a windmill." + +"Well, we won't argue," said Tom. "Come along." + +He led the way to the study, where Uncle Richard was seated at a table +writing, and it being a particularly dry day, David spent about five +minutes wiping nothing off his shoes on every mat he passed, to Tom's +great amusement. Then after making a bow and a scrape to his master +which were not seen, he gave his nose a rub with his cuff, and went back +to put his hat outside the door. + +"Come along, David," said Tom. "This is it." + +The gardener went on tiptoe to the end of the old escritoire, stooped, +lifted it, and shook his head. + +"You can't manage one end o' that, Master Tom," he said in a hoarse +whisper. + +"No, too weighty," said his master; and without looking round he passed +his keys. "Take out the drawers, they're heavy, and carry them +separately." + +This plan was followed out, each taking a drawer and carrying it out +through the garden, and across the lane to the yard gate, which Tom +unlocked after resting his drawer on the wall; leaving it there while he +ran up and unlocked the tower door, then going back for the load he had +left. + +These two drawers were carried into the stone-floored workshop, where +the bench under the window was covered with an old blanket, another +doing duty as cover for the glass tool which had been replaced on the +head of the cask. + +"My word! what a differ there is here," said David, as he glanced round +with the drawer in his hands. "What yer put to bed under they blankets, +sir?" + +"Specula, David." + +"Speckle-hay? What, are you forcing on 'em?" + +"Forcing?" said Tom, laughing. + +"Yes; are they coming up?" + +"Nonsense! Here are those two great pieces of glass uncle brought down. +We've been polishing one." + +"Oh! them," cried David. "My word! Wonder what old miller would ha' +said to see his place ramfoozled about like this?" + +"Come along," cried Tom; and the drawers were carried up, each being +crammed full of papers and books, and laid on the floor close to the old +mill-post. + +"Worser and worser," said David, looking round. "Dear, dear! the times +I've been up here when the sacks was standing all about, some flour and +some wheat, and the stones spinning round, the hopper going tippenny +tap--tippenny tap, and the meal-dust so thick you could hardly breathe. +I 'member coming out one night, and going home, and my missus says to +me, `Why, Davy, old man, what yer been a-doing on? Yer head's all +powdered up like Squire Winkum's footman.' It was only meal, yer know." + +"And now you can come and go without getting white, David," said Tom, +moving a stool from under the newly put up shelves. "This is where the +bureau is to go." + +"Is it now?" said David, scratching his head. "Why that's where the old +bin used to be. Ay, I've set on that bin many's the time on a windy +night, when miller wanted to get a lot o' grist done." + +"Back again," said Tom; and two more drawers were carried over. Then +the framework and desk were fetched, with Mrs Fidler standing ready, +dustpan and brush in hand, to remove any dirt and fluff that might be +underneath. + +"Tidy heavy now, Master Tom," said David, as they bore the old +walnut-wood piece of furniture across the garden and up to the mill, +only setting it down once just inside the yard by way of a rest, and to +close the gate. + +Then the piece of furniture was carried in, and after some little +scheming, hoisted up the steep ladder flight of steps, David getting +under it and forcing it up with his head. + +"Wonderful heavy bit o' wood, Master Tom," said the gardener. + +"It's an awkward place to get it up, David," replied the boy. "Now +then, just under those shelves. It will stand capitally there, and get +plenty of light for writing." + +But the bureau did not stand capitally there, for the back feet were +higher than the front, consequent upon the floor having sunk from the +weight of millstones in the middle. + +"She'll want a couple o' wedges under her, Master Tom," said David. + +"Yes. I've got a couple of pieces that will just do--part of a little +box," cried Tom. "I'll fetch them, and the saw to cut the exact size. +You wait here." + +"And put the drawers in, sir?" + +"Not till we've got this right," replied Tom, who was already at the +head of the steps; and he ran down and across to the house, obtained the +saw from the tool-chest, and hurried back to the mill, where he found +David down in the workshop, waiting for him with his hands in his +pockets. + +"Didn't yer uncle ought to leave his tool-chest over here, sir?" said +the gardener. + +"Oh yes, I suppose he will," said Tom. "It would be handier. Halloo, +did you open that window?" + +"No, sir. I see it ajar like when we first came, and it just blowed +open like when the door was swung back." + +Tom said no more, but led the way up-stairs, where the pieces of wood +were wedged in under the front legs, sawn off square, and the drawers +were replaced. + +"Capital, Master Tom," cried the gardener. "You'd make quite a +carpenter. I say, what's it like up-stairs?" + +"Come and see," said Tom, ready to idle a little now the work was done, +and very proud of the place he had helped to contrive. + +David tightened his blue serge apron roll about his waist, and followed +up into the observatory, smiling, but ready to depreciate everything. + +"Ay, but it's a big change," he said; "no sacks o' wheat, no reg'lar +machinery. There's the master's tallow scoop; he give me a look through +it once, and there was the moon all covered with spots o' grease like +you see on soup sometimes. Well, it's his'n, and he's a right to do +what he likes with the place. Ah, many's the time I've been up here +too. Why, Jose the carpenter chap's cut away the top of the post here. +You used to be able to move a bit of an iron contrapshum, and that would +send the fan spinning, and the whole top would work round till the sails +faced the wind." + +"Well, the whole top will work round now, David." + +"Not it, sir, without the sails." + +"But I tell you it will," said Tom, moving a bar, and throwing open the +long shutter, which fell back easily, letting in a long strip of +sunshine, and giving a view of the blue sky from low-down toward the +horizon to the zenith. + +"Well, you do get plenty of ventilation," said David oracularly. +"Nothing like plenty of air for plants, and it's good for humans too. +Make you grow strong and stocky, Master Tom. But the top used to turn +all round in the old days." + +"So it does now, so that uncle can direct his telescope any way. Look +here!" + +The boy moved to the side, and took hold of an endless rope, run round a +wheel fixed to the side, pulled at the rope, and the wheel began to +revolve, turning with it a small cogged barrel, which acted in turn upon +the row of cogs belonging to the bottom of the woodwork dome, which +began to move steadily round. + +"Well, that caps me," said David. "I thought it was a fixter now." + +"And you thought wrong, Davy," said Tom, going up two or three steps, +and passing out through the open shutter, and lowering himself into the +little gallery that had once communicated with the fan, and here he +stood looking out. + +"All right there, Master Tom?" + +"Yes." + +"May I move the thing?" + +"If you like." + +David, as eagerly as a child with a new toy, began to pull at the rope, +when the top began to revolve, taking the little gallery with it, and +giving Tom a ride pretty well round the place before the gardener +stopped, and turned his face through the opening left by the shutter. + +"Goes splendid!" he said, as Tom came in and closed the shutter. "I +wouldn't ha' believed it. And so the master's going to build a big +tallow scoop up there, is he?" + +"Yes; and we've got a good deal of it done. There, let's get down. +Uncle may want me." + +"Ay, and I must get back to my garden, sir. There's a deal to do there, +and I could manage with a lot of help." + +"Uncle was talking of making this place quite a study, and putting a lot +of books here, the other day," said Tom, as they descended to the +laboratory. + +"Was he now? Rare windy place, though, sir, isn't it? Windy milly +place, eh?" + +"Well, you said air was good," said Tom, laughing; and they went down +into the workshop. "Mustn't have that window left open though," said +Tom; and, going to the side, he reached over the bench with the blanket +spread over it, drew in the iron-framed lattice window, and fastened it, +and was drawing back, when the blanket, which had been hanging draped +over a good deal at one end, yielded to that end's weight, and glided +off, to fall in a heap upon the stones. + +Tom stooped quickly to pick it up, but as his head was descending below +the level of the great bench-table, he stopped short, staring at its +bare level surface, rose up, turned, and looked sharply at the gardener, +and then in quite an excited way stepped to where the upturned cask +stood covered with its blanket, and raised it as if expecting to find +something there. + +But the glass disc his uncle spoke of as a tool lay there only; and with +a horrible feeling of dread beginning to oppress him, Tom turned back to +the heap of blanket lying upon the floor, stooped over it, but feared to +remove it--to lift it up from the worn flagstones. + +"Anything the matter, sir?" said David, looking at him curiously from +the door. + +"Matter? Yes!" cried Tom, who was beginning to feel a peculiar tremor. +"David, you--you opened that window." + +"Nay, sir, I never touched it," said the gardener stoutly. + +"Yes; while I was gone for the saw and wedges." + +"Nay, sir, I come down and just looked about, that's all; I never +touched the window." + +"But--but there was the beautiful, carefully-ground speculum there on +that bench, just as uncle and I had finished it. We left it covered +over last night--with the blanket--and--and--" he added in a tone of +despair, "it isn't there now." + +"Well, I never touched it, sir," said the gardener; "you may search my +pockets if you like." + +Tom could not see the absurdity of the man's suggestion, and in his +agony of mind, feeling as he did what must have happened if any one had +dragged at the blanket, he stooped down once more to gather it up, but +paused with his hand an inch or two away from the highest fold, not +daring to touch it. + +"It's broken," he moaned to himself; "I know it is!" and the cold +perspiration stood out upon his forehead. + +"I shouldn't ha' persoomed to touch none o' master's contrapshums, sir," +broke in the gardener, rather sharply, "so don't you go and tell him as +I did. I know how partickler he always is." + +"Broken--broken!" murmured Tom. "The poor speculum--and after all that +work." + +Then slowly taking the fold of the blanket in his hand he raised it up, +and drew it on one side, faintly hoping that he might be wrong, but +hoping against hope, for the next moment he had unveiled it where it +lay, to see his worst fears confirmed--the beautiful limpid-looking +object lay upon the flag at the end, broken in three pieces, one of +which reflected the boy's agitated face. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +"Oh, David!" cried Tom at last, "how could you touch?" + +There was so much agony of spirit in the boy's tones that the gardener +felt moved, and remained for a few moments silent. Then rousing +himself-- + +"I didn't, Master Tom; I never touched it. Go and swear I didn't 'fore +all the judges in the land." + +"Don't tell a lie to hide it," said Tom bitterly. + +"Lie! me tell a lie! S'elp me, Master Tom, it's as true as true." + +"But you reached over to open the window, and knocked it off, David." + +"Swear as I never went a-nigh the window, sir. Don't you go and say it +was me when it was you." + +"I?" cried Tom, flushing. + +"Well, sir, you say it was me, and I see you reach out, and the blanket +all falled down--now didn't I, sir?" + +"Yes; the blanket went down, but the speculum was not in it, or we +should have heard it fall." + +"Not if it was all wrapped up in that there blanket, sir." + +"I tell you we should," cried Tom, in his angry despair. "You don't +know how heavy it was. What shall I do? What will uncle say?" + +"Well, sir, if you put it like that, and own to it fair, I should say as +he'll kick up the jolliest row he ever made since I broke the whole of +the greenhouse light by making it slip right off, and letting it go +smash. And then I'd gone straight to him and told him, as I should +advise you to do, sir, at once. Master don't like to find things out." + +"But I did not break it," cried Tom. + +"Oh, I wouldn't say that, sir. It was an accident, of course; but I'd +go straight to him and tell him." + +"David!" cried Tom fiercely, "you're a miserable, cowardly wretch! I +did not break it, and you know it. How can I go and take all the +blame?" + +"Well, sir, how can I, as am as innocent as one o' my best blooms?" +cried David. "Well, in all my born days, I never did." + +"Why don't you speak out and own to it, sir?" said Tom indignantly. +"It's horrible enough after the way we've worked at that speculum to +have it broken; but you make it ten times worse by denying it." + +"I'd say I did it, sir, in a minute," replied David indignantly; "but it +goes hard to see a young gent like you, master's own nevvy, ready to try +and bring the whole business down on a poor working-man's head, and so I +tell you to your face. If any one's cowardly, it arn't me, and I'm +ready to come across to master and tell him so. I'm ashamed of you, +sir, that I am. I thought you was a real gentleman, and was beginning +to like you; but it's all over between us, sir, for you arn't the sort +of lad I thought you. Me break it? You know I never did. Why, I've +never been in the place since you and master have been in here busy. +Shame on you, Master Tom! Go and tell your uncle, like you ought. It's +an accident; but don't you go and make it worse," and with these words +David stumped out of the lower part of the old mill, and made his way +back to his garden, leaving Tom hot with indignation against him, and +half choking with a feeling of misery. + +"And uncle has got to know," he said half aloud; "uncle has got to +know." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +The speculum that was never to reflect the bright face of the moon was +easily moved now, and Tom stooped down and picked up one by one the +three triangular pieces, and laid them upon the bench, to find then that +a good-sized elliptical piece, something in shape like a fresh-water +mussel-shell, yet remained upon the stones. This he raised, and found +that it fitted in at the edge beneath. + +There was nothing to be gained in what he did, but Tom stood there +carefully fitting the fractures together, and spending a great deal of +time over the task, while the mirror reflected his sorrowful face as he +bent over it. And as he ran his fingers along the three lines of union, +the boy's thoughts went back to the scene that evening at Mornington +Crescent, when the big china vase was dragged down, to break to shivers +in the hall. + +"And Sam said I broke that, just as David says I broke this, and all to +escape blame. I don't want to tell uncle that David broke it, but I +must; I'm not going to take the blame myself, for it would be cowardly +as well as lying. But it is so hard. He will be so angry." + +So Tom communed as he pieced the fragments of the mirror together, +ending by getting the sponge, rinsing it well, and carefully removing a +few smears and finger-marks, before taking a clean cloth and wiping it +quite dry. + +"That's no good," he said bitterly. "I'm only doing it so as to keep +from going and telling uncle, and I must tell him--I must tell him, and +the sooner the better." + +But still he did not stir. He picked up the blanket, and folded that up +neatly, to lay it beside the speculum, and then looked round for +something else to do. + +This he found in the window, which he opened and shut two or three times +over, before drawing away from it, with a sigh, and going to the door to +look across at the house, where his uncle would be writing. + +"I ought to go and tell him, but it is so hard to do. Suppose he thinks +it is my work--suppose David goes and accuses me of having broken it to +escape himself." + +Tom stood aghast at the idea, and was for rushing across at once, but +something seemed to hold him back, and a good half-hour passed before he +fully strung himself up to go. + +Then, closing and locking the door, he did the same by the gate; and +now, pale and firm enough, he hung up the keys, and then went straight +to the study door, paused for a few moments to think what to say first, +and then walked straight in. + +"Uncle, I've come to give you very bad news," he said in a husky voice, +and then he stopped short. + +There was no one in the room, and on going out into the hall, he found +that his uncle's hat and stick were missing, and consequently he must +have gone down the village to post his letters, and perhaps drop in at +the Vicarage on his return. + +"Oh, how tiresome!" thought Tom; "just too when I felt I could tell him. +Now I must begin all over again." + +It was not until nearly two o'clock that Uncle Richard returned, looking +very serious; and as they went into the little dining-room alone, Mrs +Fidler having stopped back to give some orders respecting the dinner, +Tom screwed himself up to make the announcement, which would have come +easily enough if it had not been for David's charge, and a shrinking +feeling which it had engendered, that Uncle Richard might fancy the same +thing. But at last the boy, in his consciousness of innocence, was +ready to speak, and turned to him. + +"Uncle," he said quickly, "I want to say something to you about the +speculum." + +"Not now, my boy; I have something else to think about. Let that rest." + +Tom's lips parted, and he drew a deep breath of relief at what seemed to +him to be a reprieve. Then Mrs Fidler entered the room, and dinner +commenced, with Uncle Richard looking very thoughtful. + +It was impossible to say anything before Mrs Fidler, Tom thought, for +if he was to be in any way blamed, he determined that it should be when +alone. In addition, he felt that he should not like to speak of David's +delinquency before the housekeeper. + +It was a delicious dinner, but poor Mrs Fidler soon began to look +troubled, for her master got on very badly; and Tom, who had felt as if +his plate had been filled with bitter sand, so hard was the task of +eating, refused a second help! + +This was too much for Mrs Fidler, who looked piteously from one to the +other, and exclaimed-- + +"Is there anything the matter with the veal pie, sir?" + +"Eh? Matter, Mrs Fidler?" said Uncle Richard. "I hope not. I really +don't know. Oh, I see. I have hardly tasted it. The fact is, Mrs +Fidler, I am in trouble." + +Tom jumped in his chair. + +"David has told him," he said to himself, and he felt hot and cold. + +"I have heard something this morning which has disturbed me a good +deal." + +Uncle Richard turned his eyes upon his nephew, who tried to speak, but +no words would come. + +"Dear, dear me, sir," said the housekeeper. "I am so sorry." + +"I know you are," said Uncle Richard. "The fact is, my brother met with +an accident some little time ago, and it was thought to be of no +consequence, but it seems that it is, and the doctors have ordered that +he should at once have change of air. He has written to me this morning +to that effect." + +"Then he don't know anything about it," said Tom, with a sigh of relief, +which gave place to a feeling of annoyance, for he wished now that his +uncle did know. + +"He asks me to have him here for a few days or weeks, and of course I +have written to beg that he will come. I hope our air will set him +right again, and that it is not so serious as he thinks." + +"Then you'd like me to get a room ready for him at once, sir?" said Mrs +Fidler, with alacrity. + +"If you please, Mrs F." + +"It shall be done, sir. I am so glad--I mean so sorry. I was afraid +something was wrong here." + +"No, Mrs Fidler, there is nothing wrong here; but I'm afraid, Tom, that +the visitor will put a stop to our telescopic work." + +Tom seized his opportunity, and blurted out-- + +"It is stopped, uncle: the speculum is broken in three pieces." + +"What!" cried Uncle Richard, turning pale. + +"Completely spoiled, uncle." + +"How, in the name of all that's unfortunate, did you do that, sir?" + +It was Tom's turn to start now, for his uncle had immediately jumped to +the conclusion that it was his doing, and his words in answer sounded +lame and inconclusive. + +"I didn't break it, uncle; I found it on the floor." + +"Found it on the floor!" cried Uncle Richard, sarcastically. "It was +the cat, I suppose. Was the window left open?" + +"I found--" + +"There, hold your tongue now," said Uncle Richard. "I have something +else to think about. You will have everything ready, Mrs Fidler. I +have been so separated from my brother nearly all my life, that I feel I +owe him every attention." + +"I will attend to it all most carefully." + +"He may come down to-morrow, for I have written saying he is most +welcome." + +"Make yourself quite easy, sir. His room shall be ready. I beg pardon, +sir; is his good lady coming with him?" + +"No, he is coming down alone. I have told him to telegraph by what +train, so that I may go and meet him." + +The miserable dinner soon came to an end, and Uncle Richard, instead of +chatting pleasantly, never so much as looked at his nephew. But Mrs +Fidler did, with her head on one side; and every time Tom caught her +eye, which seemed to be nearly every minute, she shook her head at him +gently, and gave him such appealing looks, that he felt exasperated at +last, and as if he would like to throw something at her. + +"She thinks I did it now," he said to himself; and when his uncle left +the table and went into his study he had full proof, for Mrs Fidler +seized the opportunity, and shaking her head at him again, said in a +whisper-- + +"Oh, Master Tom, my dear, the truth may be blamed, but can never be +shamed." + +"Well, I know that," cried the boy angrily. + +"Hush, my dear! I know it's very hard, but do--do go and tell your +uncle the truth, and he'll forgive you." + +"I have told him the truth," cried Tom hotly. + +"Oh, my dear, my dear, I'm afraid not, or else your face wouldn't be so +dreadfully red and guilty-like, and I'm sure as your uncle thinks you +broke it." + +"Yes," cried Tom; "everybody seems to think so." + +"Then pray, pray, my dear, be open." + +"Don't, Mrs Fidler, don't," cried Tom pettishly. "I feel as if I can't +bear it." + +"Now, sir, I'm waiting," said Uncle Richard, suddenly appearing at the +open window. "Come over to the observatory at once." + +"Yes, uncle; coming," cried Tom. + +"And do, pray, pray tell him all the truth, my dear," whispered Mrs +Fidler. + +"Ugh! you stupid old woman," exclaimed Tom to himself, as he ran out +into the hall, got his cap, and followed his uncle, who was walking +sharply on toward the mill-yard, with the keys hanging from his hand. + +"And he's thinking all the time that I did it," muttered Tom. "He might +have waited." + +"Pst! pst!" came from among the bushes, and the boy turned sharply, to +see David working his arms about like an old-fashioned telegraph. + +"Can't stop. What is it?" said Tom roughly. + +"I ain't going to stop you, Master Tom; but you go and tell the truth." + +"Bah!" cried Tom. + +"The truth may be shamed, sir, but can never be blamed," said the +gardener oracularly. + +"Get out, you topsy-turvy old humbug," cried Tom wrathfully. "Think I +don't know you?" and he ran on, and caught up to his uncle as he was +passing through the yard gate. + +He did not speak, but went on toward the observatory door. + +"Shall I open it, uncle?" said Tom eagerly. + +"No," was the abrupt reply; and Tom shrank within himself like a snail +touched with the end of a walking-stick on a damp night. Then the key +was rattled into the lock, the door was thrown open, and Uncle Richard, +looking very grave and stern, stalked into the workshop straight to the +table, glanced at the speculum, and pushed the pieces apart, frowning +angrily. + +"I'd sooner have given a hundred pounds than that should have happened," +he said. + +"Yes, uncle; it's horrid," said Tom. + +"How did you do it?" said Uncle Richard, turning sharply, and fixing him +with his keen eyes, as he had often fixed some deceitful, shivering +coolie, who had looked up to him in the past as master and judge in one. + +"I didn't do it," cried Tom passionately. "Everybody misjudges me, and +thinks it was I." + +"Then how did it happen?" + +Tom told him briefly. + +"Was that window left open last night?" + +"I don't think so, uncle; I'm almost sure I fastened it." + +"Almost!" said Uncle Richard, in the same cold, hard way in which he had +spoken before. "Then, sir, you accuse David of having meddled and +broken it?" + +"No, I don't, uncle," said Tom, speaking quite firmly now. "I told you +everything." + +"Fetch David." + +Tom hurried out, and had no difficulty in finding the gardener, who had +hardly stirred from where he had left him. + +"I knowed the master'd want me. Did you own up, sir, like a man?" + +"No, I didn't," said Tom angrily. "Come to uncle directly." + +"Then--" + +David said no more, but gave his old straw hat a smart rap on the crown, +and walked sharply on before Tom, unrolling and shaking out his blue +apron, prior to rolling it up again very tightly about his waist. He +strode along so rapidly that Tom had hard work to keep up with him; and +in spite of his efforts, David strode into the workshop first, pulled +off his hat, dashed it down on the floor, and struck one hand loudly +with his fist. + +"What I say is this here, sir. I've sarved you faithful ever since you +come back from the burning Ingies--" + +"Silence!" + +"And made the garden what it is--" + +"Silence!" said Uncle Richard, more sternly. + +"And if Master Tom's been telling you a pack o' lies about me--" + +"Silence, man!" cried Uncle Richard angrily. + +"Why, all I've got to say is--" + +"Will you hold your tongue, sir? My nephew has not even accused you. +He has merely told me his own version of the accident." + +"Oh!" said David, looking from one to the other, thoroughly taken aback. + +"Now give me your account, sir," continued Uncle Richard. + +David threw in a few pieces of ornamentation about his narrative, but +its essence was precisely the same as Tom's. + +"Humph!" said Uncle Richard. "It looks as of one of you must be in +fault." + +"I take my solemn--" + +"Silence, sir! you have spoken enough. Tell me this, as the man I have +always been a good master to, and have always trusted. I know it is a +serious thing, but I want the simple truth. Did you have an accident, +and break that glass?" + +"I wish I may die this minute if I did, sir," cried David; "and that's +an awful thing to say." + +"Thank you, David; I believe you," said Uncle Richard quietly, and the +gardener's face glowed as he turned his eyes on Tom, and then frowned, +and jerked his head, and seemed to say-- + +"Now out with the truth, my lad, like a man." + +Tom was darting back an angry look, when his uncle turned to him, with +eyes that seemed to read him through and through. + +"I thought it was your doing at first, Tom, in my vexation," he said. +"Then I suspected poor David here, very unwillingly. But you see we are +at fault." + +"Yes, uncle," cried Tom eagerly, for there was something in his uncle's +tone, stern as it sounded, that was like a friendly grasp of the hand, +and turning towards him, in quite an excited burst, he cried, "Then you +don't think I did it?" + +"Of course not, my boy. What have you ever done that I should doubt +your word?" + +Tom could not speak, but he made a snatch at his uncle's hand, to feel +it close warmly upon his own. + +David looked from one to the other, and then stooped and picked up his +hat, put it on, recollected himself, and snatched it off again. + +"Well," he said softly, "it's a rum 'un. If I didn't feel quite +cock-sure as it was you, Master Tom, that I did. Then it warn't you, +arter all! Then who was it? that's what I want to know." + +"That's what we all want to know, David," said Uncle Richard, as he laid +his hand now upon his nephew's shoulder, the firm pressure seeming to +send a thrill of strength and determination through the boy's heart. +"One thing is very plain--it could not have broken itself." + +"But don't you think, Master Tom, as it might have gone down when you +leaned over the wrapper?" + +"Impossible," said Uncle Richard quickly. "The glass was far too heavy, +as we well know, eh, Tom? Here, let's look out outside." + +He led the way through the open door, and round to the window beneath +which the speculum had lain upon the bench, and examined the lately made +flower-bed, in which various creepers had been planted to run up the +wall. + +"There's no need to be in doubt," said Uncle Richard, pointing; and Tom +uttered an excited cry, for there, deeply-marked beneath the window were +the prints of heavy-nailed boots, doubled--by the toes pointing toward +the mill, and by the appearance as of some one stepping partly into them +again. + +"Are those your footmarks, David?" said his master. + +"Mine, sir? No. Mine's got tips on the toes. Look." + +He lifted one leg across the other, as if he were going to be shod by a +blacksmith, showing that his soles would have made a very different +impression upon the soft earth. + +"Why, sir," continued David with a smile, "I never leaves no footmarks. +Natur' meant a man's hands to be used as rakes, or they would not 'a +been this shape. I always gives the place a touch over where I've +been." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, nodding. "I have seen you." + +"You ayve, sir, many times," said David, bending down; "and these here +couldn't have been made by Master Tom, anyhow." + +"Lend me your knife, David," said Uncle Richard. + +"Knife, sir? Oh, I'll soon smooth them marks out." + +"Stop!" cried Uncle Richard, and only just in time, for David's +finger-rake was within an inch. "We may want to compare those with +somebody's boots." + +"Why o' course, sir," said the gardener, handing his knife already +opened; when, placing one foot close against the bricks, Uncle Richard +leaned across the bed, inserted the blade of the knife beside the iron +casement frame, and with it lifted the fastening with the greatest ease. + +David gave his leg a heavy slap. + +"That was some 'un artful, sir, and he got in." + +"Slipped in descending inside, and dragged the speculum on the floor," +said Uncle Richard, frowning. "Now the question is, who was it?" + +"Ah, who was it, sir?" said David. "Arn't such a great many folk in +Furzebrough, and I should say as it lies between Parson Maxted and Pete +Warboys, and it warn't parson, 'cause of the boots." + +"I don't like to suspect unjustly," said Uncle Richard, "so don't say +anything, David. I'll go down to the lad's home with my nephew here, +and we'll see if we can find out whether he has been about here since +yesterday." + +"And you'll have your work cut out, sir," said David; "for that chap +goes hawking about more like a ferret than aught else; but if it warn't +him, Master Tom, I'll heat my head." + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +David went back to his gardening, giving Tom a smile and a nod, and +whispering to him as he followed his uncle after locking up the workshop +and the yard gate-- + +"You and me's good friends again, arn't we, Master Tom?" + +"Yes, of course, David; and I beg your pardon for ever suspecting you." + +"Oh, that's all right, sir. It was six o' one and half-a-dozen o' the +other. I thought it was you, and you thought it was me, and--" + +"Come, Tom," said Uncle Richard; and the boy hurried forward, and did +not hear the end of David's speech. + +"Mind we put a secure fastening on those lower windows to-morrow +morning," said Uncle Richard thoughtfully. "We ought to be able to live +down in a place like this without nocturnal visitors; but there, one +never knows." + +They walked on pretty sharply till the cottages were reached; and as +soon as the visitors came up to the gate the curious-looking old woman +appeared at the open door, shading her eyes with her hand, and peering +at them as they walked down the path. + +"It's of no use to come here," she cried loudly. "Don't want any. No +money to buy anything. Go to the rich gentlefolk and sech." + +"You old impostor!" said Uncle Richard softly. "You can see who we are +plainly enough." + +"D'yer hear? Don't want any to-day." + +"Now, Mrs Warboys, I want to see your grandson." + +"Hey?" + +"I say I want to see your grandson." + +"What?" + +"I want to see your grandson." + +"Who are you? Haven't you got anything to sell?" + +"You know I have not. You can see well enough when you come for help." + +"Hey? Who are you?" + +"You know me. I am from Heatherleigh." + +"Oh, it's you. I thought you wanted to sell calicoes and flannels. +What did you bring your pack for? What's in it? Oh, I see, it arn't a +pack at all; it's a boy. What d'yer want?" + +"I told you I want to see your grandson." + +"What for?" + +"I want to ask him a few questions." + +"Ah, that's no good. He says he had so many asked him at school that +he'll never answer no more." + +"Where is he? Call him," said Uncle Richard. + +"He arn't at home, and you can't see him." + +"How long will he be?" + +"I d'know. P'raps he won't come back no more, so you needn't come +poking about here." + +"When did he go out last?" said Uncle Richard. + +"Last week I think, but my mind arn't good now at figgers. Tell me what +you want, and if ever I see him again I'll tell him." + +"We are wasting time, Tom," said Uncle Richard in a whisper. + +"Yes," said the old woman viciously; "you're wasting time. It's no use +for you to come here to try and get things to say again my poor boy. I +know you and your ways. You want to get him sent away, I know; and +you're not going to do it. I know you all--parson and doctor, and you, +Brandon, you're all against my poor innocent boy; but you're not going +to hurt him, for you've got me to reckon with first." + +"Your sight and hearing seem to have come back pretty readily, Mrs +Warboys." + +"You never mind that," cried the old woman. "I know what I'm saying, +and I'm not afraid of any of you." + +Just then one of the women from the next cottages came out and curtseyed +to them. + +"Don't take any notice of what she says, sir. She's a bit put out +to-day." + +"So it seems," said Uncle Richard. "Let me see, Mrs Deane, isn't it?" + +"Yes, sir," said the woman, smiling. + +"You can tell me then where is Pete Warboys?" + +The old woman literally shrieked out-- + +"Let her say a word if she dares. She'd better. She hasn't forgotten +what I did to--Ah! look at that." + +She uttered the last words triumphantly, for the woman turned and ran +hurriedly into her cottage. + +"Come along, Tom," said Uncle Richard; "we are doing no good here;" and +he turned and led the way down toward the gate, with the old woman +shrieking out a torrent of words after them, and playing an +accompaniment formed of slaps upon the door till they were out of +hearing. + +"What a terrible old woman!" said Tom at last. "That Mrs Deane seemed +quite frightened of her." + +"Yes; the poor ignorant people here believe that she has the power to do +them harm; and in spite of all Mr Maxted tells them, he cannot shake +their faith." + +"What shall you do now, uncle?" + +"Nothing, my boy, upon second thoughts. I am afraid we should not be +able to prove that this young scoundrel did the mischief without calling +in the police, and that I am very loth to do." + +"But he ought not to be allowed to go about doing such things as that, +uncle," said Tom warmly. "It gets the wrong people suspected." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard dryly; "and perhaps we are suspecting the +wrong person now." + +"But who else could it be, uncle?" + +"Some tramp perhaps, on the way to London. No, Tom, I don't think we +will waste our time in trying to bring the misdoing home to Mr Pete +Warboys, and then appearing before the magistrates to punish him. We +had better set to work and polish a new speculum." + +"Then you will make another?" said Tom eagerly. + +"Of course, my boy. I shall write off for two fresh discs to-night." + +"One will do, uncle." + +"No, boy; we must have two, and begin as before. The lower one is +useless now, unless I keep it for a polishing tool." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +"Master Tom, I'd be the last person in the world to find fault, or pick +people to pieces, and I'm sure master knows that, as it's his brother, +I'd do anything; but really, my dear, I don't think he's so bad as he +says." + +"Do you think not, Mrs Fidler?" + +"I feel sure not, my dear. Here has he been down here for three weeks +now, and the nursing up he's had is wonderful. You look at the beef-tea +he's had, and the calves'-foot jelly I've made, and the port wine he has +drunk, let alone the soles and chickens and chops he has every day." + +"But what makes you think Uncle James is not so ill?" + +"Because he eats and drinks so much, my dear. I think he's all right, +only got something on his mind." + +"Well, I don't know," said Tom. "He says he's very bad. I must be off +now; it's time he went out in his bath-chair." + +"Yes, my dear, it's wonderful what your uncle does for him, what with +the flys, and pony-carriages, and the invalid chair got down on purpose +for him. I only wish I had such a brother as master." + +For Uncle James had come down ready to groan when he was helped out of +the fly, to sigh when he was helped off to bed, and call out when Tom +led him to his chair at meal-times. For as soon as he came down he had +attached himself to his nephew, and was never satisfied without the boy +was at his side. + +"Your noo uncle seems to like you, Master Tom," said David one day. + +"Yes; I wish he wouldn't be quite so fond of me," replied Tom. "He used +not to be in London." + +But Tom's wishes were of no avail, for his uncle would hardly let him +quit his side; and when they were indoors he would sit and gaze +wistfully at the boy, and now and then whisper-- + +"Tom, my boy, I think I ought to tell you, that--" + +Then he would stop, and, growing impatient at last, Tom broke out with-- + +"What is it, uncle, that you want to tell me?" + +"Not now, my boy, another time, another time," and then he would utter a +low groan. + +This sort of thing took place in the dining-room, study, garden, or away +out on the common, or in sandy lanes; and at last, after having his +curiosity excited a great many times, Tom began to get tired of it, and +had hard work to keep from some pettish remark. + +"But I mustn't be unkind to him, poor fellow, now he's so ill," thought +Tom; "he was very unkind to me, but I forgive him, and he's very +affectionate to me now." + +This was the case, for Uncle James seemed happier when he could get Tom +alone, and hold his hand for some time; and he always ended by saying in +a whimpering voice-- + +"Bless you, my boy, bless you!" + +"Which is very nice," said Tom to himself more than once, "but it will +sound sickly, and as if he was very weak. I can't make it out. It +seems as if the worse he is, the kinder he gets to me, and as soon as he +feels better he turns disagreeable. Oh, I am so tired of it; I wish +he'd get well." + +But all the same Tom never showed his weariness, but tugged and butted +the invalid chair through the deep sand of the lanes, and sat on banks +close by it reading the newspaper to his uncle in the most patient way, +till the invalid was tired, and then dragged him back to Heatherleigh to +dinner or tea. + +One evening, after a week thoroughly devoted to the visitor, who had +been more than usually exacting in the length of his rides, declining to +hold the handle and guide himself, making Tom tug him up hills and +through heavy bits of lane, along which the boy toiled away as +stubbornly as a donkey, Uncle Richard came upon him in the garden, when +he was free, for the invalid had gone to lie down. + +"Well, Tom," he said. + +"Well, uncle," cried the boy, looking up at him rather disconsolately. + +"All our telescope-making seems to have come to an end." + +"Yes, uncle." + +"I suppose you mean to go back with Uncle James to town?" + +"Is he going back to London?" cried the boy eagerly. + +"Yes, before long; but you need not be so eager to go." + +Tom stared at him. + +"You are tired of Heatherleigh then?" + +"Tired, uncle?" + +"Yes; you've made me feel quite jealous. It's all Uncle James now. But +there, it's boy-like to want plenty of change." + +"But I don't want change." + +"Not want change? Why, you show it every day." + +Tom stared again, and then burst out in his abrupt way-- + +"Oh, uncle! you don't think I want to go back?" + +"You were asking eagerly enough about it just now." + +"Yes--because--I--that is--oh, uncle, don't be cross with me; I can't +help it." + +"No, I suppose not, Tom." + +"But you don't understand me. I don't want to leave here; I wouldn't go +back to London on any consideration. I--there, I must say it, I--I-- +there, I hate Uncle James." + +"What!" said Uncle Richard, looking at the boy curiously. "You are +never happy without you are along with him." + +"But that's because he is ill, and I thought you wanted me to be +attentive to him." + +"Oh!" + +"Yes, that's it, uncle. He never liked me, and always used to be cross +with me, and now when he's very bad he's always so fond of me, and keeps +me with him, so that I can't get away, and--and I don't like it at all." + +"That's curious, isn't it, Tom?" + +"Yes, uncle, I suppose it is, and I can't make it out. I don't +understand it a bit. It's because he is ill, I suppose, and is sorry he +used to be so rough with me. I wish he would get quite well and go back +to London." + +"Humph! And you would rather not go up to attend to him?" + +"I'd go if you ordered me to, but I should be very miserable if I had +to--worse than I am now. But, uncle, I am doing my best." + +"Of course, Tom. There, I did not mean it, my boy. You are doing your +duty admirably to your invalid relative. I hope we both are; and sick +people's fancies are to be studied. I don't think though you need be +quite so blunt, Master Blount, though," added Uncle Richard, smiling. + +"I'll try not to be, uncle." + +"And talk about hating people. Rather rough kind of Christianity that, +Tom." + +"I beg your pardon, it slipped out. I hope I don't hate him." + +"So do I, my lad. There, go and do everything you can for him while he +stays. He is certainly much better, and fancies now that he is worse +than he is." + +"I'll do everything I can, uncle," said Tom eagerly. + +"I know you will, my boy; and as soon as we have set him on his legs +again, you and I will grind the new speculum. The case with the two +discs came down this afternoon while you were out with the chair." + +"Oh!" cried Tom eagerly. "You haven't unpacked them without me, uncle?" + +"No, and I do not mean to. We'll leave them where they are till our +visitor has gone, and then we shall have to work like black-fellows to +make up for lost time." + +"Yes, uncle," cried Tom, rubbing his hands. + +"No; like white-fellows," said Uncle Richard, smiling, "and I think we +shall get on faster." + +The next morning there was a surprise. It was Saturday, and about +eleven, just when Tom had dragged round the invalid chair ready for the +invalid, he saw a sprucely-dressed figure, with a "button-hole" in his +coat, get down from the station fly, pay the man, and push open the gate +with a cane, whose ivory crutch handle was held by a carefully-gloved +hand. + +For a few moments Tom was astounded; then he came to the conclusion that +it was not very wonderful for a son to come down to see his sick father, +and he left the chair, and went to meet his cousin. + +"Hallo, bumpkin," said Sam contemptuously, "how are you?" + +"Quite well," said Tom hesitatingly, and then frankly holding out his +hand. + +"All right; quite well, thanks," said Sam, tapping the extended hand +with the cane. "Don't want to dirt my glove. What have you been +doing--digging potatoes?" + +"Only tidying up the chair for Uncle James." + +"Hands look grubby. You should wash 'em. I say, what a beastly +out-of-the-way place this is. Where's Uncle Dick? I only had a coffee +and roll before I left London. Can I have some breakfast?" + +"Yes, I suppose so." + +"How's dad?" + +"Uncle James is better," said Tom quietly; and just then there was a +loud groaning sound from within the porch. + +"Oh--oh--oh!" at regular intervals. + +"Hullo!" said Sam; "what's the matter? been killing somebody?" + +"No. That's Uncle James being brought down from his room." + +"Why, he wrote up and said he was better." + +"It's because his breath is so short first thing in the morning." + +"Oh, that's it," said Sam coolly, and he gave a sharp look round. "Is +that the old windmill Uncle Dick bought?" + +"Yes," said Tom, who felt rather disgusted with his cousin's +indifference and cavalier airs. + +At that moment they had nearly reached the porch from which the low +groaning sounds issued, and the brothers appeared, with James +leaning-heavily upon Richard's arm. + +Uncle James started on seeing his son, and left off groaning. + +"Morning, gov'nor," said Sam. "Better? Morning, Uncle Richard." + +"Is--is anything wrong at the office?" cried Uncle James excitedly. + +"Wrong? No. We get on all right." + +"Then why have you come?" + +"Oh, it was Saturday. Mother was going down to Brighton, and I thought +I'd run down here from Saturday to Monday, and see how you were." + +"Oh," said Uncle James in a tone of relief; and then he began to moan +softly again, and moved toward the chair. + +"Won't you stop for a bit, and chat with Sam?" said Uncle Richard. + +"Eh? Yes, if you like," said his brother, hanging upon him feebly. +"But it doesn't much matter now." + +"Oh yes, it does, Jem, a good deal. Here, Sam, my lad, try and cheer +your father up with what news you have of his business." + +"All right, uncle; but I say, you've got a pretty place here." + +"Glad you like it, my lad." + +"But I say, uncle, I haven't had my breakfast. Started off so early." + +"I dare say something is being got ready for you," replied his uncle, +smiling. "My housekeeper is very thoughtful." + +_Click_! came from through the dining-room window. + +"That sounds very much like the coffee-pot lid," continued Uncle +Richard. "Take your cousin in, Tom. I'll lead your uncle round the +garden while Sam has his breakfast, and then they can have their chat." + +"I couldn't do it, Dick--I couldn't do it," groaned his brother +piteously. "I'm as feeble as a babe." + +"Then the fresh air will strengthen you," said Uncle Richard; and +moaning softly as he drew his breath, James Brandon went slowly down the +gravel walk. + +"Only does that moaning noise when he thinks about it," said Sam, as he +entered the house. + +"No, I've noticed that," replied Tom; but all the same he felt annoyed +by his cousin's brutal indifference. "Let me take your hat." + +"No, thanks. Hang it up myself. Don't want it spoiled." + +Tom drew back while the hat and cane were deposited in their places; and +then the pair entered the little dining-room, where a luncheon tray was +already placed at one end of the table, but with coffee-pot and +bread-and-butter just being arranged by Mrs Fidler. + +"Ah, that's your sort," said Sam; "but I say, old lady, I'm peckish; +haven't you got anything beside this?" + +"Some ham is being fried, sir, and some eggs boiled," said Mrs Fidler +rather stiffly. + +"Hah! that's better," said Sam; and Mrs Fidler left the room. "Well, +young fellow, how are you getting on?" he continued, as he seated +himself and began upon the breakfast. "What do you do here--clean the +knives and boots?" + +"No," said Tom. + +"I thought you did. Hands look grubby enough." + +Tom glanced at his hands, and saw that they were as rough and red as his +cousin's were white and delicate. + +"I help uncle do all sorts of things," he said quietly, "and sometimes I +garden." + +"And wish yourself back at Mornington Crescent, I'll bet tuppence." + +"I haven't yet," said Tom bluntly. + +"No; you always were an ungrateful beggar," said Sam in a contemptuous +tone. "But that's about all you were fit for--sort of gardener's boy." + +Tom felt a curious sensation tingling in his veins, and his head was +hot, for times had altered now, and he was not quite the same lad as the +one who had submitted to be tyrannised over in town. He was about to +utter some angry retort, but he checked himself. + +"I won't quarrel with him," he said to himself; and just then Mrs +Fidler appeared with a covered dish, which she placed before the +visitor. + +"Thankye," he said shortly. "Take the cover away with you." + +There was always a line or two--anxious-looking lines--upon Mrs +Fidler's forehead; now five or six appeared, and her eyebrows suddenly +grew closer together, and her lips tightened into a thin line, as she +took off the cover, and then went in a very dignified way from the room. + +Sam attacked the ham and eggs directly, and made a very hearty meal, +throwing a word or two now and then at his cousin, and asking a few +questions, but in an offhand, assumed, man-about-town style, and without +so much as glancing at Tom, who sat watching him till he had finished +his breakfast, when he rose, cleared his voice, rang the bell, brushed a +few crumbs from his clothes, and took out a cigarette case. + +"There!" he said; "I'll join them down the garden now. Which is the +way?" + +"I'll take you," said Tom; and just as Mrs Fidler entered, followed by +the maid to clear away, Sam struck a wax-match, lit his cigarette, and +walked out into the little hall and out into the porch, followed by Tom. + +"Not a bad part of the country," said Sam condescendingly; "but who does +uncle find to talk to? Precious few decent houses." + +"There are plenty," said Tom; "but they are a good way off. There's +uncle at the bottom of the field." + +"So I see," said Sam. "I have eyes in my head. Humph! flowers. +Halloo! raspberries!" + +He stepped off the green path they were on to where several rows of +neatly-tied-up raspberry canes crossed the garden, and began to pull the +ruddy thimbles off the tiny white cones upon which they grew; while +David, who was on the other side busy removing young pear-tree shoots +from the wall, stared at him aghast. + +"Who's that fellow?" said Sam, as he took a whiff, then a raspberry, +alternately. + +"Our gardener." + +"_Our_, eh? Well, tell him to go on with his work. What's he staring +at?" + +"You," said Tom bluntly. + +Sam gave him a sharp look and returned to the path, bore off to his +right, and began to examine the trained fruit trees on the wall. + +"Pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums," said Sam coolly. "Why, +they're all green and unripe. No, they're not; here's an apricot looks +ready." + +David uttered a gasp, for the young visitor stepped on to the neat +border and took hold of the yellow apricot, whose progress the gardener +had been watching for days, gave it a tug, and broke off the twig which +bore it. + +"Bah!" he ejaculated, as he dragged away the twig and a wall-nail and +shred. "Why, the wretched thing isn't ripe." + +He spat out the mouthful he had taken between his lips, and jerked the +bitten fruit out over the hedge into the lane. + +"Well," muttered David, as the two lads went on, "I do call that +imperdence. Wonder what master would ha' said if he'd seen." + +"Master" had seen his nephew's act as he came from the other side of the +field with his brother leaning upon his arm, but he made no remark +respecting it. + +"You would like to have a chat now with your boy about business, eh, +James?" + +"Oh, there's nothing to talk about," said Sam carelessly. "Everything +is all right. I have seen to that. I kept Pringle pretty well up to +his work." + +"Poor old Pringle!" thought Tom. "I ought to write to him." + +"Sam is right," said the lad's father; "and--and--oh, dear me, how weak +I feel! I don't want to be troubled about business. Take me in now, +Dick." + +"Come along, then," said his brother good-humouredly. "Tom, my lad, +you'd better show your cousin about the place, and try and interest +him." + +"All right, uncle," was the reply; and the two boys stood watching the +brothers going towards the house. + +"I don't know that I want to be shown about," said Sam haughtily. "I'm +not a child. You country people seem to think that we want to see your +cabbages and things. Here, let's go and look at the windmill. I say, +did they have a row about it?" + +"What--Uncle James and Uncle Richard?" + +"Of course, stupid; who did you think I meant?" + +"How could they have a row about the observatory?" + +"I said windmill, stupid." + +"It's an observatory now," said Tom coldly. + +"Observatory! Yes; it looks it. The gov'nor was awfully wild about it. +Nice brother, he said, to go and take the legal business to some one +else instead of to our office. There, come along." + +"I must get the keys first." + +"Keys? Why, I thought you were all so beautifully innocent, that you +never locked up anything in the country." + +"But we do," said Tom. "Wait a minute. I'll soon be back." + +"Don't hurry yourself, bumpkin. I'll have some more raspberries." + +"I should like to bumpkin him," thought Tom, as he ran in, got the keys, +and hurried back to where Sam was "worrying the rarsps," as David +afterwards indignantly said; and then the boys walked together out into +the lane, and from thence through the gate into the mill-yard. + +"Do you ever come here with him moon-shooting?" said Sam contemptuously. + +"Uncle has not been doing any astronomy lately," replied Tom; and +feeling that he could not chat about their private life, he refrained +from saying anything about the work upon which they had been engaged, +but contented himself with showing the workshop, and then leading the +way into the laboratory. + +"What do you do here?" said Sam, looking contemptuously round. + +"This is the laboratory." + +"Dear me, how fine we are! What's in these bottles on the shelves?" + +"Chemicals." + +"That your desk where you do your lessons?" + +"No; that's uncle's bureau where he keeps his papers. We're going to +have another table, and some chemistry and astronomical books up soon. +Uncle says that he shall make this an extra study." + +"Keeps his papers, eh? His will too, I suppose?" + +"I don't know," said Tom. + +"Yes, you do. None of your sham with me, I know you, Master Tom. That +the way up-stairs?" + +"Yes," said Tom quietly; and they went on up the steps. + +"Just as if you wouldn't be artful enough to know all about that. Bound +to say you've read it half-a-dozen times over." + +"I haven't looked in uncle's drawers, and if I had I shouldn't have read +any of his papers." + +"Not you, of course. Too jolly good; you are such a nice innocent sort +of boy. Halloo! that the telescope? what a tuppenny-ha'penny thing." + +"Uncle is going to have a big one soon." + +"Oh, is he! What's that door for?" + +"To open and look out at the stars." + +"And that wheel?" + +"To turn the whole of the roof round." + +"Turn it then." + +Tom obeyed good-humouredly enough, though at heart he resented the +hectoring, bullying way adopted by his cousin, and thought how glad he +would be when Monday came. + +Then the shutter was opened, and the lads got out into the little +gallery, where Tom began to point out the beauty of the landscape, and +the distant houses and villages to be seen from the commanding height. + +"Isn't there a splendid view?" he said. + +"Bosh! I've been at the top of Saint Paul's. Not a bad place to smoke +a cigarette." + +He lit one with a great deal of nourish, leaned over the rail, and began +puffing little clouds of smoke into the air; but all the same he did not +seem to enjoy it, and at the end of a few minutes allowed the little +roll of tobacco to go out. + +"What time do you dine here?" he said; "seven?" + +Tom laughed. + +"Two o'clock," he said. + +"I said dinner, not lunch, stupid." + +"I know what you said," replied Tom, rather sharply, but he changed his +tone directly afterward. "We don't have lunch, but early dinner, and +tea at six." + +"How horrible!" said Sam. "Here, let's go down." + +He stepped back into the observatory, looking sharply at everything +while Tom secured the shutter, and then they went down into the +laboratory, which evidently took the visitor's attention. + +"Wouldn't be a bad place with a good Turkey carpet and some easy-chairs. +I should make it my smoking-room if I lived down here. I mean if I was +transported down here." + +"You don't think much of the place," said Tom good-humouredly; "but +you'd like it if you lived here. There's capital fishing in the river, +and the fir-woods swarm with rabbits. Walnut-wood," he added, as his +cousin examined the bureau. "Uncle says the brass-work is very old and +curious, nearly two hundred years, he thinks." + +"Got a gun?" said Sam, turning sharply away. + +"No." + +"Can't you get one? We might go and shoot a few rabbits." + +"I don't know whether we could even if there was a gun. They are +preserved about here like the hares and pheasants." + +"There are no hares about here?" + +"Oh, yes. I've seen several and made them run." + +"But no pheasants?" + +"Plenty, and as tame as can be. I saw one the other day in our field." + +"Here, let's go for a walk," said Sam, the real boyish nature coming out +at last. "I rather like sport, and shall buy a double gun shortly." + +They went down; the place was duly locked up, Tom having refrained from +making any allusions to the speculum, and the work on hand, feeling as +he did that his cousin would look upon it with a contemptuous sneer. +Then the keys were returned to the house, and as the two lads stood in +the hall they could hear the invalid talking very loudly to Uncle +Richard, evidently upon some subject in which he took interest, and Sam +laughed. + +"What is it?" said Tom, staring. + +"The gov'nor. Hear him? He has forgotten how bad he is. No groans +now. Come on." + +Tom felt disgusted. He had often noticed the same thing, and formed his +own conclusion; but it annoyed him to hear his cousin holding his +father's weakness up to ridicule; and he followed Sam out into the +garden, and from thence along the sandy lane, thinking what a long time +it would be till Monday, when the visitor would return to town. + +They had not gone far along the edge of the pine-wood, when all at once +a dog leaped out, to begin hunting amongst the furze and brambles, and +dart in again. + +"What's he after?" cried Sam. + +"Rabbits." + +As Tom spoke, his cousin struck a match to light a fresh cigarette; and +as he lit up, he became aware of the fact that the long slouching figure +of Pete Warboys was there by a tree, watching his act with profound +interest. + +Sam uttered a low laugh full of contempt, as he noticed the lad's eager +gaze, and after sending a curl of smoke floating upon the air, he jerked +the wax-match from him for a few yards, to fall beneath some old dead +furze. + +"Have one, joskin?" he said. + +Pete Warboys seemed to forget the presence of Tom, and slouched forward, +holding out his hand as he uttered a low hoarse "Ah!" + +Sam re-opened his cigarette case and held it out. + +"Take two," he said; and Pete did so without hesitation, while Tom stood +frowning. "Know how to smoke them?" said Sam. + +"Ah!" growled Pete; and with a sly grin he took a little dirty black +clay pipe from his pocket, and held it up before pulling one of the +cigarettes to pieces and thrusting it in paper and all, without noticing +that he had drawn something out with the pipe, to fall to the ground. + +"Want a light?" said Sam; but Pete made no answer, merely pulling a box +of matches out of his pocket and putting it back. + +"Come along now," said Tom, hesitating though as he spoke. + +"Wait a minute. Like sixpence, joskin?" + +"Ah!" replied Pete, showing a set of dirty teeth in a grin. + +"Catch then," said Sam, contemptuously tossing the coin through the air; +but Pete was not active enough to seize it, and it fell amongst the +herbage, and had to be searched for. "Got it?" + +"Ah!" said Pete, with a grin. "Chuck us another." + +"Not this time," replied Sam, with a forced laugh, as he looked at the +fellow. "Like pears?" + +"Ah!" + +"Here then." + +Sam took a well-grown hard Marie Louise pear from his pocket, and Tom +stared. "Catch." + +The pear was thrown, caught deftly, and transferred to a pocket in +Pete's ragged trousers where a forgotten hole existed, and the fruit was +seen to run down the leg and re-appear by the lad's boot. Pete grinned, +picked it up, and put the fruit in a safer place. + +"Catch again!" cried Sam, bringing out another pear, and throwing it +this time with all his might, evidently with the intention of hitting +the lad a sharp blow. + +But the pear was caught as it struck in Pete's palms with a smart +_spang_, and was duly transferred to the lad's pocket. + +"What a shame!" thought Tom. "Uncle's choice pears, and they were not +fit to pick." + +"Got any more?" cried Pete. + +"Yes, one. Have it?" said Sam, drawing out the finest yet, but +disfigured by the marks of teeth, a piece having been bitten out, and +proving too hard and green to be palatable. "Now then, catch." + +This one was thrown viciously as a cricket-ball by long-field-off. But +Pete's eyes were keen; he had seen the white patch on the side of the +fruit, and instead of trying to catch it, he ducked his head, and let it +go far away among the fir-trees, the branch of one of which it struck, +and split in pieces. + +"No, yer didn't," said Pete, grinning. "I say, chuck us another +sixpence." + +"Not this time," said Sam, puffing again at his cigarette and then +staring at Tom, who suddenly threw off the feeling of hesitation which +had kept him back, and made a rush forward in the direction taken by the +pear. + +"Where are you going?" cried Sam. "You've got plenty at home." + +But Tom paid no heed; his eyes were fixed on the spot where Pete had +stood when he took out his pipe, and made for it. + +Pete's eyes had grown sharp from the life he led in the woods, and +amongst the furze of the great heath-like commons, and he saw now the +object which had fallen from his pocket. His sluggish manner was cast +aside, and, as if suddenly galvanised into action, he sprang forward to +secure the little object lying half hidden upon a tuft of ling. + +The consequence was a smart collision, the two lads' heads coming +violently in contact, and, according to the conclusions of +mathematicians, flying off at a tangent. The next instant Tom and Pete, +half-stunned, were seated amongst the furze gazing stupidly at each +other. + +Tom was the first to recover, and, bending forward, caught up a bit of +twisted brass wire, secured to a short length of string, before rising +to his feet. + +Then Pete was up, while Sam smoked and laughed heartily. + +"Here, that's mine," cried Pete; "give it to me." + +"No," cried Tom, thrusting the wire into his pocket; "you've no business +with a thing like that." + +"Give it to me," growled Pete, "or I'll half smash yer." + +"_You_ touch me if you dare!" cried Tom fiercely. + +"Bravo! ciss! Have it out!" cried Sam, clapping his hands and hissing, +with the effect of bringing the dog trotting up, after doing a little +hunting on its own account. + +"You give me that bit of string back, or I'll set the dog at yer," cried +Pete. + +"I shall give it to Captain Ranson's keeper," cried Tom; and Pete took a +step forward. + +"Fetch him then, boy!" cried Pete, clapping his hands, and a fray seemed +imminent, when Tom unclasped the hands he had clenched, rushed away a +few yards, and Sam stood staring, ready to cheer Pete on to give his +cousin a good hiding as he mentally termed it, for his cousin seemed to +him to have shown the white feather and run. + +Then he grasped the reason. Tom had not gone many yards, and was +dancing and stamping about in the middle of some smoke rising from among +the dead furze, and where for a few moments a dull flame rose amidst a +faint crackling, as the fire began to get hold. + +"Here, Sam! Pete!" he shouted, "come and help." + +But Sam glanced at his bright Oxford shoes and well-cut trousers, and +stood fast, while a malignant grin began to spread over Pete Warboys' +face, as the dog cowered shivering behind him, with its thin tail tucked +between its legs. + +Pete thrust both hands down into his pockets, but did not stir to help, +and Tom, after stamping out the fire in one place, had to dash to +another; this being repeated again and again in the exciting moments. +Then he mastered it, and a faint smoke and some blackened furze was all +that was left of what, if left to itself, would have been a great common +fire. + +"All out?" said Sam, as his cousin came up hot and panting. "Why, what +a fuss about nothing." + +"Fuss!" cried Tom excitedly; "why, if it had been left five minutes the +fir-wood must have caught." + +"Bah! green wood won't burn." + +"Oh, won't it?" cried Pete. "It just will. Here, you give me my bit o' +string, or I shall go and say I see yer set the furze alight o' +purpose." + +"Go and say so then," cried Tom. "No one will believe you. Come along, +Sam." + +Tom gave one more look at the blackened furze, and then turned to his +cousin. + +"Look here," he said; "you bear witness that this fire is quite out." + +"Oh, yes; it's out," said Sam. + +"And that Pete Warboys showed us a box of matches." + +"Yes, but what of that?" + +"Why this," said Tom; "if the fire breaks out again, it will be because +this fellow has set it alight." + +Pete's features contracted, and without another word he slouched away +into the wood and disappeared, followed by his dog. + +"I say, you hit him there, Tom," said Sam, with a laugh. "Think he +would have done it?" + +"I'm afraid so." + +"Well, a bit of a bonfire wouldn't have done much harm." + +"What!" cried Tom, looking at his cousin aghast. "Why, hundreds of +acres of fir-trees might have been burnt. Uncle said there was a small +patch burned one year, and there is so much turpentine in the trees, +that they roared away like a furnace, and if they had not stood alone, +the mischief would have been terrible." + +"Then you think that chap had set the furze alight before we came." + +"No, I don't," cried Tom sharply, "for I saw you throw a burning +wax-match amongst them, only I was so stupid I never thought of going to +tread upon it." + +"Yes, you always were precious chuckle-headed," cried Sam, with a laugh. +"But I don't believe it was my match. If it had gone on burning, and +there had been a row, I should have laid the blame on him." + +Tom gave him a quick look and said nothing, but thought a good deal. + +Sam noticed the look, and naturally divined his cousin's thoughts. + +"Oh," he said, "if you want to get on in the world, it's of no use to +give yourself away. I say, who is that joskin?" + +"Pete Warboys, half gipsy sort of fellow. I've seen him poaching. Look +here, this is a wire to catch hares or rabbits with." + +Tom took out the wire noose, and held it out to his cousin. + +"How do you know? that wouldn't catch a hare." + +"It would. The gardener showed me once with a bit of string. Look +here; they drive a peg into the ground if there isn't a furze stump +handy, tie the string to it, and open the wire, so as to make a ring, +and set it in a hare's run." + +"What do you mean--its hole in the ground?" + +"Hares don't make holes in ground, but run through the same openings in +hedges or amongst the furze and heath. You can see where they have +beaten the grass and stuff down. Then the poachers put the wire ring +upright, the hares run through, and drag the noose tight, and the more +they struggle, the faster they are." + +"Oh, that's it, is it? I never lived in the country. Here, catch hold. +No, Stop; let's set it, and try and catch one." + +Tom stared. + +"I say," he cried; "why I read all about that in _The Justice of the +Peace_,--don't you know that it's punishable?" + +"Of course for the joskins, but they wouldn't say anything to a +gentleman who did it for experiment." + +Tom laughed. + +"I shouldn't like a keeper to catch me doing it." + +"I said a gentleman," said Sam coolly. "So that's a young poacher, is +it?" + +"Yes, and I thought it was a pity for you to give him money." + +"Oh, I always like to behave well to the lower orders and servants when +I'm out on a visit," said Sam. "Here, let's get back." + +"Back! why, I thought we were going for a long walk," cried Tom. + +"Well, we've had one. Suppose we went further, you cannot get a cab +home, I suppose?" + +"No," said Tom quietly, and with a faint smile. "You couldn't get any +cabs here." + +Sam turned back, and Tom followed his example, thinking the while about +their adventure, and of what a terrible fire there might have been. + +"What are you going to do with that wire?" + +"Show it to uncle," said Tom quietly, "and then burn it." + +"Bah! brass wire won't burn." + +"Oh yes, it will," said Tom confidently. "Burn all away." + +"How do you know?" + +"Chemistry," said Tom. "I've read so. You can burn iron and steel all +away." + +"No wonder you couldn't get on with the law," said Sam, with a sneer. +"Here, come on; I'm tired." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +"How long's he going to stop, Master Tom?" said David the next morning +about breakfast-time, for he had come, according to custom, to see if +cook wanted anything else on account of the company. + +He had stumbled upon Tom, who was strolling about the grounds, waiting +for his cousin to come down to the meal waiting ready, his uncle sitting +reading by the window. + +"He's going back to-morrow, David." + +"And a jolly good job too, sir, I says," cried David, "whether you like +it or whether you don't." + +Tom looked at him wonderingly. + +"Yes, sir, you may stare, but I speaks out. I like you, Master Tom, and +allus have, since I see you was a young gent as had a respect for our +fruit. Of course I grows it for you to heat, but it ain't +Christian-like for people to come in my garden and ravage the things +away, destroying and spoiling what ain't ripe. I know, and your uncle +knows, when things ought to be eaten, and then it's a pleasure to see an +apricot picked gentle like, so as it falls in your hand ready to be laid +in a basket o' leaves proper to go into the house. You can take 'em +then; it makes you smile and feel a kind o' pleasure in 'em, because +they're ripe. But I'd sooner grow none than see 'em tore off when +they're good for nowt. I didn't see 'em go, Master Tom, but four o' my +chyce Maria Louisas has been picked, and I wouldn't insult you, sir, by +even thinking it was you. It wasn't Pete Warboys, because he ain't left +his trail. Who was it, then, if it wasn't your fine noo cousin?" + +Tom said nothing, but thought of the hard green pears Sam had thrown at +Pete Warboys. + +"Just you look here, Master Tom," continued the gardener, leading the +way to the wall. "There's where one was tore off, and a big bit o' +shoot as took two year to grow, fine fruit-bearing wood, but he off with +it. Yes, there it is," he cried, pouncing upon a newly-broken-off twig, +"just as I expected. There's where the pear was broke off arterward, +leaving all the stalk on. Why, when that pear had been fit to pick, +sir, it would have come off at that little jynt as soon as you put your +hand under it and lifted it up. Why, I've know'd them pears, sir, as +good as say thankye as soon as they felt your hand under 'em, for they'd +growed too ripe and heavy to hang any longer. Dear, dear, dear, who'd +be a gardener?" + +"You would, David," said Tom, smiling. "Never mind; it's very tiresome, +and he ought to have known better, if it was my cousin." + +"Knowed better, sir? Why, you'd ha' thought a fine chap like he, +dressed up to the nines with his shiny boots and hat, and smoking his +'bacco wrapped up in paper, instead of a dirty pipe, would ha' been +eddicated up to everything. There, sir, it's Sunday mornin', and I'm +goin' to church by-and-by, so I won't let my angry passions rise; but if +that young gent's coming here much, I shall tell master as it's all over +with the garden, for I sha'n't take no pride in it no more." + +"And that isn't the worst of it," thought Tom; "throwing those pears at +Pete was telling him that we had plenty here on the walls, and tempting +him to come." + +That day passed in a wearisome way to Tom. At church Sam swaggered in, +and took his place after a haughty glance round, as if he were favouring +the congregation by his condescension in coming. Then on leaving, when +Mr Maxted bustled up to ask after Uncle Richard, fearing that he was +absent from illness, till he heard that it was on account of his invalid +brother, Sam began to show plenty of assumption and contempt for the +little rustic church. + +"Why don't you have an organ?" he said. + +"For two reasons, my dear young friend," said Mr Maxted. "One is that +we could not afford to buy one; the other that we have no one here who +could play it if we had. We get on very well without." + +"But it sounds so comic for the clerk to go _toot_ on that whistling +thing, and then for people with such bad voices to do the singing, +instead of a regular choir, the same as we have in town." + +"Dear me!" said Mr Maxted dryly, "it never sounds comic to my ears, for +there is so much sincerity in the simple act of praise. But we are +homely country people down here, and very rustic no doubt to you." + +"Confounded young prig!" said Mr Maxted, as he walked back to the +Vicarage. "I felt as if I could kick him. Nice sentiments these for a +clergyman on a Sunday," he added. "But he did make me feel so cross." + +"What does he mean by calling me my dear young friend?" cried Sam, as +soon as the Vicar was out of sight. "Nice time you must have of it down +here, young fellow. But it serves you right for being so cocky and +obstinate when you had such chances along with us." + +Tom was silent, but felt as if he could have said a great deal, and had +the satisfaction of feeling that the gap between him and his cousin was +growing wider and wider. + +"I suppose he is a far superior fellow to what I am," the boy said to +himself; "and perhaps it's my vanity, but I don't want to change." + +It was the dreariest Sunday he had ever passed, but he rose the next +morning in the highest spirits, for Sam's father had told him to get off +back to town directly after breakfast. + +"If Uncle James would only get better and go too," he said to himself as +he dressed, "how much pleasanter it would be!" + +But Uncle James came down to breakfast moaning at every step, and +murmuring at having to leave his bed so soon. For he had been compelled +to rise on account of two or three business matters with which he wished +to charge his son; and he told every one in turn that he was very much +worse, and that he was sure Furzebrough did not agree with him; but he +ate, as Tom observed, a very hearty breakfast all the same. + +David had had his own, and had started off at six o'clock to fetch the +fly, which arrived in good time, to take Sam off to meet the fast +up-train, Tom thinking to himself that it would not have been much +hardship to walk across the fields on such a glorious morning. + +"Going to see your cousin off?" said Uncle Richard, just as breakfast +was over. "You wouldn't mind the walk back, Tom?" + +"Oh no, uncle," said the boy, who felt startled that such a remark +should be made when he was thinking about the walk. + +But Tom was not destined to go across to the station, for Uncle James +interposed. + +"No, no, don't send him away," he said. "I have not had an airing in my +bath-chair for two days, and I fancy that is why I feel so exhausted +this morning." + +"Oh, I don't mind," said Sam; "and besides," he added importantly, "I +shall be thinking of business all the time." + +"At last," said Tom to himself, as his cousin stepped leisurely into the +fly and lit a cigarette. + +"On'y just time to ketch that there train, sir," said the driver, who, +feeling no fear of his bony horse starting, was down out of his seat to +hold open the fly-door. + +"Then drive faster," said Sam coolly. + +"Wish he'd show me how," muttered the driver, as he closed the door and +began to mount to his seat, scowling at his slow-going horse. + +"Good-bye, clodhopper," said Sam, toying with his cigarette, as he threw +himself back in the fly without offering his hand. + +"Good-bye, Sam," replied Tom. "All right, driver;" and the wheels began +to revolve. + +"He thinks Uncle Richard 'll leave him all his money," muttered Sam, as +they passed out of the swing-gate. "All that nice place too, and the +old windmill; but he don't have it if I can do anything." + +"There's something wrong about me, I suppose," said Tom to himself, as +he turned down the garden, and then out into the lane, where he could +look right away over the wild common-land, and inhale the fresh warm +breeze. "Poor old chap though, I'm sorry for him!" he muttered. "Fancy +having to go back to London on a day like this." + +Then from the bubbling up of his spirits consequent upon that feeling of +release as from a burden which had come over him, Tom set off running-- +at first gently, then as hard as he could go, till at a turn of the lane +he caught sight of Pete Warboys prowling along with his dog a couple of +hundred yards away. + +The dog caught sight of Tom running hard, uttered a yelp, tucked its +tail between its legs, and began to run. Then Pete turned to see what +had startled the dog, caught sight of Tom racing along, and, a guilty +conscience needing no accuser, took it for granted that he was being +chased; so away he ran, big stick in hand, his long arms flying, and his +loose-jointed legs shambling over the ground at a pace which kept him +well ahead. + +This pleased Tom; there was something exhilarating in hunting his enemy, +and besides, it was pleasant to feel that he was inspiring dread. + +"Wonder what he has been doing," said the boy, laughing to himself, as +Pete struck off at right angles through the wood and disappeared, +leaving his pursuer breathless in the lane. "Well, I sha'n't run after +him.--Hah! that has done me good." + +Tom had another good look round where the lane curved away now, and ran +downhill past the big sand-pit at the dip; and then on away down to +where the little river gurgled along, sending flashes of sunshine in all +directions, while the country rose on the other side in a beautiful +slope of furzy common, hanging wood, and closely-cut coppice, pretty +well filled with game. + +"Better get back," thought Tom; and then he uttered a low whistle, and +broke into a trot, with a new burden on his back in the shape of the +bath-chair, for he had suddenly recollected Uncle James's complaint +about not having been out for a ride. + +Sure enough when he reached the garden David met him. + +"Master's been a-shouting for you, sir. Yes, there he goes again." + +"Coming, uncle," cried Tom; and he ran into the house, and encountered +Uncle Richard. + +"Oh, here you are at last. Get out the bath-chair quickly, my boy. +Your uncle has been complaining bitterly. Little things make him fret, +and he had set his mind upon a ride." + +"All right, uncle--round directly," cried Tom, running off to the +coach-house. "Phew! how hot I've made myself." + +In two minutes he was running the chair round to the front door, and as +he passed the study window a doleful moaning greeted his ear; but it +ceased upon the wheels being heard. + +"All right, uncle, here it is," cried Tom; and James Brandon came out +resting upon a stick, and moaning piteously, while his brother came +behind bearing a great plaid shawl. + +"Here, take my arm, Jem," he said. + +"I can walk by myself," was the pettish reply. "Then you've come back, +sir. Tired of your job, I suppose. Oh dear! oh dear!" + +"I really forgot it for a bit, uncle," said Tom humbly. + +"Forgot! Yes, you boys do nothing else but forget. Ah! Oh! Oh! I'm +a broken man," he groaned, as he sank back in the chair and took hold of +the handle. + +"I'll pull you, uncle," said Tom, looking at him wonderingly. + +"You pull it so awkwardly.--Oh dear me! how short my breath is!--And you +get in the way so when I want to see the country. Go behind." + +"All right, uncle. Which way would you like to go? Through the +village?" + +"What! down there by the churchyard? Ugh! No; go along that upper lane +which leads by the fir-wood and the sand-pits. The air is fit to +breathe there." + +"Yes, glorious," said Uncle Richard cheerily. "Off you go, donkey, and +bring your uncle back with a good appetite for dinner." + +"All right, uncle. Now, Uncle James, hold tight." + +"Be careful, sir, be careful," cried the invalid; and he kept up his +regular moaning as Tom pushed the chair out into the lane, and then +round past the mill, and on toward the woods. + +"How much did your uncle spend over workpeople for that whim of his?" +said the invalid, suddenly leaving off moaning and looking round. + +"Oh, I don't know, uncle; a good deal, I believe." + +"Yes, yes; oh dear me! A good deal, no doubt. Keep out of the sand; it +jolts me." + +"There's such a lot of sand along here, uncle; the carts cut the road up +so, coming from the pits." + +"Yes; horrible roads. There--oh--oh--oh! Go steady." + +"All right, uncle," said Tom; and he pushed on steadily enough right +along the lane where he had chased Pete Warboys not so long before. +Then the fir-wood was reached, and at last the road rose till it was no +longer down between two high sand-banks crowned with furze and pine, but +opened out as they reached the top of the slope which ran down past the +sand-pit to the river with its shallow ford. + +"Which are your uncle's woods?" said Uncle James suddenly. + +"Right away back. You can see them when you lean forward. Stop a +moment; let's get close to the edge. That's better," he said, as he +paused just at the top of the slope. "Now lean forward, and look away +to the left a little way from the church tower. That's one of them. +I'm not sure about the others, for Uncle Richard does not talk about +them much." + +_Whizz! Rustle_. + +"What's that?" said Uncle James, ceasing his tiresome moaning. + +"Don't know, uncle. Rabbit, I think." + +_Rap_! + +"Yes, it was a rabbit. They strike the ground with their feet when they +are startled." + +"Ah! Then that's his wood is it?" said James Brandon, leaning forward. +"A nice bit of property." + +_Crack_! + +"What's that, boy?" + +"Somebody's throwing stones," cried Tom excitedly, turning to look +round, but there was nothing visible, though the boy felt sure that the +thrower must be Pete Warboys hidden somewhere among the trees. Then he +felt sure of it, for, glancing toward the clumps of furze in the more +open part, another well-aimed stone came and struck the road between the +wheels of the bath-chair. + +"Is that some one throwing at me?" cried Uncle James angrily. + +"No, uncle," said Tom, as he leaned upon the handle at the back of the +chair; "I expect they're meant for me--I'm sure of it now," he added, +for there was a slight rap upon his elbow, making him wince as he turned +sharply. + +"The scoundrel! Whoever it is I'll have a policeman to him." + +"Yes; there: it is Pete Warboys," cried Tom excitedly. "I saw him dodge +out from behind one of the trees to throw. Oh, I say, did that hit you, +uncle?" + +"No, boy, only brushed the cushion. The dog! The scoundrel! He--Stop, +don't go and leave me here." + +Tom did not, for, acting on the impulse of the moment, as he saw Pete +run out to hurl another stone, he wrenched himself round, unconsciously +giving the chair a start, and ran off into the wood in chase of the +insolent young poacher, who turned and fled. + +No: Tom Blount did not leave his uncle there, for the chair began to run +gently on upon its light wire wheels, then faster and faster, down the +long hill slope, always gathering speed, till at last it was in full +career, with the invalid sitting bolt upright, thoroughly unnerved, and +trying with trembling hands to guide its front wheel so as to keep it in +the centre of the road. Farther back the land had been soft, and to +Tom's cost as motive power; but more on the hill slope the soft sand had +been washed away by many rains, and left the road hard, so that the +three-wheeled chair ran with increasing speed, jolting, bounding, and at +times seeming as if it must turn over. There, straight before the +rider, was the spot below where the road forked, the main going on to +the ford, that to the left, deep in sand, diving down into the large +sand-pit, which had been dug at from time beyond the oldest traditions +of the village. A kind of ridge had here been kept up, to form the +roadway right down into the bottom--a cruel place for horses dragging +cartloads of the heavy material--and from this ridge on either side +there was a stiff slope down to where the level of the huge pit spread, +quite a couple of hundred feet below the roadway straight onward to the +ford. + +And moment by moment Uncle James Brandon sped onward toward the fork, +holding the cross handle of the bath-chair with both hands, and steering +it first in one direction then in the other, as he hesitated as to which +would be the safer. If he went to the right, there, crossing the road +at right angles, was the little river, which might be shallow but looked +deep; and at any rate meant, if not drowning, wetting. If he went to +the left from where he raced on, it looked as if he would have to plunge +down at headlong speed into what seemed to be an awful chasm. + +But the time for consideration was very short, though thoughts fly like +flashes. One way or the other, and he must decide instantly, for there +was just before him the point where the road divided--a hundred yards +away--fifty yards--twenty yards, and the wind rushing by his ears as the +bath-chair bounded on. + +Which was it to be? + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +"I don't want to fight," thought Tom Blount, as he rushed off in pursuit +of Pete Warboys, this time with full intention, and not led into it by +accident. "Fighting means knocking the skin off one's knuckles, black +eyes, nose bleeding, and perhaps getting thrashed. And I may be, for +he's a big, strong, heavy fellow, and I don't think I could hit him half +hard enough to make him care. But it seems to me as if I must have a go +at him. Can't stand there and be pelted by such a fellow, it looks so +cowardly. Besides, he's a bit afraid, or he wouldn't run away." + +All this and much more thought Tom, as he ran on as fast as he could on +diving into the wood when he left the road. An hour or so ago, when +Pete rushed in among the trees, Tom had soon given up the chase; but he +felt that it would not do to let the young scoundrel feel that he was a +kind of modern bold outlaw, with a sanctuary of his own in the woods; so +clenching his fists hard, Tom sped on, making up his mind to run his +quarry down. + +"Uncle James won't mind my leaving him, if I can go back and say I have +punched Pete's head for throwing stones at him.--Bother!" + +Tom gathered himself up, and stood flinching during a few moments, for +he had caught his foot against a closely-sawn-off stump, and though the +earth was covered with pine-needles it was hard. + +But the accident did not detain him many moments. There in front was +Pete showing from time to time, as he dodged in and out among the tall +columnar tree-trunks, now in shadow, now passing across some patch of +sunshine; and Tom ran on faster than before, the pain having made him +feel angry, and as if he must, to use his own words, "take it out of +Pete," he being the active cause. + +From time to time the great hulking lad glanced back, expecting to see +that he had shaken off his pursuer, but looked in vain, for Tom was now +doggedly determined. His brow was knit, his teeth set, and his clenched +fists held close to his sides, and after keeping up the high rate of +speed for some minutes, he now, feeling that it was going to be a long +chase, settled down to a steady football or hare-and-hound trot, which +combined fair pace with a likelihood of being able to stay. + +Pete Warboys too had been compelled to slacken somewhat in his clumsy +bovine rush, and Tom observed with satisfaction, as the minutes went on, +and they must have been--pursuer and pursued--toiling over the slippery +fir-needles for quite a quarter of an hour, that Pete glanced over his +shoulder more often than before. + +"He's getting pumped out," muttered Tom. "He's so big that he can't +keep his wind, and he'll stop short soon. Oh, I say, why don't I look +where I'm going!" + +For this time the sandy earth had suddenly given way beneath him, just +in the darkest part of the wood, and he plumped right down to the bottom +of a rough pit, and went on before he could stop himself right under the +roots of a great fir-tree, half of which stood out bare and strange, +over what looked like an enormous rabbit-hole. + +Tom looked wonderingly at the hole, and backed out into the pit, climbed +out, and continued his chase, rather breathlessly now, for the fall had +not been good for his breathing apparatus. He had lost ground too, but +he soon made that up, for Pete was getting exhausted; and, what seemed +strange, since Tom's last fall he had turned off, and appeared to be +running in a circle, till all at once he stopped short with his back up +against a tree, panting heavily, and with the perspiration dripping from +his forehead. + +There was a vicious look in the fellow's countenance, for he was showing +his teeth, and as Tom drew near, he spat on one hand, and took a fresh +grip of the thick stick he carried. Then, taking a step forward, he +raised the weapon, and aimed a savage blow at his adversary, that would +in all probability have laid Tom _hors de combat_, at all events for a +few minutes. + +But to give good effect to a blow struck with a stick, the object aimed +at must be at a certain distance. If the blow fall when the object is +beyond or within that distance, its efficacy is very much diminished. + +Now as Pete struck at Tom, the latter was for a time at exactly the +right distance, but as the boy rushed at him, or rather leaped at him at +last, he was not in the aforesaid position long enough, and the blow did +not fall till he was right upon Pete, getting a smart rap, but having +the satisfaction of seeing the young scoundrel go down as if shot, and +roll over and over at the foot of the tree. + +Tom went down too, for he could not check himself; but he was up first, +and ready enough to avoid another vicious blow from the cudgel, and +catch Pete right in the mouth a most unscientific blow delivered with +his right fist. All the same though it did its work, and Pete went down +again. + +Once more he sprang up, and tried to strike with the stick, but Tom's +blood was up, and he closed with him, getting right in beyond his guard, +and for the next few minutes there was a fierce struggle, ending in both +going down together, Tom unfortunately undermost, and by the time he +gained his feet his adversary was off again, running as hard as he could +go. + +"A coward!" muttered Tom, after running a few yards and then giving up, +to stand panting and exhausted. "Ugh! how my side hurts!" he said, as +he clapped his hand upon his ribs where the blow from the stick had +fallen. "I don't care though; I won, and he has gone." + +He stood trying to catch sight of Pete again, but could not see him, for +the simple reason that the lad had dropped down behind a clump of +bracken growing silver-leaved in the sunshine in an opening in the wood, +and here he crept on, watching as, after hesitating, Tom began to retire +hastily, so as to return to his uncle in the chair. + +Tom did not go far though without stopping, for he had aimed to reach +the pit into which he had fallen, and here he stood gazing down, +evidently puzzled, for there was something particular about the place +which attracted him; while, to increase his interest, all at once there +was a rustling noise, and Pete Warboys' long lean dog thrust out its +head from the side hole beneath the fir-tree roots, which hung out quite +bare, looked up, saw who was gazing down, turned, and thrust out its +long bony tail instead. This, however, was only seen for a moment and +then gone. + +"That's strange," thought Tom, as he walked on back pretty fast now, for +it suddenly occurred to him that his uncle must be out of patience, and +that he had been longer than he thought for. + +He found too that he had run farther than he thought, and he was getting +pretty hot and breathless by the time he trotted out of the wood, and +into the sandy lane, where, instead of his uncle's face as he sat +looking back impatiently in the chair, there was the bare road and +nothing more, save a red admiral butterfly flitting here and there and +settling in the dust. + +"He must have asked somebody passing to wheel him back," thought Tom, +who immediately began to play Red Indian or Australian black, and look +for the trail--to wit, the thin wheel-marks left by the chair. But +though he found those which had been made in coming plainly lining the +soft sandy road, and ran in different directions toward home, there were +no returning tracks. + +"Then he must have gone on," thought Tom; and he ran back to where he +had left his uncle, to see now faintly in the hard road a continuation +of the three wheel-marks, so very distinct from any that would have been +left by cart or carriage, being very narrow, and three instead of two or +four. + +He went on slowly trying to trace the wheel-marks, but the road soon +became so hard that he missed them; a few yards farther on he saw the +faint mark made by one, then again two showed, and then they ceased, but +he was on the right track, he knew; and walking rapidly on down the +hill, with his eyes now on the road, now right ahead toward the river +and the ford, he began wondering who could have come along there, and +where his uncle had made whoever it was take him. + +"Why it would be miles round to get home this way," thought Tom. +"Perhaps he was thirsty, and asked some one to take him down to the +river, and is waiting." + +It was not a good solution of the problem, and he was not satisfied, for +there was no sign of the chair near the ford. But there were traces +again in the sand which had been washed to the side, and here the chair +had made a curve and run close to the bank for a few yards; then out +into the hard road, and he saw no more for a couple of hundred yards, +and then they were on the left-hand side, and Tom's blood began to turn +cold, as they say, for the tracks bore off to the side road leading down +into the sand-pit. + +"Why the chair ran away with him, and perhaps he's killed." + +At this thought Tom's legs ran away with him down into the thick sandy +road, where the wheel-marks were deeply imprinted, showing that the +chair had been that way. + +Now he had never been down into the pit, and only once as far as the +edge, into which he had peered from the road above, whence he had looked +down upon a colony of martins darting in and out of their holes in the +sand-cliff. He had determined to examine the place, but that morning he +was compelled to hurry back to breakfast. Now he had to explore the +depths of the pit in a very different mood; and he was not half-way down +the slope when he found that the wheels had suddenly curved off, and +then, from the marks on the smooth sand, it had evidently turned over. +And there, sixty or seventy yards away, and fully a hundred feet below +him, it lay bottom upwards, while away to its right sat its late +occupant, making signs with his stick. + +Tom did not attempt to go on down the roadway, which meant quite a +journey, but began to descend at once, slipping, scrambling, falling and +rolling over in the loose sand, which gave way at every step, and took +him with it, till at last, hot and breathless, he reached the invalid's +side. + +"Hurt, uncle?" he panted. + +"Hurt, sir?" cried Uncle James angrily. "I'm nearly killed. I don't +think I've a whole bone left in my body. You dog! You scoundrel! You +did it on purpose. You knew it was not safe to leave that miserable, +wretched wreck of a thing. It was all out of revenge, and you wanted to +kill me." + +"Oh no, uncle," cried Tom, staring in astonishment at the vigour his +uncle had displayed. For there was no moaning, no holding the hand to +the breast, and complaining of shortness of breath, but an undue display +of excitement and anger, which had made cheeks burn and eyes glisten. + +"I'm very sorry, uncle; it was that young scoundrel's fault." + +"I don't believe it, sir. It was a trick. Disgraceful!" + +"Wait a minute, uncle, and I'll fetch the chair. I'll get it here, and +then help you up to the top before I take it up." + +"Fetch the chair!" stormed James Brandon. "It's a wreck, sir; one +wheel's off, and the front one's all bent sidewise. Here, give me your +hand." + +He caught hold of the extended wrist, and with that and the stick, +toiled up the steep slope, to the boy's astonishment; and when they had +reached the road, jerked the wrist from him, and walked on without a +word till they came in sight of the house, when Tom plucked up the +courage to speak. + +"Really, uncle, I did not think of anything but running after that lad." + +"I want no excuses, sir," cried Uncle James fiercely. "I know what it +means. You are too idle--you are sick of wheeling the chair. It was +all a planned thing. But mind, I shall take a note of it, and you will +find out that you've made the great mistake of your life. Here, you +sir!" + +This was to David, who was in the garden; and he hurried up. + +"Go and order me a fly to come here directly." + +"From the station, sir? It's over there all day now." + +"From anywhere, only make haste." + +"Yes, sir," said David; and he gave Tom a sharp look as much as to say, +"Rather too much of a good thing to go over there twice." Then he +fetched his coat and went off. + +"Hallo! Walking?" cried Uncle Richard, coming out of the observatory. +"Where's the chair?" + +"Broken, smashed, thanks to this young scoundrel; and it's a mercy I'm +alive. But I'll have no more of this." + +Uncle James strode into the house, and his brother turned to Tom for an +explanation, and had it. + +"But he did not walk back all the way?" + +"Every step, uncle, and didn't seem to mind it." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Uncle Richard, frowning, as he locked up the yard +gate and followed his brother into the house. + +Half-an-hour later Mrs Fidler announced dinner, when Uncle James came +down looking black as thunder, and answered his brother in +monosyllables, refusing to speak once to Tom, at whom he scowled +heavily. + +"I'm sorry you had such an upset, James," said Uncle Richard at last. + +"Thank you," was the cold reply. + +"But I don't think you are any the worse for it." + +"Thank you!" said Uncle James again, but more shortly. + +"Tom, my lad, tell David as soon as dinner is over to borrow the Vicar's +cart, and go to the sand-pit and fetch the broken chair." + +"David has gone to the station, uncle," said Tom. + +"Station? What for?" + +"Uncle sent him for the fly." + +"Fly?" + +"Yes, sir," said Uncle James. "I sent your gardener for the fly, and if +there's any charge for his services I will pay him. I see I have +outstayed my welcome, and the sooner I am off the better." + +"My dear James, don't be absurd," said Uncle Richard. "What you say is +childish." + +"Of course, sir; sick and helpless men are always childish." + +"There, don't take it like that. Tom assures me it was an accident. If +you are upset by it, let me send for the doctor to see you." + +"Thank you; I'll send for my own doctor as soon as I get back to town." + +"You're not going back to town to-day," said Uncle Richard, smiling. + +"We shall see about that," said Uncle James, rising from his place, for +the dinner was at an end, and walking firmly enough out of the room. + +Uncle Richard frowned and looked troubled. Mrs Fidler looked at Tom, +and as soon as they were alone she began to question him, and heard all. + +"Well," she said, "I'm not going to make any remarks, my dear, it isn't +my duty; but I will say this, I don't like to see your dear uncle +imposed upon even by his brother, and I hope to goodness Mr James will +keep his word, for I don't believe you upset him on purpose." + +Uncle James did keep his word, for an hour later he was in the fly with +his portmanteau on his way to the station. + +"And never give me so much as a shilling, Master Tom, and me been twice +to fetch that fly. If he wasn't your uncle, sir, I'd call him mean. +But what did you say? I'm to fetch the chair, as is lying broken at the +big sand-pit?" + +"Yes, in Mr Maxted's cart." + +"Did it fall over?" + +"Yes, right over, down the slope from top to bottom." + +"And him in it, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I'll forgive him, and young Mr Sam Brandon too. My word, sir, +I'd ha' give something to ha' been there to see." + +"But he must have hurt himself, David." + +"What there, sir? Tchah! that sand's as soft as silk. Wouldn't like to +come and help fetch the chair, sir?" + +"Yes, I should, David; I should like the ride." + +"Then come on, sir, and we'll go round the other way from the Vicarage +gates. Right from top to bottom, eh, sir? Well, I would have give +something to ha' been there to see." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +"Humph!" ejaculated Uncle Richard, as he finished his inspection of the +bath-chair just taken out of the Vicar's cart. "See that the carrier +calls for it, David, to take it back to Guildford; and you, Tom, write +for me to the man it was hired from, pointing out that we have had an +accident, and tell him to send in his bill." + +"And it'll be a big 'un, Master Tom," said David, chuckling and rubbing +his hands as soon as his master was out of hearing. "My word, it's got +it, and no mistake. One wheel right off, the front all twissen, and the +axle-tree bent. It'll be like making a new 'un. Tck!" + +"You wouldn't laugh like that, David, if you'd got it to pay for," said +Tom. + +"True for you, Master Tom; but I wasn't laughing at the ravage, but at +the idee of your uncle, who creeps about thinking he's very bad when he +arn't thinking o' nothing else, going spinning down the hill, and +steering hisself right into the old sand-pit." + +"And I don't see that you have anything to laugh at in that," said Tom +stiffly. + +"More don't I, Master Tom, but I keep on laughing all the more, and +can't help it. Now if he had been very badly, I don't think I could ha' +done it." + +"My uncle is very ill, and came down here for the benefit of his +health," said Tom sternly. + +"Then your nursing, Master Tom, and my vegetables and fruit's done him a +lot o' good, for the way he walked home after being spilt did us a lot +o' credit. I couldn't ha' walked better." + +Tom thought the same, though he would not say so, but helped the +gardener place the wrecked chair in the coach-house, and then found his +uncle coming that way. + +"Get the wheelbarrow, Tom," he said, "and we'll take the new discs of +glass into the workshop." + +"And begin again, uncle?" cried Tom excitedly. + +"What, are you ready to go through all that labour again?" + +"Ready, uncle?" cried the boy reproachfully. "Why, all the while Uncle +James has been down here it has seemed to be like so much waste of +time." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Uncle Richard; "then we must work over hours to win +back the loss. Help him on with the case carefully, David, and I'll go +first to open the door." + +"Say, Master Tom," said the gardener, "ain't it more waste o' time to go +glass-grinding and making contrapshums like this? Hey, but it's +precious heavy," he continued, as he helped to lift one end of the case +on to the long barrow. + +"Waste of time to make scientific instruments?" cried Tom. + +"Ay. What's the good on it when it's done?" + +"To look at the sun, moon, and stars, to be sure." + +"Well, you can do that without tallow-scoops, sir; and you take my +advice, don't you get looking at the sun through none o' them things, +sir. Hey, but it be a weight!" he continued, raising the handles of the +barrow. + +"Never mind; I can manage it," cried Tom. + +"Then I arn't going to let you, sir." + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause my muskles is hard and yours is soft, and may get stretched and +strained. Hold that there door back. It's all up-hill, you know; +master never thought o' that." + +David wheeled the heavy case up to the door of the old mill, helped to +carry the case in, and then in a whisper said-- + +"Let's have a look at him when you've done, Master Tom." + +"Look at whom?" said the boy wonderingly. + +"Man in the moon," replied David, with a chuckle, as he trotted back +with the barrow, and Uncle Richard came down from the observatory to +take out the screws and unpack the two discs. + +Within an hour they were at work again, and day after day passed--wasted +days, David said. + +"Master and you had a deal better set to work and build me a vinery to +grow some more grapes," he grumbled; but Tom laughed, and the speculum +gradually began to assume its proper form. + +There had only been one brief letter in answer to two sent making +inquiries, and this letter said that Uncle James was much better, and +regularly attending the office. + +"My vegetables," said David, when he was told. "Nothing like 'em, and +plenty o' fresh air, Master Tom, to set a man right. But just you come +and look here." + +He led the way down the garden to where, the Marie Louise pear-tree +spread its long branches upon the wall, each laden with the soft green +fruit hanging to the long thin stalks, which looked too fragile to bear +so great a weight. + +"Pears?" said Tom. "Yes, I was looking at them yesterday, and thinking +how good they must be." + +"Nay, but they am't, Master Tom; that's just it. If you was to pick one +o' they--which would be a sin, sir--and stick your teeth into it, you'd +find it hard and tasting sappy like chewed leaves." + +"Why I thought they were ripe." + +"Nay, not them, sir. You want to take a pear, sir, just at the right +moment." + +"And when is the right moment for a pear?" + +David laughed, and shook his head. + +"Tends on what sort it is, sir. Some's at their best in September, and +some in October. Then you goes on to December and January, and right on +to April. Why the round pears on that little tree yonder don't get ripe +till April and May. Like green bullets now, but by that time, or even +June, if you take care on 'em, they're like brown skins' full o' rich +sugary juice." + +"But these must be ripe, David." + +"Nay, sir, they're not. As I told you afore, if you pick 'em too soon +they srivels. When they're quite ripe they're just beginning to turn +creamy colour like." + +"Well, they're a very nice lot, David." + +"Yes, sir; and what am I to do?" + +"Let 'em hang." + +"I wish I could, sir, but I feel as if I dursn't." + +"Dare not! Why?" + +"Fear they might walk over the wall." + +"What, be stolen?" + +"Ay, my lad. I come in at that gate at six this morning, and was going +gently down the centre walk, when it was like having a sort o' stroke, +for there was a head just peeping over the wall." + +"A stranger?" + +"I couldn't quite see, sir; but I'm 'most ready to swear as it was Pete +Warboys, looking to see if they was ready to go into his pockets." + +"Then let's pick them at once," cried Tom. + +"Dear lad, what is the use o' my teaching of you," said David +reproachfully. "Don't I keep on telling o' you as they'd srivel up; and +what's a pear then? It ain't as if it was a walnut, where the srivel's +a ornyment to the shell." + +"Then let's lie wait for my gentleman with a couple o' sticks." + +David's wrinkled face expanded, and his eyes nearly-closed. + +"Hah! Now you're talking sense, sir," he said, in a husky whisper, as +if the idea was too good to be spoken aloud. "Hazel sticks, sir--thick +'uns?" + +"Hazel! A young scoundrel!" cried Tom. + +"Nay, he's an old 'un, sir, in wickedness." + +"Hazel is no good. I'd take old broomsticks to him," cried Tom +indignantly. "Oh, I do hate a thief." + +"Ay, sir, that comes nat'ral, 'speshly a thief as comes robbin' of a +garden. House-breakers and highwaymen's bad enough; but a thief as come +a-robbin' a garden, where you've been nussin' the things up for years +and years--ah! there's nothing worse than that." + +"You've got some old birch brooms, David," cried Tom, without committing +himself to the gardener's sentiments. + +"Birch, sir? Tchah! Birch would only tickle him, even if we could hit +him on the bare skin." + +"Nonsense! I didn't mean the birch, I meant the broomsticks." + +"Oh, I see!" said David. "But nay, nay, sir, that wouldn't do. You +see, when a man's monkey's up he hits hard; and if you and me ketched +Pete Warboys over in our garden, and hit as hard as we could, we might +break him; and though I says to you it wouldn't be a bit o' consequence, +that there old rampagin' witch of a granny of his would come up here +cursing every one, and making such filliloo that there'd be no bearing +it." + +"Well, that wouldn't harm anybody." + +"I dunno, sir; I dunno," said David thoughtfully. + +"Why, David, you don't believe in witches and ill-wishing, and all that +sort of stuff, do you?" + +"Me, sir?" cried the gardener; "not likely. But it's just as well to be +the safe side o' the hedge, you know, in case there might be something +in it." + +Tom laughed, and David shook his head solemnly. + +"Why, I believe you do believe in it all," said Tom. + +"Nay, sir, I don't," cried the old fellow indignantly; "and don't you go +saying such things." + +"Ha--ha--ha!" laughed Tom. + +"Ah, you may laugh, sir; but Parson Maxted's handsome young Jarsey cow +did die." + +"Well, all cows die some time," cried Tom. + +"Ay, sir, that's true; but not after old Mother Warboys has stood +cussin' for ever so long about the milk." + +"And did she?" + +"Ay, that she did, sir, right in the middle o' the road, because the +cook give her yes'day's skim-milk instead o' to-day's noo." + +Tom laughed again. + +"I say, what about the pears?" + +"Ay, what about the pears? You wouldn't come down in the dark and keep +watch." + +"Wouldn't I!" cried Tom excitedly. + +"Besides, we might ketch him, and him fly at you." + +"I wish he would," said Tom. + +"And then it would be in the dark." + +"Of course." + +"Not till late at night, perhaps." + +"Well, what of that?" + +"And maybe he wouldn't come in the night at all, but steal over the wall +just before it gets light, when you'd be in your bed. Yes, that's just +the sort of time when he would come." + +"I should have to ask uncle to let me sit up with you, David." + +"Ah, I thought that would be it," said David; "ask your uncle." + +"Look here, David," cried Tom, flushing. "I shouldn't say I'd like to +come if I didn't mean it. I'm not going to get into trouble by slipping +out on the sly." + +"It's all over," said David. "I thought so. Master'd never let you sit +up and watch, sir. I thought you wouldn't." + +"Well, we'll soon prove that," cried Tom. "Here is uncle." + +"Yes; what is it?" said Uncle Richard, coming across the garden. + +"David's afraid of the pears being stolen, uncle, for he saw some one +examining them this morning, and he's going to sit up to-night and +watch. Do you mind my sitting up too?" + +"Sitting up? No, I think not, Tom, only mind and don't get hurt. You +are more likely to catch a thief at daybreak though, I should say." + +"Mebbe, sir," said David; "but I think if you didn't mind I'd try +to-night first." + +"By all means, David. I should be sorry to lose those pears again." + +"There!" cried Tom, as soon as they were alone; "do you think I want to +back out now?" + +David laughed, and rubbed his hands together between his knees. + +"Come on, Master Tom, and I'll get the billhook. Then we'll go and cut +a couple of good young hazel rods in the copse." + +"Then you won't have broomsticks, David?" + +"Nay, sir, they'd be too heavy and too stiff. I know the sort--good +stout young hazels as won't break when you hit with 'em, but wrop well +round." + +The hazels were cut and carried back to the garden, burdened with their +twigs and greenery. + +"He might be about, and think they was meant for him, if we trimmed 'em +into sticks, Master Tom. He won't think anything if he sees 'em like +this." + +The hazels were shortened to a convenient length as soon as they were in +the garden, David chuckling loudly the while. + +"I owe that chap a lot, Master Tom, and if I can get a chance I mean to +pay him this time. Hit low, sir, if you get a crack at him." + +"Not likely to hurt him," said Tom. + +"More likely, sir. Trousers are thin, 'specially hisn, and they've got +some good holes in 'em generally, where you might reach his skin; +'sides, you're not likely to cut his face or injure his eyes. Nothing +like hitting low. Now, then, I'm going on with my reg'lar work, and as +soon as it's dark I shall be down here in among the blackcurrants, with +a couple of old sacks and a horse-cloth, for us to sit on, so as not to +ketch rheumatics." + +"About what time?" said Tom. + +"Arpus eight, sir. There's no moon to-night so it'll be pretty dark; +but we shall hear him." + +"If he comes," said Tom. + +"Course, sir, if he comes. But we'll chance that, and if he don't, why +we shall know as my pears is safe." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +Tom Blount did not make a very good tea that evening, for he was excited +by thoughts of the coming watch. + +He was not in the least afraid, but his face felt flushed, and there was +a curious tingling in the nerves which made him picture a scene in the +garden, in which he was chasing Pete Warboys round and round, getting a +cut at him with the stick from time to time, and at last making him turn +at bay, when a desperate fight ensued. + +It seemed a long time too till half-past eight, and though he took up a +book of natural history full of interest, it seemed to be as hard +reading as _Tidd's Practice_, in Gray's Inn. + +"Seat uncomfortable, Tom?" said his uncle at last. + +"No, uncle," said the boy, colouring. "Why?" + +"Because you can't sit still. Oh, I understand. You are thinking of +going out to watch." + +"Yes, uncle." + +"Humph! More than the pears are worth, Tom." + +"Do you think so, uncle?" + +"Decidedly. But there, the thief deserves to be caught--and thrashed; +but don't be too hard upon him." + +Tom brightened up at this, and looked at the clock on the mantel-piece. + +"Why, it's stopped," he said. + +"Stopped? Nonsense," said Uncle Richard, looking at his watch. + +"But it must have stopped. I don't think it has moved lately." + +"The clock is going all right, Tom, but not so fast as your desires. +There, try a little patience; and don't stop after ten. If the +plunderer is not here by that time he will not come to-night--if he +comes at all." + +"Very well, uncle," said Tom, and after another glance at the clock, +which still did not seem to move, he settled down with his head resting +upon his fists, to study the giraffe, of which there was a large +engraving, with its hide looking like a piece of the map of the moon, +the spots being remarkably similar to the craters and ring-plains upon +the moon's surface, while the giraffe itself, with its long sprawling +legs, would put him in mind of Pete Warboys. Then he read how it had +been designed by nature for its peculiar life in the desert, and so that +it could easily reach up and crop the leaves of trees from fifteen to +twenty feet above the ground; but it did not, as he pictured it in his +mind, seem to be picking leaves, but Marie Louise pears, while David was +creeping up behind with his elastic hazel stick, and-- + +_Ting_. + +Half-past eight by the dining-room clock, and Tom sprang up. + +"Going, my boy?" + +"Yes, uncle, David will be waiting." + +Uncle Richard nodded, and taking his cap and the hazel stick he had +brought in, the boy went out silently, to find that it was a very soft +dark night--so dark, in fact, that as soon as he had stepped on to the +lawn he walked into one of the great bushes of laurustinus, and backed +out hurriedly to reconsider which was the way. Then he stepped gently +forward over the soft damp grass of the lawn, with his eyes now growing +more accustomed to the darkness. + +Directly after there was a low whistle heard. + +"Where are you, David?" + +"Here, sir. Come down between the raspberries." + +"Where are they, David? All right, I see now," whispered Tom, and he +stepped as far as he could across the flower-bed, which ran down beside +the kitchen-garden, and the next minute felt the gardener's hand +stretched out to take his. + +"Got your stick, sir?" + +"Yes; all right. He hasn't come then yet." + +"Not yet, sir. Here you are; now you can kneel down alongside o' me. +Mustn't be no more talking." + +Tom knelt on the soft horse-cloth, feeling his knees indent the soil +beneath; and then with his head below the tops of the black-currant +bushes, whose leaves gave out their peculiar medicinal smell, he found +that though perfectly hidden he could dimly make out the top of the +garden wall, where the pears hung thickly not many feet away, and the +watchers were so situated that a spring would take them into the path, +close to any marauder who might come. + +"One moment, David," whispered Tom, "and then I won't speak again. +Which way do you think he'll come?" + +"Over the wall from the field, and then up along the bed, so as his feet +arn't heard. If I hear anything I nips you in the leg. If you hear +anything, you nips me." + +"Not too hard," said Tom, and the watch began. + +At first there was the rattle of a cart heard coming along the road, a +long way off, and Tom knelt there sniffing the odour of the +blackcurrants, and trying to calculate where the cart would be. But +after a time that reached the village and passed on, and the tramp of +the horse and the rattle of the wheels died out. + +Then he listened to the various sounds in the village--voices, the +closing of doors, the rattle of shutters; and all at once the church +clock began to strike, the nine thumps on the bell coming very slowly, +and the last leaving a quivering, booming sound in the air which lasted +for some time. + +After this all was very still, and it was quite a relief to hear the +barking of a dog from some distance away, followed by the faintly-heard +rattle of a chain drawn over the entrance of the kennel, when the +barking ceased, and repeated directly after as the barking began again. + +Everything then was wonderfully still and dark, till a peculiar cry +arose--a weird, strange cry, as of something in pain, which thrilled +Tom's nerves. + +"Rabbit?" he whispered. + +"Hedgehog," grumbled David hoarsely; "don't talk." + +Silence again for a minute or two, and the peculiar sensation caused by +the cry of the bristly animal still hung in Tom's nerves, when there was +another noise which produced a thoroughly different effect, for a donkey +from somewhere out on the common suddenly gave vent to its doleful +extraordinary bray, ending in a most dismal squeaking yell, suggestive +of all the wind being out of its organ. + +Tom smiled as he knelt there, wondering how Nature could have given an +animal so strange a cry, as all was again still, till voices arose once +more in the village; some one said "Good-night!" then a door banged, +and, _pat pat_, he could hear faintly retiring steps, "Good-night" +repeated, and then close to his elbow-- + +_Snor-rr-re_. + +"David!" he whispered, as he touched the gardener on the +shoulder--"David!" + +"Arn't better taters grow'd, I say, and--Eh? Is he comed?" + +"No! Listen," said Tom, thinking it as well not to allude to his +companion's lapse. + +"Oh ay, I'm a-listenin', sir, with all my might," whispered the +gardener; "but I don't think it's him yet. Wait a bit, and we'll nab +him if he don't mind." + +Silence again for quite ten minutes, and then David exclaimed-- + +"_Wuph_!" and lurched over sidewise up against his companion, but jerked +himself up again, and said in a gruff whisper full of reproach, "Don't +go to sleep, Master Tom." + +"No. All right, I'm awake," replied the boy, laughing to himself, and +the watching went on again, the time passing very slowly, and the earth +which had felt so soft beneath the knees gradually turning hard. + +There was not a sound to be heard now, till the heavy breathing on his +left suggested that David was dozing off again, and set him thinking +that one was enough to keep vigil, and that he could easily rouse his +companion if the thief came. + +He felt a little vexed at first that David, who had been so eager to +watch, should make such a lapse; but just in his most indignant moments, +when he felt disposed to give a sudden lurch sidewise to knock the +gardener over like a skittle, and paused, hesitating, he had an +admonition, which showed him how weak human nature is at such times, in +the shape of a sudden seizure. One moment he was wakeful and thinking, +the next he was fast asleep, dreaming of being back at Gray's Inn-- +soundly asleep, in fact. + +This did not last while a person could have counted ten. Then he was +wide-awake again, ready to continue the watch, and let David rest. + +"It's rum though," he said to himself, as he crouched there, and now +softly picked a leaf to nibble, and feel suggestions of taking a powder +in a spoonful of black-currant jelly, so strong was the flavour in the +leaf. "Very rum," he thought. "One's wide-awake, and the next moment +fast asleep." + +He started then, for he fancied that he heard a sound, but though he +listened attentively he could distinguish nothing; and the time went on, +with David's breathing growing more deep and heavy; and upon feeling +gently to his left, it was to find that the gardener was now right down +with his elbows on the ground and his face upon his hands. + +"Any one might come and clear all the pears away if I were not here." + +But Tom felt very good-humoured over the business, as he thought of +certain remarks he would be able to make to the gardener next day; and +he was running over this, and wishing that some one would come to break +the monotonous vigil, when there was the sound of a door opening up at +the cottage, and then steps on the gravel path. Directly after Uncle +Richard's voice was heard. + +"Now, Tom, my lad, just ten o'clock; give it up for to-night. Where are +you?" + +Before Tom could make answer there was a quick movement on his left, an +elbow was jerked into his ribs, and David exclaimed in a husky whisper-- + +"Now, my lad, wake up. Here's your uncle." + +"Yes, uncle, here!" cried Tom, as he clapped his hand to his side. + +"Well, have you got him?" + +"Nay, sir," said David; "nobody been here to-night, but I shall ketch +him yet." + +"No, no, be off home to bed," said Uncle Richard. + +"Bime by, sir. I'll make it twelve first," said David. + +"No," cried Uncle Richard decisively. "It is not likely that any one +will come now." + +"Then he'll be here before it's light," said David. + +"Perhaps, but we can't spare time for this night work. Home with you," +cried Uncle Richard. + +"Tell you what then, sir, I'll go and lie down for an hour or two, and +get here again before it's light." + +"Very well," said Uncle Richard. "I'll fasten the gate after you. +Good-night. No: you run to the gate with him, Tom." + +"All right, uncle," cried the boy; and then, "Oh my! how stiff my knees +are. How are yours, David?" he continued, as they walked to the gate. + +"Bit of a touch o' rheumatiz in 'em, sir. Ground's rayther damp. +Good-night, sir. We'll have him yet." + +"Good-night," said Tom. "But I say, David, did you have a good nap?" + +"Good what, sir? Nap? Me have a nap? Why, you don't think as I went +to sleep?" + +"No, I don't think so," cried Tom, laughing. + +"Don't you say that now, sir; don't you go and say such a word. Come, I +do like that: me go to sleep? Why, sir, it was you, and you got +dreaming as I slep'. I do like that." + +"All right, David. Good-night." + +Tom closed the gate, and ten minutes later he was in bed asleep. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +The church clock was striking six when Tom awoke, sprang out of bed, and +looked out of the window, to find a glorious morning, with everything +drenched in dew. + +Hastily dressing and hurrying down, he felt full of reproach for having +overslept himself, his last thought having been of getting up at +daybreak to continue the watch with David. + +There were the pears hanging in their places, and not a footprint +visible upon the beds; and there too were the indentations made by two +pairs of knees in the black-currant rows, while the earth was marked by +the coarse fibre of the sacks. + +But the dew lay thickly, and had not been brushed off anywhere, and it +suddenly struck Tom that the black-currant bushes would not be a +favourable hiding-place when the light was coming, and that David must +have selected some other. + +"Of course: in those laurels," thought Tom, and he went along the path; +but the piece of lawn between him and the shrubs had not been crossed, +and after looking about in different directions, Tom began to grin and +feel triumphant, for he was, after all, the first to wake. + +In fact it was not till half-past seven that the gardener arrived, +walking very fast till he caught sight of Tom, when he checked his +speed, and came down the garden bent of back and groaning. + +"Morning, Master Tom, sir. Oh, my back! Tried so hard to drag myself +here just afore daylight." + +"Only you didn't wake, David," cried Tom, interrupting him. "Why, you +ought to have been up after having such a snooze last night in the +garden." + +"I won't have you say such a word, sir," cried David angrily. "Snooze! +Me snooze! Why, it was you, sir, and you're a-shoving it on to me, +and--" + +David stopped short, for he could not stand the clear gaze of Tom's +laughing eyes. His face relaxed a little, and a few puckers began to +appear, commencing a smile. + +"Well, it warn't for many minutes, Master Tom." + +"An hour." + +"Nay, sir, nay; not a 'our." + +"Quite, David; and I wouldn't wake you. I say, don't be a sham. You +did oversleep yourself." + +"Well, I s'pose I did, sir, just a little." + +"And now what would you say if I told you that Pete has been and carried +off all the pears?" + +"What!" yelled David; and straightening himself he ran off as hard as he +could to the Marie Louise pear-tree, but only to come back grinning. + +"Nay, they're all right," he said. "But you'll come and have another +try to-night?" + +"Of course I will," said Tom; and soon after he hurried in to breakfast. + +That morning Tom was in the workshop, where for nearly two hours, with +rests between, he had been helping the speculum grinding. Uncle Richard +had been summoned into the cottage, to see one of the tradesmen about +some little matter of business, and finding that the bench did not stand +quite so steady as it should, the boy fetched a piece of wood from the +corner, and felt in his pocket for his knife, so as to cut a wedge, but +the knife was not there, and he looked about him, feeling puzzled. + +"When did I have it last?" he thought. "I remember: here, the day +before the speculum was broken. I had it to cut a wedge to put under +that stool, and left it on the bench." + +But there was no knife visible, and he was concluding that he must have +had it since, and left it in his other trousers' pocket, when he heard +steps, and looking out through the open door, he saw the Vicar coming up +the slope from the gate. + +"Good-morning, sir," said Tom cheerily. + +"Good-morning, Thomas Blount," was the reply, in very grave tones, +accompanied by a searching look. "Is your uncle here?" + +"No, sir," said Tom wonderingly; "he has just gone indoors. Shall I +call him?" + +"Yes--no--not yet." + +The Vicar coughed to clear his throat, and looked curiously at Tom +again, with the result that the lad felt uncomfortable, and flushed a +little. + +"Will you sit down, sir?" said Tom, taking a pot of rough emery off a +stool, and giving the top a rub. + +"Thank you, no." + +The Vicar coughed again to get rid of an unpleasant huskiness, and then, +as if with an effort-- + +"The fact is, Thomas Blount, I am glad he is not here, for I wish to say +a few words to you seriously. I did mean to speak to him, but this is +better. It shall be a matter of privacy between us, and I ask you, my +boy, to treat me not as your censor but as your friend--one who wishes +you well." + +"Yes, sir, of course. Thank you, sir, I will," said Tom, who felt +puzzled, and grew more and more uncomfortable as he wondered what it +could all mean, and finally, as the Vicar remained silent, concluded +that it must be something to do with his behaviour in church. Then no, +it could not be that, for he could find no cause of offence. + +"I know," thought Tom suddenly. "He wants me to go and read with him, +Latin and Greek, I suppose, or mathematics." + +The Vicar coughed again, and looked so hard at Tom that the boy felt +still more uncomfortable, and hurriedly began to pull down his rolled-up +shirt-sleeves and to button his cuffs. + +"Don't do that, Thomas Blount," said the Vicar, still more huskily; +"there is nothing to be ashamed of in honest manual labour." + +"No, sir, of course not," said the lad, still more uncomfortable, for it +was very unpleasant to be addressed as "Thomas Blount," in that formal +way. + +"I often regret," said the Vicar, "that I have so few opportunities for +genuine hard muscular work, and admire your uncle for the way in which +he plunges into labour of different kinds. For such work is purifying, +Thomas Blount, and ennobling." + +This was all very strange, and seemed like the beginning of a lecture, +but Tom felt better, and he liked the Vicar--at least at other times, +but not now. + +"Will you be honest with me, my lad?" said the visitor at last. + +"Oh yes, sir," was the reply, for "my lad" sounded so much better than +formal Thomas Blount. + +"That's right. Ahem!" + +Another cough. A pause, and Tom coloured a little more beneath the +searching gaze that met his. + +"Were you out last night?" came at last, to break a most embarrassing +silence. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Out late?" + +"Yes, sir; quite late." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the Vicar, who looked now very hard and stern. "One +moment--would you mind lending me your knife?" + +"My knife!" faltered Tom, astounded at such a request; and then, in a +quick, hurried way--"I'm so sorry, sir, I cannot. I was looking for it +just now, but I've lost it." + +"Lost it? Dear me! Was it a valuable knife?" + +"Oh no, sir, only an old one, with the small blade broken." + +"Would you mind describing it to me?" + +"Describing it, sir? Of course not. It had a big pointed blade, and a +black and white bone handle." + +"And the small blade broken, you say?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Had it any other mark by which you would know it? Knives with small +blades broken are very general." + +"No, sir, no other mark. Oh yes, it had. I filed a T and a B in it one +day, but it was very badly done." + +"Very, Thomas Blount," said the Vicar, taking something from his +breast-pocket. "Is that your knife?" + +"Yes," cried Tom eagerly, "that's it! Where did you find it, sir? I +know; you must have taken it off that bench by mistake when uncle showed +you round." + +"No, Thomas Blount," said the Vicar, shaking his head, and keeping his +eyes fixed upon the lad; "I found it this morning in my garden." + +"You couldn't, sir," cried Tom bluntly. "How could it get there?" + +The Vicar gazed at him without replying, and Tom added hastily-- + +"I beg your pardon, sir. I meant that it is impossible." + +"The knife asserts that it is possible, sir. Take it. A few pence +would have bought those plums." + +The hand Tom had extended dropped to his side. + +"What plums, sir?" he said, feeling more and more puzzled. + +"Bah! I detest pitiful prevarication, sir," cried the Vicar warmly. +"The knife was dropped by whoever it was stripped the wall of my golden +drops last night. There, take your knife, sir, I have altered my +intentions. I did mean to speak to your uncle." + +"What about?" said Uncle Richard, who had come up unheard in the +excitement. "Good-morning, Maxted. Any one's cow dead? Subscription +wanted?" + +"Oh no," said the Vicar. "It must out now. I suppose some one's honour +has gone a little astray." + +"Then we must fetch it back. Whose? Not yours, Tom?" + +"I don't know, uncle," said the boy, with his forehead all wrinkled up. +"Yes, I do. Mr Maxted thinks I went to his garden last night to steal +plums. Tell him I didn't, uncle, please." + +"Tell him yourself, Tom." + +"I can't," said Tom bluntly, and a curiously stubborn look came over his +countenance. Then angrily--"Mr Maxted oughtn't to think I'd do such a +thing." + +The Vicar compressed his lips and wrinkled up his forehead. + +"Well, I can," said Uncle Richard. "No, Maxted, he couldn't have stolen +your plums, because he was out quite late stealing pears--the other way +on." + +"Uncle!" cried Tom, as the Vicar now looked puzzled. + +"We apprehended a visit from a fruit burglar, and Tom here and my +gardener were watching, but he did not come. Then he visited you +instead?" + +"Yes, and dropped this knife on the bed beneath the wall." + +"Let me look," said Uncle Richard. "Why, that's your knife, Tom." + +"Yes, uncle." + +"How do you account for that? Policemen don't turn burglars." + +"It seems I lost it, uncle. I haven't seen it, I think, since I had it +to put a wedge under that leg of the stool." + +"And when was that?" + +"As far as I can remember, uncle, it was the day or the day before the +speculum was broken. I fancy I left it on the window-sill or bench." + +"Plain as a pike-staff, my dear Maxted," said Uncle Richard, clapping +the Vicar on the shoulder. "You have had a visit from the gentleman who +broke my new speculum." + +"You suspected your nephew of breaking the speculum," said the Vicar. + +"Oh!" cried Tom excitedly: + +"Yes, but I know better now. You're wrong, my dear sir, quite wrong. +We can prove such an alibi as would satisfy the most exacting jury. Tom +was with me in my room until half-past eight, and from that hour to ten +I can answer for his being in the garden with my man David." + +"Then I humbly beg your nephew's pardon for my unjust suspicions," cried +the Vicar warmly. "Will you forgive me--Tom?" + +"Of course, sir," cried the boy, seizing the extended hand. "But you +are convinced now, sir?" + +"Perfectly; but I want to know who is the culprit. Can you help me?" + +"We're trying to catch him, sir," said Tom. + +"I'm afraid I know," said Uncle Richard. + +"Yes, and I'm afraid that I know," said the Vicar, rather angrily. +"I'll name no names, but I fancy you suspect the same body that I did +till I found our young friend's knife." + +"And if we or you catch him," said Uncle Richard, "what would you do-- +police?" + +"No," said the Vicar firmly, "not for every scrap of fruit I have in the +garden. I don't hold with imprisoning a boy, except as the very last +resort." + +"Give him a severe talking to then?" said Uncle Richard dryly. + +"First; and then I'm afraid that I should behave in a very illegal way. +But he is not caught yet." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +The Vicar stopped and chatted, taking his seat upon the stool Tom had I +before offered, and watched the process of making the speculum for some +time before leaving, and then, shaking hands with Tom, he said, +smiling-- + +"Shows how careful one ought to be in suspecting people, Tom Blount. We +are none of us perfect. Good-bye." + +"That's a hint for us, Tom," said Uncle Richard, as soon as they were +alone. "Perhaps you are wrong about Master Pete Warboys too." + +Tom thought about the pears thrown at Pete by his cousin, and shook his +head. + +"Pete wouldn't have been peeping over the wall, uncle, if he had not +meant mischief." + +"Perhaps not, Tom; but he may have meant mischief to you, and not to my +pears." + +Tom laughed, and they soon after went in to dinner. + +That afternoon, and for an hour and a half in the evening, they worked +again at the speculum by lamp-light, so that Tom was pretty tired when +they gave up and returned to the cottage. + +"Going to watch for the fruit burglar to-night, Tom?" asked Uncle +Richard. + +"Oh yes, uncle. I feel ten times as eager now Mr Maxted's plums have +been stolen;" and, punctual to the moment, he stole down the garden, +walking upon the velvety lawn, and advancing so silently upon David, +that the gardener uttered a cry of alarm. + +"Quite made me jump, Master Tom, coming on me so quiet like." + +"I thought he might be hanging about," whispered back Tom. "Going to +watch from the same place?" + +"Ay, sir. Couldn't be better. Once we hear him at the pears we can +drop upon him like two cats on a mouse." + +"Yes," said Tom; "but we must mind and not scratch ourselves, David." + +"Ay, we'll take care o' that, sir. But mind, no talking. Got your +stick?" + +"I stuck it upright in the second black-currant tree. Yes, here it is." + +"That's right then, sir. There's your place, and I've got something +better for you this time. I stuffed two sacks full o' hay, and you can +sit down now like on a cushion, and pull the horse-cloth you'll find +folded up over you." + +"But what about you?" + +"Oh, I've got one too, sir. I'm all right. Now then--mum!" + +The hay made a faint sound as they both sat down after a glance round +and listening intently. Then Tom pulled the horse-cloth up over his +knees, for the night was chilly, and found it very warm and comfortable. + +Then the various sounds from the village reached him--the barking of +dogs, voices, the striking of the clock, the noise of wheels, the +donkey's braying, with a regularity wonderfully like that of the +previous night, and then all silence and darkness, and ears strained to +hear the rustling sound which must be made by any one climbing over the +wall. + +The time glided on; and as it grew colder, Tom softly drew the rug +cloak-fashion over his shoulders, listened to note whether David made +any remark about the rustling sound he made, but all the gardener said +was something which resembled the word _ghark_, which was followed by +very heavy breathing. + +"Gone to sleep again," said Tom to himself. "What's the good of his +pretending to sit and watch?" + +He secured his hazel, aimed for where his companion sat in the next +alley between the blackcurrants, and gave him a poke with the point. + +But this had not the slightest effect, and another and another were +administered, but without the least result; and thinking that he would +have to administer a smart cut to wake up his companion, Tom set himself +to watch alone. + +"Don't matter," he muttered. "I can manage just as well without him." +And then he sat in the thick darkness, with his ears strained to catch +the slightest noise, thinking over the Vicar's visit that day, and about +how he would like to catch Master Pete. + +It was very warm and comfortable inside the horse-cloth, and must have +been close upon nine o'clock, but he had not heard it strike. David was +breathing regularly, so loudly sometimes that Tom felt disposed to rouse +him up; but each time the breathing became easier, and he refrained. + +"I don't mind," thought Tom. "I dare say he is very tired, and I don't +want to talk to him. He's company all the same, even if he is asleep. +Wonder whether this speculum will turn out all right." + +David was breathing very hard now, but if Pete came he would make too +much noise in moving to notice the sound. Besides, he would not suspect +that any one was watching out there in the darkness. + +But the breathing was very loud now, and how warm and cosy and +comfortable it was inside the rug! The hay, too, was very soft, and the +stick all ready for Master Pete when he came. It would be so easy to +hear him too, for David's heavy breathing, that was first cousin to a +snore, now ceased, and the slightest sound made by any one coming--and +then it was all blank. + +How long? + +Tom suddenly started up with but one thought that seemed to crush him. + +"Why, I've been asleep!" + +A feeling of rage against himself came over him, and then like a flash +his thoughts were off in another direction, for, just in front, he could +hear a rustling sound, as if some one was stirring leaves, and, stealing +forward, he could just faintly see what appeared like a shadow busy at +the Marie Louise pear-tree. + +"Then he has come," thought Tom, as his hand closed upon the stick he +still held. Softly letting the horse-cloth glide from his shoulders, he +raised himself gently, feeling horribly stiff, but getting upon his legs +without a sound. + +And all the time there was the rustling, plucking sound going on at the +tree upon the wall, as the shadow moved along it slowly. + +All this was only a matter of moments, and included a thought which came +to Tom's busy brain--should he try to awaken David? + +"If I do," he felt, "there will be noise enough to scare the thief, and +he'll escape." + +There was no time to argue further with himself. He knew that he had +been asleep, for how long he could not tell; but his heart throbbed as +he felt that he had awakened just in the nick of time, and he was about +to act. + +Keeping in a stooping position, he crept forward foot by foot without +making a sound, till he was on the edge of the walk which extended to +right and left; beyond it there was about six feet of border, and then +the wall with the tree, and almost within reach the figure, more plain +to see now, as it bent down evidently searching upon the ground for +fallen pears. + +One stride--a stride taken quick as thought, with the stout hazel stick +well raised in the air, just as the figure was stooping lowest. Then-- + +_Whoosh! Thwack_! + +A stinging blow, given with all the boy's nervous force, as with a bound +he threw all his strength into the cut. + +"Yah!" + +A tremendous yell, a rush, and before Tom could get more than one other +stroke to tell, the pear-seeker was running along the soft border, +evidently making for the far corner of the garden, where the fence took +the place of the wall. + +The chord is shorter than the arc; and this applies to walks in gardens +as well as geometry, only people generally call that which amounts to +the chord the short cut. + +Tom took the short cut, so as to meet Pete, but in the darkness he did +not pause to think. For a moment all was silent, and the enemy had +evidently stopped to hide. + +"But he must be close here," thought Tom, as he reached the end of the +cross walk, past which he felt that the boy must come; and to startle +him into showing where he was Tom made a sudden rush. + +That rush was made too quickly; for he felt himself seized, and before +he could do anything, whack! whack! came two cuts on one leg. + +"Got yer then, have I?" was growled in his ear; and then came loudly, +"Master Tom! here! sharp!" + +"I am here," roared Tom. "What are you doing? Don't." + +"Master Tom!" + +"David! But never mind; look sharp! He's close to us somewhere. I saw +him under the pear-tree, and got one cut at him." + +"Got two cuts at him," growled David savagely. "I know yer did. That +was me!" + +"Halloo there! Tom! David! Got him?" + +"Got him!" growled David. "Got it, you mean. Hi! Yes, sir. Here we +are." + +Uncle Richard was on the way down the path. + +"What was the meaning of that yell I heard?" he said, as he drew near. + +Neither replied. + +"Do you hear, Tom? What was that noise?" + +"It was a mistake, uncle," cried Tom, rubbing his leg. + +"Mistake? I said that yell. Oh, here you are." + +"Yes, uncle; it was a mistake. I hit David in the dark, and he holloaed +out." + +"And enough to make any one, warn't it, sir? Scythes and scithers, it +was a sharp 'un!" + +"I don't think it was any sharper than the two you hit me, David," said +Tom, who was writhing a little as he rubbed. + +"Why, you two have never been so stupid as to attack each other in the +dark, have you?" said Uncle Richard. + +"I'm afraid so, uncle. I saw something by the tree and heard a +rustling, and I thought it must be Pete Warboys." + +"But you should ha' spoke, sir," cried David, from over the other side +now. "Mussy on us, you did hit hard." + +"Yes; I thought it was Pete, and that he had come at last." + +"Come at last!" grumbled David, as Uncle Richard stood silently shaking +with laughter. "Why, he's been--" + +Just then there was a scratching sound, a flash of light, and a match +burned brightly beneath the wall. Then another was struck, throwing up +David's figure against the pear-tree, as, shielding the burning splint +with his hands, he held it quickly up and down. + +"What are you doing?" said Uncle Richard, as Tom gave a stamp caused by +the pain he felt. + +"Looking for my pears, sir, as I was when young Master Tom come and hit +me. There arn't a single one left." + +"What!" cried Tom, forgetting the stinging of the cuts on his leg. "Oh, +David, don't say they're all gone!" + +"What shall I say then, sir?" grumbled David; and he then drew in his +breath with a hissing sound, and began to rub too. + +"Do you mean to say the pears have been stolen while you two were +keeping watch?" + +"I dunno, sir," grumbled David. "They're not here now; and I'll take +half a davy as they was here at arpus eight." + +"Then be off home to bed. Pretty watchmen, upon my word," cried Uncle +Richard, as he turned off to go up to the house; "it's my belief that +you have both been asleep." + +"And I'm afraid that there's about as near the truth as any one can get, +Master Tom," whispered David. "I must ha' been mortal tired to-night. +But you needn't have hit a fellow quite so hard." + +"That's what I feel, David; but being so stupid: that's worse than the +stick." + +"Well, I dunno 'bout that, sir," said David, still rubbing himself; +"them hazels is werry lahstick, and you put a deal o' muskle into that +first cut." + +"Well," said Tom mournfully, "I did hit as hard as I could, David." + +"You did, Master Tom, and no mistake. Feels to me it must have cut +right in. But I don't like the master to talk like that. It arn't +nice." + +"Come, Tom! Fasten the gate!" shouted Uncle Richard. + +"Yes, uncle; I'm coming. Now, David, off home." + +"Yes, sir, I'm a-goin'; but after all this trouble to lose them pears. +Oh, Master Tom, it's that there as makes me feel most sore!" + +But David kept on rubbing himself gently all the same. + +"Pretty pair, 'pon my word!" said Uncle Richard, as Tom came blinking +into the light just as the clock was striking ten. "Then you couldn't +keep awake?" + +"No, uncle. I suppose I must have been very tired to-night." + +"The Vicar's plums last night; my pears to-night. Humph! It's time +that young fruit pirate was caught." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +Tom thought the matter over for days as he worked at the speculum now +approaching completion. He had met Pete Warboys twice, but the fellow +looked innocency itself, staring hard and vacantly at him, who longed to +charge him with the theft, but felt that he could not without better +evidence. + +Then a bright thought came as he was polishing away opposite his uncle, +and using the finest emery. + +"I know," he said to himself, and he waited impatiently to be at +liberty, which was not until after tea. + +"Going for a walk, Master Tom?" said David, whom he encountered in the +lane. + +"Yes; rather in a hurry now." + +"Can't tell him yet, because I'm not sure," thought Tom; and he walked +sharply away for the corner where he had left his uncle in the +bath-chair, and all the memories of that day came back as the various +familiar objects came in view. + +"I wonder whether he's quite well again now," said the boy to himself; +"but he can't have been so ill as he thought." + +But his walk on that golden orange sunset evening had nothing whatever +to do with his uncle, for, as soon as he reached the bend where the road +began to slope, he struck off to the left in among the trees, trying +hard to follow exactly the same track as that taken by Pete Warboys when +he was pursued. + +It was not easy, for the great lad had dodged about among the great +fir-trees in quite a zigzag fashion. Still Tom followed the direction, +with the scaly, pillar-like trunks looking golden-red in the horizontal +rays of the sun, which cast their long shadows in wonderful array, till +it seemed to the boy at last as if he were walking through a quivering +golden mist barred with great strokes of purply black. + +"I shan't get there before it begins to be dark," he thought, "for this +can't last. Why, it's like a fiery furnace now burning on great iron +bars." Then there was another change, for the dark-green rough +fir-boughs began to be lit up overhead, and the forest looked brighter +than ever. + +A wood of fir-trees is a puzzling place, from the fact that in a mile or +two, consequent upon their regular growth, you may find hundreds, +perhaps thousands, of places exactly alike--the same-looking tall, red, +scaly columns, the same distance apart, the same grey carpet of +fir-needles, and the same grey rough-topped, mushroom-shaped fungi +growing up and pushing the fir-needles aside to make room for them. +Then too the great natural temple, with its dark column-supported roof, +has a way of looking different at morning, noon, and eve; and as +different again according to the state of the weather, so that though +you may be pretty familiar with the place, it is a difficult task to +find your way for the second time. + +It was so now with Tom Blount. There was a spot in the wood for which +he had aimed, and it seemed to be the easiest thing possible to go +straight there; but the trees prevented any such straight course, and +after a little dodging in and out the mind refuses to bear all the +changes of course and repeat them to the traveller, who gradually grows +more and more confused, and if he does not hit upon the spot he seeks by +accident, in all probability he has to give it up for what people call a +bad job. + +"Here it is at last," said Tom to himself, after following, as he +thought, exactly the course he had taken when he chased Pete Warboys for +throwing stones at the bath-chair, and coming upon a rugged portion of +the fir-wood. + +"Bother! I made so sure it was," he muttered, for the opening he sought +beside a great fir-tree was not there, and rubbing one of his ears with +vexation, he stood looking round again, and down long vistas between the +straight tree-trunks. + +But no, there was not a sign of the spot he wanted, and the farther he +went the more confused he grew. It was still gloriously bright +overhead, but the dark bars of shadow were nearly all gone, and it +looked as if darkness were slowly rising like a transparent mist out of +the earth; one minute it was up to his knees, and then creeping up and +up till the tree-trunks looked as if they were plunged in a kind of +flood, while their upper portions were glowing as if on fire. + +"I'll have one more try," thought Tom, "and then give it up till +to-morrow morning. That's the best time, when you've got the whole day +before you, and not the night. Let's see, what did uncle say about my +getting to know a lot about optics and astronomy? Of course--I +remember: it was nice to be a boy, for he was in the morning of life, +and all the long bright day of manhood before him in which to work; and +the pleasant evening in which to think of that work well done, before +the soft gentle night fell, bringing with it the great peaceful sleep. +How serious he looked when he said all that!" + +These thoughts in the coming gloom of the autumn evening made Tom feel +serious too. Then they passed away as he had that other try, and +another, and another, pretty well a dozen before he made a rush for what +he rightly assumed to be the north-east, and finally reached the road +pretty well tired out. + +It was before the sun was far above the horizon the next morning that +Tom went out of the garden gate, and by the time he reached the spot +where he had turned into the wood, and gone many yards in amongst the +trees, he found the appearance of the place almost precisely the same as +he had seen it on the previous evening. There was the roof of the +natural temple all aglow, the dark bars across the tall boughs, and the +shadows stretching far away crossing each other in bewildering +confusion. But everything was reversed, and instead of the shadows +creeping upwards they stole down lower and lower, till the roof of +boughs grew dark and the carpet of soft fir-needles began to glow. + +Then too, as he went south, the bright light came from his left instead +of his right. + +"How beautiful!" he thought. "How stupid it is to lie in bed so long +when everything is so soft and fresh and bright in the morning. But +then bed is so jolly snug and comfortable just then, and it is so hard +to get one's eyes open. It's such a pity," he mused; "bed isn't much +when one gets in first, but grows more and more comfortable till it's +time to get up. I wish one could turn it right round." + +These thoughts passed away, for there were squirrels about, and jays +noisily resenting his visit, and shouting to each other in jay--"Here's +a boy coming." + +Then he caught sight of a magpie, after hearing its laughing call. A +hawk flew out of a very tall pine in an opening, and strewn beneath +there were feathers and bones suggestive of the hook-beaked creature's +last meal. + +But as he followed the track of the pursuit once more, he had that to +take up his attention, till he felt sure that he must be close to the +place he sought, but grew more puzzled than ever as he gazed right round +him. + +"It must be farther on," he muttered; and, starting once more, he +stopped at the end of another fifty yards or so, to have a fresh look +round down each vista of trees, which started from where he stood. + +It was more open here, and in consequence a patch of bracken had run up +to a goodly height, spreading its fronds toward the light, but there was +nothing visible as Tom turned slowly upon his heels, till he was looking +nearly straight back along the way he had come, and then, quick as +thought, he dropped down amongst the bracken, and crept on hands and +knees till, still sheltered by it, he could watch the object he had +seen. + +That object was Pete Warboys, who had suddenly risen up out of the +earth, and stood yawning and stretching himself, ending by giving one of +his shoulders a good rasp against a fir-tree. + +"Why, he must have been sleeping there," thought Tom, "and I must have +passed close to his hole. What an old fox he is. Hullo! there's the +dog." + +For the big mongrel suddenly appeared, and sprang up so as to place its +paws upon its master's breast, apparently as a morning greeting. But +this was not received in a friendly way. + +"Get out!" growled Pete, kicking the dog in the leg. There was a loud +yelp, and Pete shook himself and began to slouch away. + +Tom watched him till he had disappeared among the trees, and then went +back over his track till he stood close to the spot whence the lad had +appeared. Here Tom looked round, but nothing was visible till he had +gone a few yards to his right, when, to his surprise, he came to the +side of the opening down in which was the side hole running beneath the +roots of the great fir. + +Tom had another look back, and, seeing nothing, he leaped down on to the +soft sand, felt in his pocket, and brought out a tin box of wax-matches. +Then, dropping upon his knees, he lit one, and holding it before him, +crept under the roots and into a little cave like a low rugged tunnel +scooped out of the sandy rock, and in one corner of which was a heap of +little pine boughs, and an exceedingly dirty old ragged blanket. + +By this time Tom's match went out, and he lit another, after carefully +placing the burnt end of the first in his pocket. + +This light gave him another view of the little hole, for it was quite +small, but there was not much to see. There were the leaves and +blanket, both still warm; there was a stick, and a peg driven into the +side, on which hung a couple of wires; and some pine-tree roots bristled +from the top and sides. That was all. + +"No pears, not even a plum-stone," said Tom, in a disappointed tone, for +he had pictured this hole from which he had seen Pete issue as a kind of +robber's cave, in which he would find stored up quantities of stolen +fruit, and perhaps other things that would prove to be of intense +interest. + +"Nothing--nothing at all," said Tom to himself, as the last match he had +burned became extinct. "All this trouble for that, and perhaps it +wasn't him after all. But how comic!" he said to himself after a pause. +"He comes here so as to be away from that dreadful old woman. No +wonder." + +He was in the act of placing his last extinct scrap of match in his +pocket, as he stood in a stooping position facing the mouth of the +little cave, when he heard a faint rustling sound, and directly after +something seemed to leap right in at the entrance, disturbing the +pendulous fringe of exposed roots which hung down, and crouching in the +dim light close to Tom's feet. + +"Rabbit!" he said to himself. + +But the next moment he saw that it was not alive, for it lay there in a +peculiar distorted fashion; and as his eyes grew more used to the gloom, +he saw that there was a wire about the poor animal cutting it nearly in +two, and a portion of a strong wooden peg protruded from beneath. + +"I begin to see now," muttered Tom. "I dare say I should find the place +somewhere about where he cooks his rabbits, unless he sells them." + +Tom wanted to get out now. The poaching was nothing to him, he thought, +and he seemed to have been wrong about the fruit, so he was ready to +hurry away, but something within him made him resent the idea of being +seen prying there; and it was evident that Pete had been out looking at +his wires, and had just brought this rabbit home. + +"Perhaps he has gone now," thought Tom; but he did not stir, waiting +till he thought all was clear. Then at the end of a quarter of an hour +he crept out into the open hole, raised his head cautiously, and got his +eyes above the edge, when, to his disgust, he saw that Pete was +approaching hurriedly, swinging another rabbit by the legs. + +Tom shot back quickly enough into Pete's lurking-place, and turned to +face him if the fellow came in. He did not think he was afraid of Pete, +but all the same he did not feel disposed to have a tussle before +breakfast. Besides, his leg was rather stiff and painful from the blows +David had given to him. + +But he had little time for thinking. All at once the rushing sound +began again, accompanied by a shuffling and a hoarse "Get out," followed +by the sound of a blow, and directly after by a sharp yelp. + +Then there was a dull thud as the light was momentarily obscured, and +another rabbit caught in a wire was thrown in. + +"Now for it," thought Tom, and he involuntarily stretched out his hand +to seize the stick close to the bed, but clenched his fist instead, and +stood there in his confined stooping position ready to defend himself, +but sorry that he had not boldly gone out at once. + +Suddenly there was a fresh darkening of the light, and Tom did seize the +stout stick and hold it lance fashion, for the dog had leaped down into +the hole, and now stood at the little entrance to the cave growling +savagely. + +"Let 'em alone," cried Pete, "d'yer hear? Let 'em alone." + +But the dog paid no heed. It stood there with its eyes glaring, showing +its teeth, and threatening unheard-of worryings of the interloper. + +Still Pete did not grasp the situation. The dog in his estimation was +disobeying him by attempting to worry dead rabbits; and, leaping down +into the hole, he kicked savagely at it, making it yelp loudly and bound +out of the hole, Pete, whose legs up to the waist had now been visible +to Tom, scrambling after the animal, abusing it with every epithet he +could think of, and driving it before him through the wood. + +"My chance," thought Tom, and he sprang out, and making a circuit, +struck out for home without seeing either Pete or his dog again. + +But Tom did not feel satisfied, for it seemed to him that he was +behaving in a cowardly way; and as he tramped along the lane, he wished +that he had walked out boldly and confronted his enemy instead of +remaining in hiding. Taken altogether, he felt thoroughly grumpy as he +approached the cottage, and it did not occur to him that his sensation +of depression had a very simple origin. In fact it was this. He had +risen before the sun, and had a very long walk, going through a good +deal of exertion without having broken his fast. When breakfast was +half over he felt in the highest spirits, for his uncle had made no +allusion to the adventure in the garden over-night. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +Tom saw very little of Pete Warboys during the next fortnight or so. +The fruit kept on ripening, and twice over raids were made upon the +garden, but whoever stole the fruit left no clue but a few footmarks +behind, and these were always made by bare feet. + +"It's that there Pete," said David; "but foots is foots, and I don't see +how we can swear as they marks is hisn." + +Meanwhile the telescope progressed, and busy work was in progress in the +mill, where a large tube was being constructed by securing thin narrow +boards planed very accurately to half-a-dozen iron hoops by means of +screws and nuts. + +Then came a day when Uncle Richard found that he must go to town again +to get sundry fittings from an optician, and Tom was left the task of +grinding three small pieces of plate-glass together, so as to produce +one that was an accurate plane or flat. + +It was understood that Uncle Richard would not be back for three days, +and after seeing him off, Tom felt important in being left in full +charge, as he was in the lower part of the mill polishing away when the +door was darkened. + +"How are you getting on, sir?" said David, as he stood there smiling. + +"Pretty well; but this is a long job." + +"What are you doing, sir?" + +"Polishing these glasses together so as to get one of them perfectly +flat." + +"Tchah! that's easy enough. What d'yer want 'em so flat for?" + +"So as to make a reflector that will send back a ray of light quite +exact--a perfect mirror." + +"That's a looking-glass, arn't it, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"I wish you'd make one, sir, as would work o' nights, and show us when +Pete Warboys comes arter my pippins. That'd bang all yer +tallow-scoops." + +"Impossible, David." + +"Yes, sir, s'posed so when I said it. But I say, Master Tom." + +"Yes." + +"That chap's sure to know as your uncle's gone to London for two or +three days." + +"Yes; you can't move here without its being known, David," said Tom, +polishing away, and making his fingers dirty. + +"Then, don't you see, sir?" + +"No; what?" + +"Pete'll be coming to-night, as sure as there's meat in eggs." + +"Think so?" said Tom, who felt a peculiar thrill run through him. + +"I'm sure on it, sir. There is a deal o' fruit left to pick yet, and +you and me can do that little job better than Pete Warboys." + +"Let's go down and watch then." + +"Will you, sir?" + +"Yes, David, I'll come. But don't go to sleep this time." + +"Nay, I won't trust you," said the gardener, laughing softly. "You'll +get hitting at me again instead of at Pete. I arn't forgetted that +swipe you give me that night." + +"Well, you gave it back to me with interest," said Tom. + +"Ay, that's so, sir; I did. But it wouldn't do for master to come and +find all our late apples gone." + +"What time shall we begin then?" + +"Not a minute later than six, sir." + +And punctually to that hour Tom stole down the garden and found David, +who began to chuckle softly-- + +"Got yer stick, Master Tom?" + +"Yes; got yours?" + +"No, sir, I've got something better. Feel this." + +"A rope?" + +"Yes, sir, and a noose in it, as runs easy." + +"To tie him?" + +"To lash-show him, sir. We'll go down to the bottom where he's most +likely to come over, and then I'll catch him and hold him, and you shall +let him have it." + +The ambush was made--a gooseberry ambush, Tom called it--and for quite +an hour Tom knelt on a sack waiting patiently, but there was not a +sound, and he was beginning to think it a miserably tiresome task, when +all at once, as they crouched there securely hidden, watching the wall, +some eight feet away, it seemed to Tom that he could see a peculiar +rounded black fungus growing out of the top. + +It was very indistinct, and the growth was very slow, but it certainly +increased, and the boy stretched out his hand to reach over an +intervening gooseberry-bush so as to touch David, but he touched an +exceedingly sharp thorn instead and winced, but fortunately made no +noise. + +Hoping that David had seen what was before him, Tom waited for a few +moments, with the dark excrescence still gradually growing, till he +could contain himself no longer, and reaching this time with his stick, +he gave the gardener a pretty good poke, when the return pressure told +him that this time his companion was well upon the alert. + +All at once, when the dark object had grown up plainly into a head and +shoulders, it ceased increasing, and remained perfectly motionless, as +if a careful observation was being made by some one watchful in the +extreme. + +"Why don't David throw?" thought Tom, who held himself ready to spring +forward at a moment's notice, "He could not help catching him now." + +But David made no signal, and Tom crouched there with his nerves +tingling, waiting in the darkness for the time when he must begin. + +At the end of about ten minutes there was a quick rustling sound, the +dark shadow altered its shape, and Tom saw that whoever it was lay +straight along upon the wall perfectly motionless for a few minutes +longer as if listening intently. Then very quickly there was another +motion, a sharp rustling, and the intruder dropped upon the ground. + +It was too dark to see what followed, but Tom knew that David had risen +slowly upright, and uttered a grunt as he threw something, evidently the +lasso; for there was a dull sound, then a rush and a scrambling and +crashing, as of some one climbing up the wall, and lastly David +shouted-- + +"Got him, sir. Let him have it." + +Tom darted forward and came in contact with the rope, which was strained +tightly from where David hung back to the top of the wall, the lassoed +thief having rushed back as soon as touched by the rope, reached the top +of the wall, and threw himself over, to hang there just below quite +fast, but struggling violently, and making a hoarse noise like some wild +beast. + +"At him, Master Tom! Give it him!" + +Tom wanted no urging; he seized the rope and tried to draw the captive +back into the garden, but the effort was vain, so leaving it he drew +back, took a run and a jump, scrambled on to the top of the wall, so as +to lean over, and then began thrashing away with his stout hazel as if +he were beating a carpet. + +_Thud, thud--whack, whack_, he delivered his blows at the struggling +object below, and at every whish of the stick there was a violent kick +and effort to get free. Once the stick was seized, but only held for a +moment before it was dragged away, and then, _thud, thud, thud_, the +blows fell heavily, while, in an intense state of excitement, the +gardener kept on shouting-- + +"Harder, harder, Master Tom! Sakes, I wish I was there! Harder, sir, +harder! Let him have it! Stop him! Ah!" + +There was a rustling, scrambling sound on Tom's side of the wall, and +the cracking of the stick, which had come in contact with the bricks, +for the prisoner had escaped, and his footsteps could be faintly heard, +as he dashed over the grassy field into the darkness, where Tom felt it +would be useless to pursue. + +But just then he did not possess the power, for he could only lean there +over the wall, and laugh in a way that was quite exhausting, and it was +not until David had been growling and muttering for some minute or two +that he was able to speak. + +"What made you let him go, David?" he panted at last. + +"Let him go, sir? I didn't let him go. He just jerked the rope out of +my hands, after dragging me down and over the gravel path. There's no +end o' bark off my knuckles and nose." + +"Oh, don't say you're hurt, David," said Tom, sitting up astride of the +wall. + +"Why not, sir? Yes, I shall. I'm hurt horrid. Arms feel 'most jerked +out o' the sockets, and skin's off the palms of my hands, leastwise it +feels like it. Going to run arter him?" + +"Oh no, it's of no use. I gave him an awful thrashing though." + +"I wish you'd give him ten times as much, my lad--a wagabone. It was +Pete Warboys, wasn't it?" + +"Oh, I don't know; I couldn't tell. It was like something in a long +sack kicking about there. I hit him nearly every time." + +"Well, that's something, sir. Do him more good than a peck out o' our +apples. Better for his morials. He ought to have had twice as much." + +"But he had enough to keep him from coming again." + +"Mebbe, sir; but there's a deal o' wickedness in boys, when they are +wicked, and they soon forgets. Here, chuck me the rope, and I'll coil +it up." + +"Rope! I have no rope." + +"Why, you don't mean to say as you've let him cut off with it, sir?" + +"I!" cried Tom. "Why you had it." + +"Ay, till he snatchered it away, when I was down. Hff! My elbows." + +"Then he has run away with it, David." + +"Ay, and he'll go and sell it; you see if he don't. Nice nooish bit o' +soft rope as it were too." + +"Never mind the rope, David," said Tom, jumping down, after listening +intently for a few minutes. + +"Ah, that's werry well for you, sir; but what am I to say when master +arkses me what's become on it?" + +"I'll tell him, David. There, it's nearly ten again. I say, you didn't +go to sleep to-night." + +"No, nor you nayther, sir," said David, with a chuckle. "I'm sorry +'bout that rope, but my word, you did let him have it, sir. Can't be +much dust left in his jacket." + +David burst into a hoarse fit of laughter, and Tom joined in, laughing +till the tears ran down his cheeks. + +"Say, Master Tom," cried David. "Pippins!" + +There was another burst of laughter, and then David suggested +Wellingtons, and followed up with Winter Greenings, each time roaring +with laughter. + +"He's got apples this time, and no mistake, sir," he said. + +"Yes, David; striped ones." + +"Ay, sir, he have--red streaks. But think he'll come again to-night?" + +"No, David; so let's get back and think of bed." + +"Yes, and of my bed here, sir. There's a nice lot o' footprints I know, +and I come down first over a young gooseberry-bush, and feels as if here +and there I'd got a few thorns in my skin." + +Tom listened again, but all was still, and the garden was as quiet ten +minutes later, the ripening apples still hanging in their places. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +"And now, Tom," said Uncle Richard one day, "here we have a perfect +speculum or concave reflector, but it does not reflect enough. What +would you do now?" + +"Silver it," said Tom promptly; "make it like a looking-glass." + +"Exactly; but how would you do that?" + +"Oh, it's easy enough, I believe," said Tom. "You get a sheet of +tinfoil, lay it on a table, cover it with quicksilver, and then put the +glass on it, and press it with weights till the tinfoil and quicksilver +stick to the glass, and then you have a regular mirror." + +"You seem to know all about it, Tom," said the Vicar, who had dropped in +for a chat, and to hear how the telescope was going on. + +"I read it somewhere," said Tom. + +"And he can always recollect this sort of thing," said his uncle; "but +never could remember anything to do with the law." + +Tom looked at him reproachfully. + +"Well," continued Uncle Richard, "your process would do for ordinary +looking-glasses, Tom, but not for an optical reflector." + +"Why, uncle?" + +"Because the rays of light would have to pass through the thickness of +the glass before they reached the reflecting surface,--the +quicksilver,--and in so doing they would be refracted--broken-up and +discoloured--so that the reflection would most likely be doubled when it +came away; that is, you would see one reflection from the silver at the +back, and another from the surface of the glass." + +"Therefore," said the Vicar, "we must decline friend Tom's ingenious +proposal, and take yours, Brandon, for as usual you have a plan ready." + +"Well, yes," said Uncle Richard, smiling; "but it is due to the +inventor. We must silver the glass, but on the surface, so as to get a +reflection at once. Are you going to stay, Maxted?" + +"If I may," was the reply. + +"Very well; but for experiment, as it is all new to me, I think we will +try first to silver one of these pieces of the broken speculum. Yes; +that largest piece." + +The conversation took place in the workshop, and the triangular piece of +glass having been brought out, it was first thoroughly washed, and +rinsed with rain-water, and then further cleaned by rubbing it well with +a strong acid, so as to burn off any impurity, and after another rinsing +in clear rain-water it was declared by Uncle Richard to be chemically +clean. + +"A good thing to be chemically as well as morally clean, Tom," said the +Vicar, smiling; "but I'm not going to stand here without asking +questions if you don't, Master Tom. First then, why must the glass be +chemically clean?" + +"So that the silver may adhere to it," said Uncle Richard, who was now +carefully arranging the freshly-cleaned glass, so that it lay on two +pieces of wood in a shallow tray half full of water. + +"My turn to question," said Tom merrily. + +"Yes, go on," said the Vicar. + +"Why is the face of the glass put in water, uncle?" + +"To keep it wet and thoroughly clean. Dust or floating spores might +settle upon it, and then we should have specks. I want to get a surface +perfectly clear; and now, Tom, I want the four bottles I prepared +yesterday--fetch them down." + +Tom ran up into the laboratory, and brought down four great stoppered +bottles, each of which bore a label duly lettered. + +These he placed on the broad, table-like bench, and on being requested +hurried up-stairs again to fetch a large glass jar-shaped vessel, and a +graduated measuring-glass. + +"Now," said Uncle Richard, "this process is a chemical experiment, but +upon reading it I felt that it was as good as a conjuring trick, and a +very grand one too. In fact it is good enough for a magician, for it is +a wonderful example of the way in which our chemists have mastered some +of the secrets of Nature." + +"Bravo, lecturer!" said the Vicar. "Come, Tom, my boy, give him some +applause. Clap your hands and stamp your feet;" and the visitor led off +by thumping his umbrella upon the floor. + +"Oh, very well," said Uncle Richard, laughing; "it shall be a lecture on +silver if you like--a very brief one, with a remarkable experiment to +follow." + +"More applause, Tom," said the Vicar; and it was given laughingly. + +"I have here," continued Uncle Richard, "immersed in distilled water--" + +"Rain-water, uncle." + +"Well, boy, rain-water is distilled by Nature, and then condensed from +the vapoury clouds to fall back upon the earth." + +"Good," said the Vicar. "I am learning." + +"Next," said Uncle Richard, "I have here a bottle marked A, containing +so many grains of pure potash, dissolved in so many ounces of water--a +strong alkaline solution in fact." + +More applause. + +"In this next bottle," continued Uncle Richard, "marked B, I have a +strong solution of ammonia." + +"Another alkali?" said the Vicar. + +"Exactly," said Uncle Richard. "In this bottle, marked C, a solution of +sugar-candy prepared with pure spirit. Can I have the pleasure of +offering you a glass, Vicar?" + +"Oh no, thanks," was the reply. "I will not spoil the experiment by +satisfying my desire for good things." + +"Will any other member of the audience?" said Uncle Richard merrily, +looking round at Tom. + +"I won't, uncle, thankye," said the lad. "You might have labelled the +bottles wrongly." + +"Wise boy," said the Vicar; "but, by the way, where's the lump of +beaten-out silver to be affixed to the glass?" + +"Here it is," said Uncle Richard, laying his hand upon the stopper of +the fourth bottle, which held the same quantity of liquid as the others. + +"But that's clear water," said Tom. + +"Yes, clear distilled water, but not alone. It contains a great deal of +silver." + +"Whereabouts, lecturer?" said the Vicar. + +"In solution," said Uncle Richard gravely. "Here we have one of the +wonders of science laboriously worked out by experiment, and when +discovered simplicity itself. Tom, suppose I take a piece of bright +clear iron and leave it out exposed to all weathers, what happens?" + +"Gets rusty," said Tom. + +"Exactly; and what is rust?" + +"Red," said Tom. + +"So is your face, Tom, for giving so absurd an answer." + +"Yes, uncle," said Tom frankly. "I don't quite know." + +"Oxide of iron," said the Vicar. + +"Oh yes," cried Tom eagerly; "I'd forgotten." + +"Well," said Uncle Richard, "the oxide of iron is Nature's action upon +the iron. Man produces iron by heat from the ore, but unless great care +is used to protect it from the action of the atmosphere, it is always +going back to a state of nature--oxidises, or goes back into a salt of +iron. That by the way; I am not dealing with a salt of iron but with a +salt of silver. There it is, so many grains of a salt of silver, which +looked like sugar-candy when I wetted it in the water, and, as you see +now, here it is a perfectly colourless fluid. There, I have nearly done +talking." + +"More applause, Tom," said the Vicar merrily. + +"Come, that's hardly fair," retorted Uncle Richard. "What would you say +to us if we applauded when you said one of your sermons was nearly at an +end?" + +"But we did not applaud the announcement that you had nearly done," said +the Vicar, "but the fact that the experiment was nearly at hand." + +"Yes; that's it, uncle. Go on, please," cried Tom. + +"Very well then: my experimental magic trick is this," continued Uncle +Richard. "I am about not to change a metal into a salt, but a salt-- +that salt in solution in the water--back into a metal--the invisible +into the visible--the colourless water into brilliant, flashing, +metallic silver." + +"The cannon-ball changed from one hat to the other is nothing to that, +Tom Blount," said the Vicar; "but we are the audience; let's be +sceptical. I'll say it isn't to be done." + +"Oh yes," said Tom seriously. "If uncle says he'll do it, he will." + +"Well done, boy," said the Vicar, clapping the lad on the back. "I wish +my parishioners would all have as much faith in my words as you have in +your uncle's. But silence in the audience. The lecturer will now +proceed with the experiment." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, taking the great glass jar. "Now watch the +magical action of Nature, and see what is a great wonder. See, I pour +eight ounces--fluid ounces, Tom, not weighed ounces--into the glass +measure from this bottle. There: and pour them into this glass jar, +which will hold eight times as much. From the next bottle I take an +equal quantity and pour it into the jar; and from this bottle I take +another equal quantity and pour it into the others. Shake them all up +together, and I have so much liquid which looks like water, but, as you +may have observed, one of them was the limpid silver solution." + +"Yes, I saw that," said Tom. + +"I didn't," said the Vicar; "but boys always do see the critical thing +in the conjuring trick. But go on, Professor Brandon." + +"I must come to a halt here," said Uncle Richard. + +"No, no, don't say that, uncle," cried Tom. "You've raised us up to +such a pitch of expectation." + +"Only for a few moments," said Uncle Richard, "while I prepare my glass. +Now then, when I lift out the piece, Tom, you take up the tray, and +empty the water into the sink, and bring the empty tray back, place it +where it was before, and then come and hold the glass here upon this +blotting-paper to drain." + +All this was done as requested, and then the lecturer was set free by +Tom holding the three-cornered piece of glass, from which nearly all the +water had run. + +"Now observe," said Uncle Richard, "this is the critical point of the +experiment. You see, I take this fourth bottle, and pour the same +quantity of this clear liquid into my measure. There--done; and as long +as I keep them separate no action takes place, but the moment I pour +this clear liquid into that clear liquid, you will see that a change +takes place. Look--I ought to say behold!" + +The contents of the measure were poured into the glass jar. + +"Gets cloudy and thick," cried Tom. + +"And thicker and thicker," said the Vicar, as the contents of the jar +were well shaken up, and then quickly poured into the tray. + +"Now, Tom, the glass," said Uncle Richard sharply; and, taking a couple +of little pieces of wood, he placed them in the tray at the sides, and +then seizing the piece of broken glass speculum with the tips of the +fingers of each hand, he quickly immersed the polished face in the +fourfold solution, letting one side go in first, and then the rest of +the face, till the glass rested about half an inch deep in the tray, its +face being perfectly covered all over. + +"Now watch," continued the lecturer; "the magic change has commenced, +the metallic silver is forming," and as he spoke he kept on rocking the +glass to and fro upon the two bits of wood. + +"Why, it has turned all of a dirty black," said Tom, "and as thick as +thick," as the rocking went on. "Why are you doing that, uncle?" + +"So as to make a regular film come all over, and cause all the solution +to be in motion, and give up its silver," was the reply. + +"Is it a failure, Brandon?" said the Vicar quietly. + +"I hope not," said Uncle Richard; "but of course I am a perfect novice +at this sort of thing. It does look though as if I had made a mess +instead of a grand experiment." + +"Yes, the water has turned pretty inky and thick." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Tom enthusiastically; and he caught up a duster and +began to wave it in the air. + +"What is it, Tom?" + +"Hurrah!" yelled the lad. "Silver! Look, look!" + +"I do not see any," said the Vicar, taking out his eye-glasses to put +on, "only a greasy look on the top of the dirty water." + +"No, sir, silver--silver," cried Tom excitedly. "I can see no end of +tiny specks floating. Look, uncle. Don't you see?" + +"Yes, Tom, you are right," said Uncle Richard, working away at rocking +the glass to and fro. + +"Oh yes, I can see it now, glittering on the surface," cried the Vicar, +as excitedly as the boy. "Wonderful! quite large filmy patches +floating. My dear Brandon, it really is very grand." + +"Let me rock it now, uncle, to rest you," cried Tom. + +"No; only a few minutes more, Tom, and then it may rest and finish." + +"How long does it take?" said the Vicar. + +"Oh, from ten to twenty minutes," said Uncle Richard; and at the end of +a quarter of an hour, which had passed very quickly, so interested were +they all, he ceased rocking the glass and left the face immersed in the +murky solution, which had resembled very dirty blackish water, with +faint traces of silvery film on the surface. + +At the end of another five minutes the film was in larger patches, and +at the end of another similar lapse of time Uncle Richard declared his +experiment so far at an end, and lifted the piece of glass out dripping +and dirty, leaving the water fairly clear, but with a thick sediment at +the bottom, while the dripping face of the glass, instead of being +brilliant polished glass, was seen to be coated over with a drabby-white +or greyish film. + +"Double up that piece of blotting-paper, and place it in the window, +Tom," said Uncle Richard; and while this was being done, the darkened +glass was critically examined by the Vicar. + +"I'm afraid you won't see many stars in that, friend Brandon," he said. + +"It does not look like it," replied Uncle Richard. "But let's get it +dry in this current of air, and see what it is like then. Besides, +there is something else to follow. That is only the rough surface of +metallic silver. It has to be burnished before it is fit for use. +That's right, Tom. There!" + +The glass had been placed in the sunny window opening, and this being +done, Uncle Richard washed his discoloured hands at the sink. + +"Now," he said, "dinner must be nearly ready. Stop and have a bit with +us, Maxted, and see what the experiment says afterwards. It will be dry +enough to polish by then." + +"Oh, thank you very much, but no, really I ought to--er--I did not mean +to stay." + +"Never mind, stop," cried Uncle Richard warmly. + +"Yes, do stay, Mr Maxted," cried Tom. + +"It's very good of you, but I think I ought to--" + +"Stop," said Uncle Richard. + +"Really, I should like to see the end of the experiment." + +"And hear the end of the lecture directly after dinner," said Uncle +Richard. "Tom, run in and tell Mrs Fidler to put another chair to the +table. Mr Maxted will stay. Now let's have a walk down the garden +till the dinner-bell rings." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +"Now to prove the success of the magical trick," said the Vicar, as they +all rose from the table, and walked across to the old mill. "Really, +Brandon, honestly I never felt so much interest in chemistry before, and +I feel quite disposed to take it up where one left off at college. But +oh, dear, how little time one has!" + +"True," said Uncle Richard, "the days always seem too short to a busy +man. Now, Tom, let's look and see whether we have succeeded or failed." + +"Succeeded," cried Tom excitedly, when the heavy fragment of the +speculum was lifted out of the hot sunshine perfectly dry, and laid flat +upon the bench. "Look, Mr Maxted, you can see that it is silvered all +over." + +"Yes; a dull, dingy coating of silver," said the Vicar, who had put on +his glasses and was now leaning over the glass. "Wonderful indeed. And +now, I suppose, you polish this metal face, and make it like a +looking-glass?" + +"Yes, with leather and rouge," said Uncle Richard, as he too put on his +glasses and examined the surface carefully. "But there is something +wrong about it." + +"Wrong? Oh no, uncle; that stuff has all turned to silver plainly +enough," cried Tom. + +"True, boy, but my instructions tell me that the result ought to be a +bright metallic surface of a golden rosy hue, and that a very little +polishing should make it brilliant." + +"Perhaps this will be," said the Vicar, "when it is polished." + +"I'm afraid not," said Uncle Richard. "There is a hitch somewhere. +Either I have made some error in the quantities of my chemicals, or I +have left the glass in the solution too long, with the result that the +silver has become coated with the dirty-looking precipitation left when +the metallic silver is thrown down. However, we are very near success, +and we'll polish and see what result we get. Now, Tom, up into the +laboratory, and bring down from the second shelf that small bottle of +rouge, the packet of cotton-wool, and the roll of fine chamois leather. +One moment--the scissors too, and the ball of twine." + +Tom ran up-stairs, found the articles required, and was about to +descend, when, glancing from the window, he caught sight of Pete +Warboys, who had raised himself by getting his toes in some inequality +of the wall, and was now resting his folded arms upon the top and his +chin upon them, staring hard at the mill. + +"Oh, how I should like to be behind him with a stick!" thought Tom; and +he laughed to himself as he turned away and went down, to find that his +uncle had just uncovered the great speculum they had ground and +polished, where it stood upon a stout shelf at the far side of the +workshop, and was pointing out its perfections to the Vicar. + +"Yes, Brandon," said the latter, "I suppose it is very beautiful in its +shaping, but to me it is only a disc of glass. So you are going to +silver that?" + +"When I am sure of what I am doing," replied Uncle Richard. "I must +experimentalise once or twice more first. Here, Tom, set those things +down and come here. I don't like this glass to lie upon the shelf. +We'll lay a board down here, and turn the speculum face downwards upon +the floor." + +Tom hurried to his uncle's side, and after the board had been laid upon +the floor, and covered with a soft cloth and several sheets of paper, +the speculum was carefully lifted, turned over face downwards, covered +with another cloth, and left close to the wall. + +"No fear of that falling any farther," said Uncle Richard, smiling, as +he crossed the workshop deliberately. "Now for the polishing." + +He cut off a piece of the soft, delicate leather, about three inches +square, made a ball-like pad of cotton-wool, and covered it with the +leather, and then tied the ends tightly with some of the twine, making +what resembled a soft leather ball with a handle, and patted it in his +hand so as to flatten it a little. + +"Now then," he said, "this is to be another magic touch. If I succeed, +you will see your faces brilliantly reflected in the glass; if I fail--" + +"If you fail," said the Vicar, laughing, "I can't apply Lord Lytton's +words to you. If it were Tom, I should say, `In the bright lexicon of +youth, there is no such word as fail.'" + +"Very well then, though no longer youthful, I'll take the words to +myself. Now then for the magic touch that shall change this dull opaque +silver to glistening, dazzling light." + +He held the leather polisher over the glass for a few moments, and then, +as the others looked on, he let it fall smartly upon the silvered face, +covered with greyish powder, and began to rub it smartly, when-- + +_Crash_! + +One cutting, tearing, deafening, sharp, metallic-sounding explosion, +that seemed to shake the old mill to its foundations; the windows were +blown out; bottles, vessels, and tray were shivered, and the glass flew +tinkling in all directions; and then an awful silence, succeeded by a +strange singing noise in the ears, through which, as Tom struggled +half-stunned and helpless to his feet, he could hear a loud shrieking +and yelling for help. + +"What has happened? what, has happened?" he muttered, as he clapped his +hands to his ears, and tried to look about him; but his eyes had been +temporarily blinded by the brilliant flash of light which had blazed +through the workshop, and some moments elapsed before he could make out +whence came a moaning--"Oh dear me, oh dear me!" + +Then he dimly saw the Vicar seated on the floor against the wall, +holding his hands to his ears, and rocking himself gently to and fro. + +Hardly had Tom realised this when he caught sight of Richard Brandon +upon his side in the middle of the place, perfectly motionless; and, +with his ears singing horribly, the boy ran to his uncle's side, and +tried to raise his head. + +And all the while the shrieking and cries for help came from the +outside, mingled now with the trampling of feet. + +Then, sounding muffled and strange, and as if from a great distance, Tom +heard David's voice. + +"What is it? where are you hurt?" + +"Oh, all over," came in Pete's voice; "I was a-lookin' over the wall and +they shot me with a big gun." + +"Yah!" cried David, as if still at a great distance, but his words +sounded with peculiar distinctness through the metallic ringing. +"Shootin'! It was a thunderbolt struck the mill." + +"Oh, what is the matter?" came now in Mrs Fidler's voice. + +"Thunderbolt, mum; I saw the flash," cried David; and as Tom still held +up his uncle's head, and knelt there confused, half-stunned and +helpless, Mrs Fidler's voice rose again. + +"Quick! help them before the place falls. Master! poor master! Mr +Maxted--Master Tom!" + +Then came the sound of hurrying feet, and as Tom looked up, to see the +ceiling above him come crumbling down, more questioning voices were +heard outside, and Pete's voice rose again. + +"They shot me with a big gun--they shot me with a big gun." + +"Master! master!" shrieked Mrs Fidler. "Oh, there you are! Oh, Master +Tom, don't say he's dead." + +Tom shook his head feebly; he could not say anything. Then, as he felt +himself lifted up, he heard the Vicar say-- + +"Oh dear me; I don't know--I'm afraid I'm a good deal hurt." + +Then quite a cloud gathered about them, and with his ears still singing, +Tom felt himself lifted out, water was sprinkled over his face, and he +began to see things more clearly; but every word spoken sounded small +and distant, while the faces of David, Mrs Fidler, and the people who +gathered about them in a scared way looked misty and strange. Then he +heard the Vicar's voice. + +"Thank you--yes, thank you," he said; "I'm getting better." + +"Bones broke, sir?" said David. + +"No, I think not; see to poor Mr Brandon. I was thrown against the +wall, right across; I can't quite get my breath yet, and I'm as if I was +deaf. Ah, Tom, my boy, how are you?" + +"I don't know, sir, I don't think I'm hurt; but ask the people not to +shout so, it goes through my head." Then, as if he had suddenly +recollected something, "Where's uncle?" + +"He's coming to, my dear," said Mrs Fidler. "I think he's coming to." + +And now Tom saw that they were lying on the newly-made grass-plot +outside the mill, and that his uncle was being attended by Mrs Fidler +and another woman. + +He tried to get to him, but the slightest effort made his head swim, and +he was fain to lie still and listen, while David went on talking +excitedly. + +"I was down the garden digging up the first crop o' taters, when I see a +flash o' lightning, and then came a clap o' thunder as sharp as the +crack of a whip. It made my ears sing. Then as I run to see, I hears +Pete Warboys yelling out--`They shot me with a big gun--they shot me +with a big gun.'" + +"Hadn't some one better fetch the doctor?" said a fresh voice. + +"He's gone out," cried another. + +"Shot me with a big gun," yelled Pete again. + +"Thank you, yes, thank you," came now in a voice which made Tom Blount's +heart leap. "I don't think I am much hurt. Where is my boy Tom?" + +"I'm all right, uncle," cried the boy eagerly, though he felt very far +from being so; and he heard a few murmured words of thankfulness. + +"Where is Mr Maxted?" + +"I am here," said the Vicar, "not much hurt. But tell me, how are your +eyes?" + +"Rather dim and misty. But what was it?" said Uncle Richard, rather +feebly; "an explosion?" + +"Shot me with a big gun--shot me with a big gun." + +"Will some one put a tater in that boy's ugly mouth," cried David +indignantly. "I tell yer all it was thunder and lightning. I saw one +and heard t'other, both sharp together." + +"Yes, yes, yes. Didn't I always tell you so?" cried a shrill voice; and +Tom looked round, to dimly make out Mother Warboys bending over her +grandson, who was now sitting on the grass close under the wall, where +he had been placed. "I always said it. His punishment's come at last +for all his wicked tricks and evil dealings." + +"And one in hers too," cried David. "A wicked old sinner! Hold your +tongue, will you!" + +"Nay, nay, I'll hold no tongue," cried Mother Warboys. "He's a wicked +man-witch, and allays doing evil and making charms." + +"Shot me with a big gun, granny." + +"Hold thy tongue, boy. It's come to him at last--it's come to him at +last. I always telled ye that he was a bad, wicked one. Now he's +punished." + +"Oh dear me! I cannot put up with this," muttered the Vicar. "David, +my good fellow, give me your hand. Thank you--that's better. I think I +can stand now. Oh, yes. That's right; but I've lost my glasses." + +"Here they are, sir," said a voice, "but they're all crushed to bits." + +"Then I must do without them, I suppose." + +"An old wicked one, who buys up mills and starves the poor, so that he +may go on in his evil ways. I told you all so, but it's come to him at +last." + +"Oh dear me!" ejaculated the Vicar. "Keep my arm, David. Here, you +sir, get up." + +"Shot me with a gun--shot me with a gun," yelled Pete, who had got hold +of one form of complaint, and kept to it. + +"Silence, sir! It's all nonsense; no one fired a gun." + +"Yes; shot me, and knocked me off the wall." + +"Is he hurt?" asked the Vicar, as Uncle Richard now sat up. + +"Don't think so, sir," said one of the village people. "We can't find +nothing the matter with him." + +"I told you so--I told you all so," continued Mother Warboys, waving her +stick. + +"And I tell you so," cried the Vicar angrily. "Go along home, you +wicked old she Shimei. How dare you come cursing here when your poor +neighbours are in trouble!" + +"I--I--I don't care--I will say it," cried Mother Warboys. + +"You dare to say another word, and you shall have no dole next Sunday," +cried the Vicar angrily. + +"I--I don't care; I say it's come home to him at last. I always said it +would." + +"Yes, you wicked old creature; and in spite of your vanity you are not a +prophetess. Take that old woman home," cried the Vicar fiercely; but no +one stirred. + +"What, are you all afraid of her?" + +"She'll get cursing and ill-wishing us if we do, sir," said one of the +men present. + +"I'll take her home, sir," cried David. "Don't s'pose she'll hurt me +much if she do. Come along, old lady, and you, Pete, take hold of her +other arm." + +Pete obeyed, and seemed to forget his injuries, taking Mother Warboys' +other arm, and helping her out of the yard, she saying no more, but +shaking her head, and muttering that she "always knowed how it would +be." + +By this time Uncle Richard was sufficiently recovered to walk about; +and, beckoning Tom to him, he took his arm and went into the workshop, +where the silvered piece of speculum lay shattered; and in addition to +the windows being broken, the bench was split from end to end, and a +table and stools knocked over. + +"Look at the speculum, Tom. Is it hurt?" + +Tom's ears were still ringing as he crossed to where they had laid the +disc of glass face downwards; and on uncovering it, he found it +uninjured, and said so, making his uncle draw a deep breath as if much +relieved. + +"Now lock up the place, Tom," he said, "and let's go indoors. I am too +much shaken to say much, so ask Mr Maxted to request the people to go +away now, and then you can fasten the gate." + +"Think she'll tumble down, sir?" said a voice at the door; and they +turned to find David back panting and breathless. "Took her home, sir. +She kep' on chuntering all the way, but parson frightened her about the +dole, and she never said a cross word. But think the mill 'll come +down?" + +"Oh no, David," said Uncle Richard quietly; "there is no fear. Is that +boy much hurt?" + +"Him, sir? Tchah! There's nothing the matter with him. The shock +knocked him off the wall, and he lay howling, expecting some one to give +him a shilling to put him right. He'd forgotten all about it before he +got home, and began to quarrel with his granny." + +"Help to lock up," said Uncle Richard; and, leaving Tom free to speak to +the people, and ask them to disperse, he laid his hand on David's arm. + +Ten minutes later the people were all out of the yard, and hanging about +in the lane discussing the thunderbolt, as they called it, that had +fallen, some declaring that the worst always came out of a clear sky, +while others declared that they'd "never seed thunder and lightning +without clouds." + +On the whole, they were rather disappointed that more mischief had not +been done. The burning of the mill, for instance, or its crumbling +down, would have made the affair more exciting, whereas there were some +broken windows to look at, and that was all. + +Meanwhile the scientific people had adjourned to the cottage, where warm +water and clothes-brushes did a good deal to restore them to their +former state, while a cup of tea hurriedly prepared by Mrs Fidler did +something toward soothing their shattered nerves. + +"But really, sir, I think you ought to let me send over to Buildston for +Doctor Ranson." + +"Not for me, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard. "I've been a good deal +shaken, and my ears are full of a sharp singing sound, but I'm rapidly +coming round. Send for him to see Mr Maxted." + +"Oh dear me, no. I'm very much better," said the Vicar. "I was very +much frightened, and I have a lump on the back of my head, but that is +all. You had better send for him, I think, to see Master Tom here." + +"I don't want any doctor," exclaimed Tom. "Mrs Fidler could put me +right." + +"Yes, my dear," cried the housekeeper; "but you never will let me." + +"Well, who's going to take prune tea or brimstone and treacle because he +has been knocked down?" + +"There, Mrs Fidler, you hear," said Uncle Richard; "we have had a +narrow escape, but I don't think any of us are much the worse. We only +want rest. Take the couch, Maxted, and lie down." + +"Well--er--really," said the Vicar; "if you will not think it selfish of +me, I believe it would do my head good if I lay down for an hour. I am +a good deal shaken." + +Mrs Fidler sighed and left the room as the Vicar took the couch, Uncle +Richard one easy-chair, and Tom the other, to lie back and listen to the +murmur of voices out in the lane, where the village people were still +discussing the startling affair. Every now and then some excited +personage raised his voice, and a word or two floated through the window +about "lightning," and "heared it," and "mussy no one was killed." + +Uncle Richard was the first to break the silence by saying dryly-- + +"I'm afraid Mrs Fidler does not believe in the thunder and lightning +theory." + +"No?" said the Vicar, turning his head. + +"No," said Uncle Richard, smiling, but wincing at the same time; "she +has had experience of me before in my dabblings in other things. What +do you say was the cause of the trouble, Tom?" + +"Well, I should say, uncle, that the silver was too strong for the +glass, and made it split all to pieces." + +"Not a bad theory," said Uncle Richard. "What do you say, Maxted?" + +"Well," said the Vicar, "do you know, I'm puzzled. Of course it was not +an electric shock, and my knowledge of chemistry is so very shallow; but +really and truly, I feel convinced, that you must have got hold of wrong +chemicals, and formed some new and dangerous explosive compound." + +"Quite right, only it was not new," said Uncle Richard. "As soon as I +could collect my shattered thinking powers, I began to consider about +what I had done, and I think I see correctly now. The fact is, I forgot +one very important part of the instructions I have for silvering +mirrors." + +"Indeed!" said the Vicar, in an inquiring tone, while Tom pricked up his +singing ears. + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard. "You remember how the silvery surface was +covered with a greyish powder?" + +"Yes, thickly," said Tom. + +"That had no business there, and it would not have been if I had been +more careful to remember everything. When I took the speculum glass out +of the silvering bath, I ought to have deluged it with pure water till +all that greyish powder was washed away, then it would have been fairly +bright." + +"Yes, uncle; but what has that to do with the explosion?" + +"Everything, my boy. If there had been no powder there we should have +had no explosion." + +"But it wasn't gunpowder, uncle," cried Tom, "it couldn't be. I know +what gunpowder's made of--nitre, brimstone, and charcoal; and besides, +we had no light." + +"No, Tom, but it was a mixture far stronger than gunpowder, and one +which will explode with a very slight friction." + +"I know," cried the Vicar eagerly, "fulminate of silver." + +"Quite right," said Uncle Richard; "and I feel quite ashamed of my +ignorance. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; and I ought to have +known that in this process I was preparing so dangerous a compound." + +"I know," cried Tom now; "fulminate of silver is what they put in +percussion caps, isn't it, uncle?" + +"No; that is a very similar compound, but it is fulminate of mercury.-- +Well, Maxted, what am I to say to you for trying to kill you?" + +"I think you had better say nothing," said the Vicar quietly. "It seems +to me that the less we talk about it the better, and content ourselves +with being thankful for our escape." + +"It's lucky, uncle, that it missed the big speculum, and a lot more +stuff being used." + +"Fortunate indeed, Tom. We must be more careful next time." + +"But surely you will not try so dangerous an experiment again?" said the +Vicar anxiously. + +"Certainly I shall," said Uncle Richard. "The experiment is not in the +least dangerous if properly carried out. The accident was from my +ignorance. I know better now." + +"You've paid very dearly for your experience," said the Vicar, smiling. +"It's rather hard upon your friends, though, to try such risky +experiments in their presence." + +"Next time all will go well. Will you come and see it?" + +"Really, my dear Brandon, I respect you very much, as my principal +parishioner, and a man after my own heart, but I'm afraid I shall be too +busy to come next time. I'll wait till the big telescope is ready for +use, when I shall want to peep through; but even then I shall approach +it with fear and trembling. It will look like a great gun, and I shall +always feel afraid of its going off." + +"And you, Tom," said his uncle, "what do you say?" + +"What about, uncle?" + +"Shall you be afraid to come and help silver another time?" + +"Oh no, uncle, I think not," replied the boy. "But I say, will my ears +leave off?" + +"What, listening?" + +"No, uncle; it's just as if I'd got a little tiny muffin-man ringing his +bell in each ear as hard as he can go." + +"Try a night's rest," said Uncle Richard. "Yes, I'm very sorry we had +such a mishap." + +"Never mind," said the Vicar; "it will give our little glazier a job. +And now I feel rested and better, so good-evening, I'm going home." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +Tom gave proof of his readiness a few days later, when the broken +windows had been replaced, fresh solutions made, and the village had +again calmed down to its regular natural state of repose; for, upon his +uncle proposing that they should proceed at once to silver the big +speculum, he eagerly went off to the workshop to get all ready for his +uncle's coming. + +Short as the distance was though, he did not get away without +encountering Pete, who hurried up to the wall to shout over at him-- + +"I know. Yer did shoot at me, but I shan't forget it, so look out." + +Then hearing some one coming from the cottage, he ducked down like a +wild animal seeking concealment, and hurried away. + +Then the whole process was gone through to the smallest minutiae, and +only an hour after the silvered face of the mirror was deluged with +rain-water, and uncle and nephew gazed in triumph at their work, for +there was no sign of greyish-drab powder about the mirror, and it was so +bright that polishing seemed unnecessary. + +The next day it was polished, till by a side light it looked black, +while in face it was a brilliant looking-glass ready to reflect the +faintest stars; and after being put away securely, the great tube was +set about, and in due time this was lightly and strongly made of long +laths hooped together. A shallow tray was contrived deep enough to hold +the speculum, and fitted with screws, so that it could be secured to one +end. Next followed the fitting of a properly-constructed eye-piece from +a London optician, contrived so that it looked at right angles into a +small reflector, which also had to be carefully fixed in the axis of the +great speculum. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +"What's the matter, Tom?" said Uncle Richard one day, as they were busy +at work over the telescope, and Tom was scratching his head. + +"There's nothing the matter, uncle, only I'm a bit puzzled." + +"What about?" + +"Over this great glass. It's going to be so different to the old one." + +"Of course; that is a refractor, and this is going to be a reflector." + +"Yes, uncle, but it seems so queer. The refractor is a tube made so +that you can look through it, but the reflector will be, if you are +right, so that you can't look through it, because instead of being at +the end, the hole will be in the side. Is that correct?" + +"Quite right, and you are quite wrong, Tom, for you do not understand +the first simple truth in connection with a telescope." + +"I suppose not, uncle," replied the lad, with a sigh. "I am very +stupid." + +"No, you are not, sir, only about as ignorant as most people are about +glasses. I have explained the matter to you, but you have not taken it +in." + +"I suppose not, uncle," said Tom, wrinkling his brow. + +"Then understand it now, once for all. It is very simple if you will +try and grasp it. Now look here: what do you do with an ordinary +telescope or opera-glass, single or double? Hold it up to your eyes, do +you not?" + +"Yes, uncle." + +"And then?" + +"Look through it at something distant, and it seems to draw it near." + +"You do what?" + +"Look through it, uncle." + +"Nothing of the kind, sir, you do not." + +Tom looked puzzled. What did his uncle mean? He had, he thought, +looked through a pair of field-glasses scores of times at home in the +old days. + +"I make you stare, my lad, but I am glad to see it, for it shows me how +right I am, and that you do think as everybody else does who has not +studied optics, that you look through a glass at an object." + +Tom stared harder, and once more the old idea came to him, and he asked +himself whether there were times when his uncle did not quite understand +what he was saying. + +"But you do, uncle," he cried at last. Then he qualified this +declaration by saying, "Don't you?" + +"No, my boy, once for all you do not; and if you take up any telescope, +and remove the eye-piece before looking along the tube, you will see +that your eyes will not penetrate the glass at the end. Then if you try +the eye-piece alone, you will find that you cannot even look through +that. How much less then will you be able to look through both at +once." + +"But it seems so strange, uncle. You have a big magnifying-glass in a +tube, and don't look through it? Then what do you do?" + +"Certainly not look through it, my boy." + +"But the bigger the glasses are the more they magnify--the moon, say." + +"Yes, Tom; and the more light they gather." + +"Well, then, why do you say, uncle, that you don't look through the +glass?" + +"Because it is a fact that I want you to understand," said Uncle +Richard, smiling. "The big glass, or in our case the reflecting +speculum, forms a tiny image of the object at which it is pointed, close +to where we look in, within an inch or so of our eye." + +"A tiny image, uncle?" + +"Well, picture, then." + +"But you say tiny! It looks big enough when we put our eye to the +little round hole." + +"To be sure it does. But what do you look through?" + +"The eye-piece." + +"Well, what is the eye-piece?" + +"A little glass or two--lenses." + +"These glasses or lenses form a microscope, Tom; and through them you +look at the tiny image formed in the focus of the great lens or the +speculum, whichever you use." + +"But I thought microscopes were only used to magnify things invisible to +the eye." + +"Well, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the markings on Mars are all +invisible to the naked eye. So are the craters in the moon; so we use +the big speculum to gather the light, and then look at the spot where +all the rays of light come to their narrowest point, with an eye-piece +which really is a microscope." + +"But I don't understand now," said Tom uneasily. "I wish I was not +so--" + +"If you say stupid again, Tom, I shall quarrel with you," said Uncle +Richard sternly. "I never think any boy is stupid who tries to master a +subject. One boy's brain may be slower at acquiring knowledge than +another, but that does not prove him to be stupid. What is it you don't +follow?" + +"About our telescope. If the light from the big speculum is all +reflected nearly to a point, ought we not to look down at it?" + +"No; because then our heads would be in the way, and would cast a shadow +upon it. To avoid that, I put the little mirror in the middle, near the +top, just at the right slant, so that the rays are turned off at right +angles into the eye-piece, and so we are able to look without +interrupting the light." + +"Oh, I see now," said Tom thoughtfully. "It's very clear." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard. "Sir Isaac Newton, who contrived that way, +was a clever man. Now then, let's get on with our work." + +"I suppose then now we're ready?" said Tom. + +"Far from it," replied his uncle; "are you going to hold up a +twelve-foot tube to your eye, and direct it to a star? The next thing +is of course to mount it upon trunnions, and arrange that it shall turn +upon an axis, so that we can sweep in any direction." + +The longest tasks come to an end. By the help of the village carpenter, +a strong rough stand was connected with the beam formerly used to bear +the sails of the mill, the trunnions were fitted to a strong iron ring +by the smith, and one evening the great telescope was hung in its place, +and in spite of its weight, moved at the slightest touch, its centre of +gravity having been so carefully calculated that it swung up and down +and revolved with the greatest ease. + +"There, Tom," said Uncle Richard; "now I think we can sweep the heavens +in every direction, and when once we have tried, the mirrors, so as to +set them and the eye-piece exact, we can get to work." + +Tom looked at his uncle in dismay. + +"Why, you don't mean to say, uncle, that there is more to do after +working at it like this?" + +"Yes, a great deal. We have to get the glasses to work with one another +to the most perfect correctness. That task may take us for days." + +It did, and though Tom finished off every evening worn-out and +discouraged, he recommenced in the morning fresh and eager as ever, +helping to alter the position of the big speculum, then of the small +plane mirror. Then the eye-piece had to be unscrewed and replaced again +and again, till at last Uncle Richard declared that he could do no more. + +"Then now we may begin?" cried Tom. + +"We might," said his uncle, "for the moon will be just right to-night in +the first quarter; but judging from appearances, we shall have a cloudy +wet evening." + +And so it proved, the moon not even showing where she was in hiding +behind the clouds. + +"I do call it too bad," cried Tom, "now, too, that we are quite ready." + +"Patience, lad, patience. A star-gazer must have plenty of that. Do +you know that a great astronomer once said that there were only about a +hundred really good hours for observation in every year." + +"What?" cried Tom. "He meant in a night. I mean a week. No, I don't: +how absurd! In a month." + +"No, Tom," said his uncle quietly, "in a year. Of course there would be +plenty more fair hours, but for really good ones no doubt his +calculation was pretty correct. So you will have to wait." + +The Vicar called again one day, and hearing from Mrs Fidler that her +master was over at the observatory, he came to the yard gate and thumped +with his stick. + +"What's that?" said Uncle Richard, who was down upon his knees carefully +adjusting a lens. + +"Tramp, I should think," said Tom, who was steadying the great tube of +the telescope. + +"Then he must tramp," said Uncle Richard. "I can't be interrupted now. +What numbers of these people do come here!" + +"Mrs Fidler says it's because you give so much to them, uncle, and they +tell one another." + +"Mrs Fidler's an old impostor," said Uncle Richard--"there, I think +that is exactly in the axis--she gives more away to them than I do." + +"Bread-and-cheese, uncle; but she says you always give money." + +"Well, boy, it isn't Mrs Fidler's money. That must be exact." + +_Bang, hang, hang_ at the gate, and then-- + +"Anybody at home?" came faintly. + +"Why, it's Mr Maxted, uncle. May I go and speak to him?" + +"Yes, you can let go now. Tell him to come up." + +Tom left the telescope and went to the shutter, which he threw open, and +stepped out into the little gallery. + +"Good-morning. Your uncle there?" + +"Yes, sir. He says you are to come up." + +"Come up?" said the Vicar, laughing. "I don't know. It was bad enough +on the ground-floor. I don't want to be shot out of the top. Is it +safe?" + +"There's nothing to mind now, sir," cried Tom. "The door is open." + +"Well, I think I'll risk it this time," said the Vicar, entering the +yard, while Tom stepped back into the observatory. + +"What, is he pretending to be frightened?" said Uncle Richard, with a +grim smile. + +"Yes, uncle; he wanted to know if it was safe." + +By this time the Vicar's steps were heard upon the lower stairs, and Tom +lifted the trap-door, holding it open for their visitor, who, after the +usual greetings, sat down to admire the telescope. + +"Hah! that begins to look business-like," he said. "We shall be soon +having a look I suppose. Finished?" + +"Very nearly," said Uncle Richard. "It has been a long job." + +"I wanted your advice about one of my difficulties," said the Vicar, +puckering up his face. + +"Shall I go down and see to the glass for the new frames, uncle?" + +"Oh, no, no, no," cried the Vicar. "I've nothing to say that you need +not hear. I've just come from old Mother Warboys' cottage." + +"And how is the old witch?" + +"Ah, poor, prejudiced old soul, much the same as ever. I'm afraid she +is beyond alteration, but her grandson was there." + +"Humph! And he's beyond mending too," said Uncle Richard gravely. + +"Ah, there's the rub," said the Vicar, crossing his legs, and clasping +his hands about the upper knee. "They are both of human flesh, but one +is young and green, the other old and dry. I can be satisfied that I am +helpless over the old woman, but I'm very uneasy about that boy." + +"Halloo! He was not seriously hurt over the explosion?" + +"Not a bit." + +"But he thinks it was my doing to spite him, uncle, and he says he will +serve me out." + +"A young dog!" cried the Vicar. "I'll talk to him again." + +"Labour in vain," said Uncle Richard. "As you know, I tried over and +over again to make something of him, but he would not stay. He hates +work. Wild as one of the rabbits he poaches." + +"But we tame rabbits, Brandon, and I don't like seeing that boy +gradually go from bad to worse." + +"It's the gipsy blood in him, I'm afraid," said Uncle Richard. + +"Yes, and I don't know what to do with him." + +"A good washing wouldn't be amiss." + +"No," sighed the Vicar; "but he hates soap and water as much as he does +work. What am I to do? The boy is on my conscience. He makes me feel +as if all my teaching is vain, and I see him gradually developing into a +man who, if he does what the boy has done, must certainly pass half his +time in prison." + +"Yes, it is a problem," said Uncle Richard. "Boys are problems. +Troublesome young cubs, aren't they, Tom?" + +"Horrible, uncle," said Tom dryly. + +"But to begin with: a boy is a boy," said the Vicar firmly, "and he has +naturally the seeds of good and evil in him." + +"Pete Warboys had all the good left out of him," said Uncle Richard. + +"No, I deny that," said the Vicar decisively. + +"Well, I've seen him about for some time now, and I've never seen any of +the good, Maxted." + +"Ah, but I have," said the Vicar, while Tom busied himself doing nothing +to the telescope, and began to take a good deal of interest in the +discussion about his enemy. "You will grant, I suppose, that Mother +Warboys is about as unamiable, cantankerous an old woman as ever +breathed?" + +"Most willingly," said Uncle Richard, smiling. "She leads that boy +quite a dog's life. I've seen her thump him quite savagely with her +stick." + +"And he deserved it," said Uncle Richard. + +"No doubt; but instead of showing resentment, the boy is devoted to her; +and I know for a fact he is always bringing her rabbits and hares to +cook for herself." + +"Poached." + +"Yes, I'm afraid so; but I'm firmly convinced that he would fight to the +death for the poor old creature." + +"Nature," said Uncle Richard; "she is his grandmother." + +"Then there is some good in him," cried the Vicar; "and what I want is +to make it grow. The only question is, how it is to be done." + +"Don't you think I have got problems enough over my telescope, without +your setting me fresh ones? Get some recruiting serjeant to carry him +off for raw material to turn into a soldier." + +"Hopeless," said the Vicar. "Too loose and shambling. As it is, +metaphorically, every one throws stones at the lad; no one ever gives +him a kind word." + +"No, but who can? I'm afraid you must give him up, Maxted, as a +hopeless case." + +"I will not," said the Vicar firmly. "It's my duty to try and make a +decent member of society of the lad if I can, and I'm sorry you cannot +give me a hint." + +"So am I," said Uncle Richard seriously, "but I look upon him as +hopeless. I tried again and again, till I felt that the only thing was +to chain him up, and beat and starve him into submission, and it seemed +to me that it would be better to let him run wild than attempt to do +that." + +"Yes; I agree with you," said the Vicar. "Tom. Come, Tom, you're a +boy. Boys understand one another better than men understand them. +Can't you help me?" + +"I wish I could, sir," said Tom, shaking his head, "but I'm afraid I +can't." + +Then the conversation turned to astronomical matters, and soon after the +Vicar left. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +That conversation took root in Tom's mind. He found himself thinking a +good deal about Pete Warboys and his devotion to his hideous old +grandmother; but it was hard work to believe that he had any of the good +in him that the Vicar talked about. + +"Wonder whether he really has," Tom said to himself. "He might have." + +The idea began to grow, and it spread. + +"What would they say if I tried to alter him, and got him to turn into a +decent chap?" + +He laughed at his own conceit directly after. + +"He'd laugh at me too," thought Tom; and then something else took his +attention. But the idea was there, and was always cropping up. He +found himself talking to David about the lad one day when he was down +the garden, and David left off digging potatoes, took a big kidney off +one of the prongs of the potato fork, upon which it was impaled, split +it in two, and began thoughtfully to polish the tool with the piece he +retained. + +"Do I think as you might make a decent chap out of Pete Warboys, Master +Tom, by being kind to him?" + +"Yes." + +"Do I think as you could make a silk puss out of a sow's ear, Master +Tom; and then cut this here yellow bit o' tater into sovereigns and put +in it? No, sir, I don't. Pete's a bad 'un, and you can't make a good +'un out of him." + +"Not if he was properly taught?" + +"Tchah! you couldn't teach a thing like him. It'd all run through him +like water through a sieve." + +"But he has never been taught better." + +"More was I, sir, but I don't go poaching, and stealing apples and eggs, +and ducks and chickens. Why, he makes that wicked old woman his grandam +fat with the things he steals and takes to her." + +"Well, that shows there's some good in him," cried Tom, basing himself +upon the Vicar's speech. + +"Master Tom," cried David, digging his fork down into the earth as if to +impale fierce, evil thoughts with its tines, "I'm surperrised at you. +Good! What, to go stealing an' portching to feed up a wicked old woman, +who spends all her time trying to curse. That's a shocking sentiment, +sir, and one that arn't becoming. It arn't good, and there arn't no +good in Pete Warboys, and never will be. He's a bad stock, and if you +was to take him and plant him in good soil, and then work him with a +scion took off a good tree, and put on some graftin' wax to keep out all +the wet and cold, do you think he'd ever come to be a decent fruit tree? +Because if you do, you're wrong. He never could, and never would, come +to anything better than a bad old cankering crab sort o' thing. No, my +lad, it would just be waste of time, and nothing else." + +Still Tom did not feel at all convinced, but said no more. + +David did though. It was pleasant to the back standing there, with one +foot resting upon the great five-pronged fork; and as he stood with his +fingers on the handle, he kept his left arm across his loins, and gave +Tom a cunning leer. + +"It's all right, sir; taters won't hurt. Tatering's a thing you ought +to take your time over. The longer they lie out here without the sun on +them, the harder the skins will be, and the better they'll keep." + +Tom stopped talking to David for some time longer, but his mind was not +bent upon the vegetable kingdom as represented by the tuber commonly +known as a "tater," but upon that portion of the animal kingdom familiar +to him as Pete Warboys. + +Now it so happened that a couple of days later, Uncle Richard was going +out on business in the nearest town, leaving Tom to amuse himself as he +pleased. + +"What shall I do, uncle?" said Tom. "Is there anything to grind?" + +"No; you are not out enough in the open air. Go and get blackberries, +or mushrooms, or something to take you for a long walk. I shall be home +to tea." + +Tom had been indoors so much, that at first he felt unwilling to go; but +that feeling soon wore off, and he started for a long jaunt out through +the firs, to the wild common-lands, where Nature revelled undisturbed, +and he knew that between blackberries and mushrooms he was pretty sure +of getting something to bring back in the basket Mrs Fidler supplied. + +And so it proved. As soon as he was well through the fir-wood, where +the closely-growing reddish fir-trunks brought to mind Pete's +hiding-place, and consequently Pete himself, he found the broken ground +rich with brambles clustering over the furze-bushes, and hanging down in +the sandy hollows--hot, sunny spots, where the black fruit, rarely +gathered, hung in bunches, so that the basket soon began to grow heavy, +and a division had to be made with bracken fronds to keep them from +being mixed up with the mushrooms he gathered from time to time--not +big, flat, dark, brown-gilled fungi, such as grow in moist spots and +rich old pastures, but delicate, plump little buttons, which he found +here and there dotted about the soft velvety bits of sheep-cropped +pasture hidden among the clumps of furze. + +Then there were other objects of interest: rabbits darted here and +there, skurrying into their sandy holes; he caught sight of a weasel, +which peered at him for a moment, and then glided away like a short +fur-clothed viper. Further on he came upon an olive-green, +regularly-marked snake, which seemed in no hurry to escape; another +slightly-formed reptile, nearly equal in thickness all along, and +looking as if made of oxidised silver, being far more active in its +movements to gain sanctuary under a furze bush. Soon after, while +reaching out his hand to get at a cluster of blackberries, he saw +beneath him in an open sunny patch, where all was yellow sand, a +curled-up grey serpent, not three feet from his extended hand. It was +thick and short, the tail being joined on to the body without the +graduation seen in the others, while the creature's neck looked thin and +small behind the flat, spade-shaped head. + +"Asleep or awake?" Tom asked himself, as the reptile lay perfectly +motionless, with its curiously-marked eyes seeming dull, and as if +formed of the same material as the scales. + +The lad drew his hand back, for there was something repellent about the +little object, and he knew at once that this was a dangerous little +viper. + +His first instinct was to strike at it, but he had no stick; and he +stood perfectly still examining it, and comparing its shape and markings +with what he could recall of his readings respecting the adder. + +There was no doubt about it. The little reptile was an adder, sunning +itself in its warm home; and that it was not asleep Tom soon saw, for +the curious tongue was rapidly protruded several times, flickering, as +it were, outside the horny mouth, which seemed to be provided with an +opening in front expressly for the tongue to pass through, while the +jaws remained closed. + +"Wish I'd a stick," thought the boy, as the viper now slowly raised its +head; a couple of coils were in motion, and for the moment it seemed +about to glide away, but the head sank again, and once more the little +creature lay perfectly still. + +"They're dangerous things, and the bite is very painful," thought Tom; +but he did not stir to get a stick to kill the reptile, for he was +interested in its peculiar form, and the dark, velvety markings along +its body, which glistened in the sun. + +And there he stood, peering over into the little opening, in profound +unconsciousness that he was being silently stalked, till, just as he had +made up his mind to go to the nearest fir-tree and cut a stick, in the +hope of finding the adder still there on his return, there was a sharp +snuffling sound. + +Tom started round, to find Pete's ill-looking dog close at hand, but +ready to spring away over the bushes as if expecting a blow. + +Tom's next glance showed him the disturbed viper, with its head raised, +eyes glittering as if filled with fire, and its body all in motion. +Then it was gone; but another pair of eyes were gazing into his, for +Pete Warboys slowly raised himself from where he had crawled to the +other side of the furze clump. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +"Hulloo!" said Pete, with a sneering grin; "got you then, have I? Who +gave you leave to come and pick them?" + +"Hulloo, Pete!" said Tom quietly, ignoring the question, for the +recollection of his thoughts during the past few days came up strongly, +and all that the Vicar, his uncle, and David had said. + +"Who are you a hulloo Peteing?" snarled the fellow. "Yer ain't got no +guns now to go shooting at people." + +"What nonsense!" said Tom; "that wasn't a gun--it was an explosion." + +"Yer needn't tell me; I know," said Pete, edging round slowly to Tom's +side of the bush. + +"I don't believe you were half so much hurt as I was," continued Tom. + +"Serve yer right. Yer'd no business to shoot at a fellow." + +"I didn't," cried Tom. "Don't I tell you it wasn't a gun?" + +"Oh, yer can't cheat me. Here! hi! Kerm here, will yer, or I'll +scruntch yer!" he roared to his dog. "Leave that 'ere rarebut alone. +Want him to go sneaking an' telling the perlice, and purtendin' it was +me." + +The dog gave up chasing an unfortunate rabbit through the bushes, and +came trotting up, with hanging head and tail, to his master's side, +where he crouched down panting and flinching as Pete raised his hand and +made believe to strike. + +"I'll half smash yer if yer don't mind," he snarled. + +Then, turning to Tom-- + +"What yer got there--blackb'rys and mash-eroons?" + +"Yes; there are plenty about," replied Tom. + +"Know that better than you do." + +"I dare say you do," said Tom good-humouredly, as he watched the +unpleasant looks directed at him, the fellow's whole aspect being such +as we read was assumed by the wolf who sought an excuse for eating the +lamb. + +All the same, though, Tom's aspect partook more of the good-humoured +bulldog than that of the lamb; though Pete kept to his character well, +and more and more showed that he was working himself up for a quarrel. + +"Yah!" he exclaimed suddenly, after edging himself up pretty closely, +and with his hands still in his pockets, thrusting out his lower jaw, +and leaning forward stared over his raised shoulder at Tom. "Yah! I +feel as if I could half smash yer!" + +"Do you?" said Tom quietly. + +"Yes, I do. Don't you get a-mocking me. Ain't yer feared?" + +"No," said Tom quietly, "not a bit. Have sixpence?" + +Pete stared, and leaned over out of the perpendicular, so as to get his +face closer to Tom's. "Whort say?" + +"Will you have sixpence?" said Tom, thrusting his right hand into his +pocket, and withdrawing the above coin. + +"Yerse; 'course I will," cried Pete, snatching the piece, spitting on +it, and thrusting it into his pocket. "Thought your sort allus telled +the truth." + +"Well, so we do," said Tom, smiling. + +"None o' yer lies now, 'cause it won't do with me," said the fellow +menacingly. "Yer said yer warn't afeard, and yer are. All in a funk, +that's what yer are: so now then." + +"No, I'm not," said Tom, in the coolest way possible, for he had made up +his mind to try and carry out the Vicar's plan. + +"I tell yer yer are. What yer got here? Yer wouldn't ha' give me +sixpence to let yer alone if yer hadn't been afeard. What yer got here, +I say?" + +"You can see," said Tom, without showing the slightest resentment at the +handle of his basket being seized, even though Pete, in perfect +assurance that he was frightening his enemy into fits, grew more and +more aggressive. + +"Yes, I can see," cried Pete. "I've got eyes in my head, same as you +chaps as come from London, and think yerselves so precious sharp. +Yer've no right to come down and pick what's meant for poor people. +Give 'em here." + +He wrenched the basket from Tom's arm, and scattered its contents away +amongst the furze-bushes, sending the basket after them. + +"There, that's what you'll get if yer comes picking and stealing here. +How d'yer like that, young blunt 'un?" + +"Not at all," said Tom, who looked very white, and felt a peculiar +tingling about the corners of his lips and in his temples. + +"Course yer don't; but yer've got to like it, and so I tell yer. Smell +that." + +He placed his fist within an inch of Tom's nose, and the boy could not +help smelling it, for it was strong of pulling onions, or peeling them +with his nails. + +"Now, then, how much money have yer got with yer?" + +"Only another sixpence," said Tom a little huskily. + +"Hand it over, then, and look sharp about it, 'fore it's the worse for +yer." + +He caught hold of Tom's jacket as he spoke, and gave it a shake, making +his dog sidle up and growl, "Hear that? You give me more of yer sarce, +and I'll set the dorg at you, and see how yer like that. Now, then, +where's that sixpence?" + +"I'll give it to you if you'll leave go," said Tom quietly. "Look here, +Pete, I don't want to quarrel with you." + +"That yer don't. I should like to see you. Give it here." + +"I want to be friends with you, and try to do something for you." + +"Yes, I knows you do. You've got to bring me a shillin' every week, or +else I'll give it yer, so as you'd wish yer'd never been born. I'll +larn yer. Give me that sixpence." + +"Leave go first." + +"Give's that sixpence, d'yer hear?" cried Pete, clapping his other hand +on Tom, and shaking him. + +"Don't do that," cried Tom; "it makes me feel queer." + +Pete yelled with laughter. + +"Course it does; but that arn't nothing. Hand over that there sixpence, +or--" + +He gave a savage shake, which made Tom turn deadly pale, and shake +himself free. + +"What!" roared Pete. "Oh, yer would, would yer? Lay hold on him. +Ciss! have him there!" + +The dog, which had been snuffling and growling about, needed no further +urging, but sprang at Tom, who received his charge with a tremendous +kick, which caught the cur under the jaw, knocking it over, and sending +it in amongst the furze bushes, where it lay howling and yelping +dismally, till it gave a peculiar sharp cry, sprang out with something +sticking to its nose, and then dashed off with its tail between its legs +as hard as it could go, leaving a little viper wriggling back over the +short grass to get back to the shelter of the furze. + +Pete Warboys looked perfectly astounded at Tom's act, and stood staring +for a few moments. Then, attributing it to horror and desperate fear, +he ran at his enemy again, and got a firm grip of his collar, to begin +see-sawing him to and fro. + +"That's it, is it?" he cried; "yer'd kick my dorg, would yer? Just you +give me that other sixpence, or I'll break every bone in yer skin 'fore +yer know where you are." + +"Let go!" said Tom huskily; and he struggled to get free. + +"Oh no, yer don't. Yer arn't going to get away till yer've paid me that +there sixpence." + +Tom's fit of philanthropy had nearly all evaporated, like so much mist +before the intense heat which Pete had set burning, and made all the +blood in his face and extremities seem to run to his heart, which pumped +away violently, causing his head to feel giddy, and his hands and feet +to tingle and jerk. + +"Will you leave go?" he cried in a low, hoarse whisper. + +"No, I sharn't, yer cowardly sneak," cried Pete triumphantly, for the +white face and trembling voice were delightful to him. He had his enemy +metaphorically upon his knees, and it was pure delight to him to have +Tom at his mercy. "Yer've bounced it over me long enough when yer'd got +any one to help yer, or you was at home; but I've got yer now, and I'm +going to pay yer, and teach yer, and let yer know what's what. Where's +that there sixpence yer owe me?" + +"Will you let go?" cried Tom, more huskily than ever, but with his eyes +blazing. + +"No," cried Pete, grinning, and giving his imaginary victim a tremendous +shake. + +The last wreath of Tom's philanthropic mist had evaporated. + +_Click--Clack_! + +It was the only way in which he could use his fists from the manner in +which he was being held; so Tom struck sharply upwards, his blows taking +effect upon Pete's lower jaw, and jerking his head sharply, making him +loose his hold and stagger back, to go down in a sitting position +amongst the furze. + +He did not stay there a moment, but rebounded as quickly as if he had +been bumped down violently upon a spring bed. + +There the comparison ends, for Pete uttered a yell of agony and rage, +which made him rush again at the lad, grinning like a dog, and meaning +to take a savage revenge. But to his astonishment Tom did not attempt +to run away. He flew to meet him, when there was a sharp encounter, +heavy blows were delivered on either side, and Pete went down, but this +time on the grass. + +He was up again directly, clinging still to the belief that his +adversary was horribly afraid, and merely fighting in desperation; and +once more he rushed at Tom, who was quite ready to rush at him. + +And then for fully ten minutes there was a succession of desperate +encounters. They were not in the slightest degree scientific; they were +not what people call rounds, and there was no squaring, for everything +was of the most singular description: arms flew about like windmill +sails; fists came in contact with fists, arms, heads, faces, chests, and +at times--in a curly or semi-circular kind of blow--with backs and +shoulders. Now they were up, now they were down; then up again to +close, hitting, wrestling, and going down to continue the hitting on the +ground. Sometimes Tom was undermost, sometimes Pete occupied that +position. + +And so the fight went on desperately for the above-named ten minutes, at +the end of which time they went down together with a heavy thud, after +Pete had run in with his head down like a ram, receiving a couple of +heavy cracks, but succeeding in gripping Tom about the waist, and trying +to lift and throw him. + +But the long, big, loose-jointed fellow had miscalculated his strength. +Far stronger than Tom at the commencement, his powers had soon begun to +fail, while, though panting heavily, thickset, sturdy, bulldog like Tom +had plenty of force left in him still, the result being that Pete's +effort to lift and throw him proved a failure, ending in a dexterous +wrench throwing him off his balance, and another sending him down with +his adversary upon his chest. + +The next minute Tom had extricated himself, Pete's clutch giving way +easily; a leg was dragged out from beneath him, and Tom sat panting on +the grass, ready to spring up if Pete made a movement. + +But there was none of an inimical nature, for Pete was completely +beaten, and lay upon his back wagging his head from side to side, and +drawing up and straightening his legs slowly, as if he were a frog +swimming upside down. + +Then he began to howl, with the tears streaming out of his eyes; but for +the time being Tom was still too hot, and there was too much of the +natural desire in him to injure his adversary for him to feel any +compassion. + +"Do you give in?" he shouted. + +"Oh--oh--oh!" yelled Pete, in a hoarse, doleful mingling of cry and +word. "Yer've killed me! yer've killed me!" + +"Dead people can't talk," cried Tom tauntingly. "Serve you right if I +had." + +Probably this was a bit of hectoring, and not the real feeling, +consequent upon the great state of exaltation to which the fight had +raised him. + +"Yer've killed me, yer great coward; yer've killed me!" wailed Pete +again, excitement having probably acted upon his eyes after the fashion +attributed to a horse's, which are said to magnify largely, and made Tom +seem unusually big. + +"Coward, am I?" cried Tom, rising. "You get up, and I'll show you." + +"Ow--ow--ow! Help! help!" + +"Get up," said Tom, giving his adversary a thrust with his foot, and +another and another, feeling a kind of fierce satisfaction in so doing, +for every thrust brought forth a howl. + +"Will you get up?" cried Tom. + +"I carn't; yer've broke my ribs and killed me--yer coward." + +It could not have been after all any magnification of Pete's eyes that +caused him to say this, for Tom now saw, that where the +malicious-looking orbs had been which looked at him so triumphantly a +short time before, there were two tight-looking slits, from which the +great tears were squeezing themselves out, as the humbled tyrant went on +blubbering like a boy of eight or nine. + +Tom drew back from his adversary, for the war-fire which Pete had lit in +him was nearly burned out, and his regular nature was coming back to +smooth over the volcanic outburst which had transformed him for the time +being. + +"Hope I don't look like that," was his first thought, as he gazed down +at Pete's face as if it were a newly-silvered mirror, and in it saw a +reflection of his own. But as he looked it was dimly, and he felt that +his eyes must be all swollen up, his lips cut against his teeth, his +cheeks puffy, and his nose-- + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Tom; "how disgusting!" + +He put up his hands to his face as the above thought came into his head, +and then shuddered with dismay. + +There was no mistake about it, for he knew that if anything he was in a +worse plight than the blubbering young ruffian before him. His hands, +too: not only were they sadly smeared and stained, but the skin was off +his knuckles, and now, as if all at once, he began to tingle, smart, and +ache all over, while a horrible feeling of repentance came over him, and +regret for what had happened. + +"What a brute I must look!" he thought; and then, "How terribly I have +knocked him about!" + +Then with the feelings of regret and compunction, he began to wonder +whether Pete was seriously hurt. + +"Can't be," he thought the next minute; "he makes too much noise," and +he recalled the howlings when the explosion took place at the mill. + +"He's thoroughly beaten," Tom said to himself, as he dabbed his bleeding +face and knuckles, growing more sore and stiff minute by minute. + +"This is a rum way of trying to make friends, and to improve him," he +thought dismally, as he went on. "Oh dear, what a mess I'm in!" + +Just then so dismally prolonged a howl came from Pete, that, without +looking round, Tom cried angrily in his pain-- + +"Don't make that row; I'm as bad as you. Come: get up." + +He turned then to enforce his order with a little stirring up with his +foot, but a sharp snarl made him start back in wonder, for there, after +creeping quietly up among the furze, was Pete's thin cur seated upon his +master's chest, and ready to defend him now against any one's approach. + +"Well done, dog!" thought Tom. "I never liked you before. Here then, +old fellow," he cried aloud, as he thought of the way in which the +master used the dog, brutally as a rule. "I'm not going to hurt him. +Let's get him to sit up." + +But the dog barked fiercely as it rose on four legs, and showed its +teeth, while Tom pressed a hand over one eye, tried to keep the other +open, and burst out laughing at the sight before him. + +"Oh dear! I mustn't laugh, it hurts so," he cried; and then he laughed +again. For there was Pete's distorted comically swollen face in the +bright sunshine, and in front of it the dog's, puffed up in the most +extraordinary one-sided manner, making the head look like some fancy +sketch of a horrible monster drawn by an artist in fun. + +"It must be from the adder's bite," thought Tom, as a feeling of +compassion was extended now to the dog, who, in spite of his menaces, +looked giddy and half stupefied. + +"Here, are you going to lie howling there all day?" cried Tom. + +"Ow--ow--ow! I want a doctor," groaned the lad; and he threw out his +arms and legs again, nearly dislodging the dog from his chest. + +"No, you don't," cried Tom. "Here then, old fellow, let's look at your +nose," he said softly, as he advanced closer, and the dog snarled again, +but not so fiercely. + +"Get out! I don't want to hurt you," said Tom gently. "Let's have a +look at your nose then." + +The dog looked up at him with one eye,--the other was completely shut,-- +and Tom put his hand closer. Then the poor animal uttered a faint howl, +not unlike his master's; and as Tom touched the swollen side of its +head, it leaned it heavily in his hand, and whined softly, looking up +piteously the while. + +"Poor old chap then!" said Tom, forgetting his own sufferings as the dog +stepped slowly off its master's chest, staggered, and then leaned up +against the friendly legs so near, drooping head and tail the while. + +"Here, Pete," cried Tom excitedly, "your dog's dying." + +"Eh?" cried Pete, sitting up suddenly, and looking very like the poor +brute as he managed to open one eye. + +"That adder bit him. Look at his swollen head." + +"So it has," said Pete. "Come here, young un!" + +But the dog did not stir. + +"Where's there some water?" said Tom. + +"Down by the ford," replied Pete, quietly enough now. + +"People would see us there. Is there none nearer?" + +"There's some in the frog pond," replied Pete. + +"Stop a minute; I know," said Tom. "Ah, poor old chap, then!" he cried +excitedly, for the dog suddenly gave a lurch and fell upon its side. + +"I say," cried Pete wildly, as he rose to his knees, and caught hold of +one of the forelegs; "he arn't going to croak, is he?" + +"I don't know; I'm afraid so. But look here, the adder's bite was +poison; wouldn't it do good to let some of the poison out?" + +"Does good if you've got a thorn in your foot," said Pete, who seemed to +have forgotten all about his broken ribs, and the fact that he was +dying. + +"Shall I open the place with my sharp penknife?" + +"Couldn't do no harm." + +Tom hesitated a moment, and took hold of the dog's muzzle, when the poor +brute whined softly, looked at him with its half-closed eyes, and made a +feeble effort to lick his hand. + +Tom hesitated no longer. He opened the keen blade of his penknife, +raised the dog's head upon his knee, and examined a whitish spot +terribly swollen round, upon the dog's black nose. + +"Mind he don't bite yer," said Pete, in a tone full of caution. + +Tom looked at him sharply. "He has got some good in him after all," he +thought. + +"That's where the adder bit him," continued Pete. "I was bit once in +the leg, and my! it was bad for days. Mind--he'll bite." + +"No, he won't," said Tom firmly. "Poor old fellow, then. It's to do it +good." + +As he spoke he thrust the knife point right into the centre of the white +patch, fully half an inch; and the dog, utterly stupefied by the poison, +or else from some misty knowledge that it was being helped, hardly +winced, but lay with one eye open, looking up at Tom, who laid the head +down upon the grass. For a few moments there was nothing to see but the +little gaping cut. Then a tiny drop of black blood appeared, then very +slowly another, and soon after a little thread of discoloured blood +trickled gently away. + +"He's a-goin' to croak," said Pete hoarsely, and he looked in an +agonised way at Tom. + +"I hope not. That may do him good." + +"But oughtn't you to tie it up with a handkychy?" + +"No; that must be better out of him. I say, look here--can't you carry +him to that hole of yours under the fir-trees?" + +Pete looked at him sharply. + +"Well, I know where it is," said Tom. "If you lay him down there, out +of the sun, perhaps he'll get better." + +Pete nodded, and passing his hands under the dog, lifted it in his arms, +to begin tramping through the furze-bushes toward the distant pines, +from which he had seen and stalked Tom not so long before. + +"Shall I come with you?" said Tom. + +"If yer like," was the reply, and Tom followed; and when after a time +Pete stopped to rest, he relieved him, and carried the dog for some +distance, holding it too when the pit was reached, and Pete lowered +himself down to take it, and creep in with it to place it on his +fir-needle bed. + +Tom followed, and the two lads knelt there in the semi-darkness looking +at the patient, which lay for some minutes just as it had been placed. + +"He is a-going to croak," said Pete suddenly, for the door gave a feeble +whine, and then stretched itself out. + +"No, he isn't--he's going to sleep," said Tom, for the dog yawned, and +then curled itself up tightly, apparently falling into a stupor at once, +for it did not stir. + +"Perhaps he'll come round," said Tom, backing out of the hole. "Now, +show me where the nearest water is." + +"It ain't fur now," said Pete, following him. "It's where I gets water +to drink;" and starting off for the edge of the fir-wood, Tom followed, +feeling puzzled at the change that had come over the scene. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +In a few minutes Pete stopped at the edge of a hollow, where, half +covered by sedge rushes and bog plantain, there lay a good-sized pool of +clear water, down to which Tom made his way, followed by his companion, +and after taking a hearty draught, which was wonderfully clear and +refreshing, he began to bathe his cuts and bruises, and rid himself of +the half-dried blood. + +While Tom bathed his face and hands, Pete stood looking on, till +suddenly the former raised his head. + +"Hulloo! Why don't you have a wash?" he said sharply. + +Pete made no reply, but stepped down to the water's edge, went upon his +knees, and began to bathe his face. + +While he was busy Tom rose, and made the best use he could of his +pocket-handkerchief by way of a towel, and when he was pretty well dry +he went along to where the water lay calm and still in a corner of the +pool. Here, by approaching cautiously, he was able to lie down upon his +chest, and gaze into what formed as good a looking-glass as was ever +owned by his savage ancestors. + +The sight the boy saw was startling. + +"Oh dear!" he half groaned; "what will Mrs Fidler say--and uncle?" + +He stood up thinking for a few minutes, watching Pete, who kept on +dipping his hands into the cool water, and holding them full up to his +burning face; and as Tom looked, and thought that there was no one to +call the rough lad to account, he appeared to be seeing everything about +him with wonderful clearness--there were the long shadows of the pines +cast across the pool with streaks of golden sunshine, in which the +silver water buttercups, with their two kinds of leaves, lay thick above +and below the surface; along by the edge were the branched bur-reeds, +with their round spiked stars of seed-vessels; close by the pinky +flowering rush was growing, and in the shallows the water soldier thrust +up stiffly its many heads. And all the time splash--splash--splash-- +there was the faint sound of the water as Pete scooped it up, and bathed +his battered face. + +The scene was very beautiful and attracted Tom; but there were dark +shadows in his mind beckoning him away--to wit, his uncle and Mrs +Fidler, ready to ask him why he was in such a plight. + +"It's like taking one of the old lady's doses of medicine," he said to +himself at last. "I'd better toss it off and get it over, so here +goes." + +He walked back round the edge of the pool, and Pete must have heard him +coming, but all the sign he made was to thrust one wet hand into his +pocket and go on bathing himself with the other. + +Tom looked on in silence for a few moments. + +"I'm going now," he said. + +Pete went on splashing, and Tom hesitated. + +Then-- + +"Face hurt much?" + +Pete gave a duck with his head which was meant for an assent, and +continued splashing. + +"So does mine," said Tom suddenly, "and I ache all over." + +There was another pause. + +"I say!" + +Pete held his head still, but did not turn round, keeping his face +within a few inches of the water. + +"It was all your fault: I didn't want to fight." + +Pete began splashing again. + +"I'm going home now; I shall come and see how the dog is to-morrow." + +The only sign made by Pete was to take his left hand from his pocket, +and hold it as far behind him as he could reach, with something held +between his finger and thumb. + +Tom stared, for it was the sixpence he had given him before the fight. + +"I don't want it," said Tom; and he turned away, plunged in among the +fir-trees, and as soon as he was in shelter looked back, to see that +Pete was still bending over the water and holding the coin out behind +him. + +"Oh, I do wish it was dark," thought Tom, "so that I could get in +without being seen. It'll be weeks before my face is quite well again. +And I wanted to be friendly too. All my blackberries and mushrooms +gone. Oh, how my head aches; just as if I'd been knocking it against a +wall." + +By this time he had reached the far edge of the pine-wood, and stepped +down into the lane, to begin walking fast with his head hanging, and a +feeling of depression and misery making him long for the peace of his +own little room. + +But still his brain kept on actively at work, forming little pictures of +the events of the afternoon, while his thoughts in his mental musings +took the form of short, terse sentences. + +"I hate fighting.--That's making friends with him.--He'll always hate me +now.--Mr Maxted's all wrong.--But Pete does love his dog.--How queer +about that sixpence." + +"Good-afternoon, Tom." + +The boy stopped short with his heart beating, to find Mr Maxted seated +upon a stump in the side of the fir-wood, evidently enjoying the +glorious sunset tints spreading from the horizon nearly to the zenith. + +"I--I didn't see you, sir," faltered Tom. + +"Of course you did not, or you wouldn't have gone by. What a lovely +sunset! Why, my good lad, whatever have you been doing?" + +The Vicar rose from his seat and came forward, giving the boy a startled +look. + +"Your face is horribly bruised, and--did you fall from some tree? My +dear lad, it's terrible--just as if you had been fighting." + +"I have," said Tom bluntly, as he stood with his head erect, but his +nearly-closed eyes fixed upon the ground. + +"But there's no one to fight with here?" + +"Yes--Pete Warboys." + +"Bless my heart!" exclaimed the Vicar, laying his hand upon the boy's +shoulder. "But tell me, did he assault you?" + +"I suppose so, sir." + +"But--er--er--did you hit him back?" + +"Oh yes, sir," said Tom, with more animation now; "we had a regular +set-to." + +The Vicar coughed, and keeping his hand upon his companion's shoulder, +he walked on by his side in silence for a few minutes. Then, after +another cough-- + +"Of, course I cannot approve of fighting, Tom; but--er--he beat you +then--well?" + +"Oh no, sir," said Tom, flushing a little. "I beat. He lay down at +last and cried." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the Vicar. "Tell me how it began." + +With wonderful clearness Tom related the whole adventure, and growing +more animated as he went on, he finished by saying-- + +"It all came out of what you said, sir. I thought if Pete had some good +in him, I'd try and help bring it out by being a little friendly; but I +regularly failed, and uncle will be horribly cross with me for getting +in such a state." + +"Nothing of the kind," said the Vicar decisively. "I know your uncle +better than you do, sir, and I can answer for what he will say. But you +see, Tom, I was quite right about the lad." + +"No, sir, I don't," replied Tom sharply. "Look at my face and hands." + +"Oh yes, they do show wounds of the warpath, Tom; but they were received +in a grand cause. I knew there was good in the lad, and you have done a +deal to bring it out." + +"I don't see much good yet, sir," said Tom, rather sulkily, for he was +in a great deal of pain. + +"Perhaps not," said the Vicar, "but I do. It seems to me that by +accident you have gone the right way to work to make a change in Pete +Warboys. You have evidently made him respect you, by showing him that +you were the better man." + +By this time they were getting pretty close to Heatherleigh, and the +Vicar gave Tom's arm a grip. + +"I'm afraid I shall not see you at church next Sunday, Tom," he said, +with a smile. + +"Are you going to be away, sir?" said Tom wonderingly. + +"No: but you are." + +"I?" cried the boy. "Why?" + +"Go up into your bedroom, have a good bathe at your face, and then look +in the glass. That will tell you why." + +The Vicar walked away, and Tom slipped in quietly without being seen, +hurried up to his room, and reversed the advice he had received; for +instead of bathing himself first he walked straight to the glass, gave +one long look, and turned away in despair, for his face looked far worse +than it had done in the clear water. + +"What will uncle say?" groaned Tom; and he forgot Mrs Fidler, who came +up to his door to see if he had returned, and receiving no answer to her +knock, she walked in, and then said a good deal, but it was while +working hard to alleviate the boy's pain. + +In the midst of it all Uncle Richard came home. + +"Now for it," said Tom bitterly. "What will he say?" + +He soon heard, and when he did, there was a singular choky feeling in +his throat. For Uncle Richard called up the stairs-- + +"Feel well enough to come down, Tom? Never mind your looks." + +He went down, still expecting a severe rating, but instead of meeting an +angry face there was a very merry one, for he was saluted by a roar of +laughter. + +"Upon my word!" exclaimed Uncle Richard. "You're a nice ornament for +the home of a simple country gentleman. But Mr Maxted says you gave +him a thorough thrashing. Did you? Here, let's look at your knuckles." + +Tom slowly held out his hands. + +"Oh yes," said his uncle, nodding. "There's no mistake about that. And +so you are going to make a model boy of Pete Warboys, eh?" + +"I thought I'd try, uncle," said Tom bitterly. + +"Oh, well, go on boy, go on. You must have beaten the clay quite soft. +When are you going to put it in the new mould?" + +"I don't know, uncle," said Tom. "I expect the next thing will be that +Pete will half kill me." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +Tom saw very little more of Pete Warboys. He had slipped away to the +fir-wood, and escaping all observation, went straight to the cave; but +there was neither boy nor dog, and he left disappointed. + +Three days passed, and he did not go out, feeling perfectly unfit to be +seen. + +Then he began to grow uneasy, and wondered whether Pete was ill from the +beating he had received, and the dog dead. + +But the time went on, and he heard that Pete had gone away. David had +told Mrs Fidler, and she bore the news to Tom. + +"And it's a great blessing, my dear," she said, "for he was a very bad, +wicked boy, and I don't know what he didn't deserve for beating you so +dreadfully." + +"Oh, but he was as bad, or worse," said Tom. + +"He couldn't have been, my dear. Look at your poor face even now." + +"No. Bother! I don't want to look at my face for ever so long yet," +replied Tom. "Perhaps it's a good job though that he has gone." + +Then the winter came, with glorious, clear, starry nights, when the cold +was forgotten, and Tom had his share of feasting upon the wonders of the +heavens with the small telescope. Now it would be an hour with the +great Nebula in Orion, then one with the wondrous Ring Nebula. Another +night would be devoted to the double, triple, and quadruple stars, those +which, though single to the naked eye, when viewed by the help of the +glass showed that they were two, three, or four, perfectly separate. +Then the various colours were studied, and diamond-like Sirius was +viewed, as well as his ruby, topaz, sapphire, and emerald companions in +the great sphere. The moon was journeyed over at every opportunity, +with her silvery, pumice-like craters, and greyish-bottomed ring-plains, +surrounded by their mighty walls of twelve to seventeen thousand feet in +height. Tycho and Copernicus, with their long silvery rays; brilliant +Aristarchus; dark, deep Plato; the straight valley, the so-called seas, +the smooth, round, smaller craters, isolated Pico, the ridges, and the +wildly-rugged battlements upon the terminator--all were scanned in turn, +with Tom's thirst increasing every time he looked. + +For there was always something new to see, as well as plenty of +surprises, when some meteor suddenly shot across the field of the +telescope. But Uncle Richard said-- + +"Wait till we get the big one done!" + +Saturn became a favourite object with Tom, who was never weary of gazing +at the bright ring of light spread around the planet, which he could +almost fancy he saw spinning as it glided across the field of the glass. +Jupiter and his four moons, the former dull and scored with rings, the +latter brilliant specks, had their turn; and soon books, which he had +before looked upon as tedious and dry, became of intense interest; but +Uncle Richard said that they must have a more perfect plane mirror. + +Then came a bright wintry day, when Tom was out having a brisk run, and +to his surprise he came upon Pete Warboys, who made a rush into the +woods and disappeared, leaving his dog behind. + +"Then he has come back," said Tom to himself; and he stared at the dog, +which stood looking at him--and the whole scene of the fight, and then +the surgical operation upon the dog's nose, came back. + +"Then you did get well again, old chap," said Tom sharply. + +That was enough: the dog rushed forward, barking loudly, danced round +him, and then bounded up the bank leading into the wood, where it turned +to stand wagging its long thin tail, whisked round again, after giving +another bark, and then bounded after its master. + +"Come, I've made friends with him," said Tom, "anyhow." And though +disappointed by Pete's return after a long stay with some gipsy-like +relatives of his grandmother, he could not help feeling glad that the +dog displayed some gratitude for what had been done. + +"Pete Warboys has come back, David," cried Tom, hurrying down the garden +as soon as he had ended his walk. + +"Yes, bad luck to him, sir. I was going to tell you. I heared of it +'bout an hour ago. Been a-gipsying, I expect, with some of their +people, who've got a door-mat van, and goes about with a screwy old +horse. We shall be having some nice games again." + +"Not after the fruit, David." + +"Well, no, sir, 'cause there arn't none. It'll be eggs and chickens, +and the keepers round about 'll know my gentleman's here. Say, Master +Tom?" + +"Yes." + +"Thought you was going to make a noo chap of him?" + +"How could I when he wasn't here?" + +"No, course not; but your time's come now, sir. What you've got to do +is to sarve him as you do your specklums. You grind him down--there's +plenty on him--and then polish him into a fresh sort of boy." + +The gardener leaned upon his spade and chuckled. + +"Ah, you may laugh, David," said Tom; "but he might have been a decent +lad if he had had a chance." + +"Not he, sir. Mr Maxted tried, but it was the wrong stuff. Look here, +sir, when you makes a noo specklum, what do you do it of?" + +"Glass, of course." + +"Yes, sir, clear glass without any bubbles in it. You don't take a bit +of rough burnt clay; you couldn't polish that. He's the wrong stuff, +sir. Nobody couldn't make nothing o' him but a drill-serjeant, and he +won't try, because Pete's too ugly and okkard even to be food for powder +and shot." + +"I don't know," said Tom, as he thought of the scene with the dog. + +"And I do, sir. You mark my words--now Pete's back there's going to be +games." + +But the days glided by; and Tom had so much to think of that he saw +nothing of Pete Warboys' games, and he could hardly believe it possible +when summer came again. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +"From your cousin," said Uncle Richard, opening one of his letters, his +face gradually growing very stern and troubled as he read; while as he +finished and raised his eyes, he found that Tom was watching him +intently. + +"Sad news, Tom," said his uncle, in a low, grave voice. "My brother has +been better, but he has during the past week had a fresh attack, and is +very bad." + +"I am very sorry, uncle," said Tom frankly. + +"Yes, you would be, Tom, as it is serious." + +Uncle Richard paused, looking very hard at his nephew. Then quietly-- + +"You did not get on very well with your uncle." + +"No; I was too stupid, and it made him angry, uncle." + +"Humph! Well, Tom, by-gones must of course be by-gones. Your cousin +has written this letter at his father's dictation, and here is a +postscript. + +"`Father seems to be very dangerously ill, and the doctor says that he +must have something upon his mind.'" + +"Is it that he thinks he is more ill than he really is?" said Tom +quietly; but his uncle looked up from the letter so sharply and sternly +that the boy changed countenance. + +"The letter does not suggest that, Tom," said Uncle Richard, frowning. +"My poor brother--" Uncle Richard paused for a moment or two--"wishes to +see me once again, he says, and--and you, my boy, on business of great +importance to you and your interests. If I cannot go, he requests that +you be sent up to him at once." + +"Poor uncle!" said Tom quietly. "But does he think that I ought to go +back to the law, uncle?" + +"Perhaps." + +"But I couldn't, Uncle Richard, I am so stupid. I hate it. Pray, pray +don't think of letting me go. I am so happy here." + +Uncle Richard's face relaxed a little. + +"Perhaps he doesn't mean that. He had to do with your poor father's +affairs. It may be some business connected with them." + +"What could there be, uncle?" + +"Ah, that I cannot say. I was abroad at the time of his death." + +"Mother never said anything about them," said Tom. + +"Well, you must go up and see him at once." + +"Of course, uncle." + +"And I shall go with you, my boy. I hope he really is not so bad." + +"I hope he is not," said Tom. "How soon shall you go, uncle?" + +"In half-an-hour. If we sent for a fly we could only catch the one +o'clock train; if we walk over to the station we can catch that at +eleven. Shall we walk?" + +"Yes, uncle. I'll change my things, and be ready as soon as you." + +That afternoon they reached Mornington Crescent, to find straw laid +thickly down in front of the house, and a strange feeling of depression +came over Tom as they entered the silent room, to be received by his +aunt, who looked white and anxious. + +"I am so glad you have come, Richard," she said eagerly. "James has +been asking for you and Tom so many times." + +Just then a bell rang. + +"That's his bell to know if it is you," said Aunt Fanny; and she hurried +up-stairs, to return in a few minutes. + +"Come up at once," she said; "you first, Richard;" and she led the way +up-stairs, leaving Tom seated in the drawing-room, looking about at the +familiar objects, and growing more and more low-spirited, as they +recalled many an unhappy hour, and his troubles at the office, and with +his cousin Sam. + +But he was not left there long. In a few minutes the door re-opened, +and his aunt and uncle came in. + +"You are to go up, Tom," said Uncle Richard. "There is something to be +communicated to you." + +"Is--is he so very ill, uncle?" said Tom, with a curious sensation of +shrinking troubling him. + +"He is very ill, my boy. But don't keep him waiting." + +"Is he in his own room, aunt?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, my dear. Pray go softly, he is so weak." + +Tom drew a deep breath, and went up to the next floor, tapped lightly at +the bedroom door, and expecting to see a terrible object stretched upon +the bed of sickness in a darkened chamber, he entered, and felt quite a +shock. + +For the room was bright and sunlit, the window open, and his uncle, +looking very white and careworn, seated in an easy-chair, dressed, save +that he wore a loose dressing-gown. + +"Ah, Tom," he said, holding out a thin hand, "at last--at last." + +Tom took the hand extended to him, and felt it clutch his tightly. + +"I'm so sorry to see you so ill, uncle," he said. + +"Yes, yes, of course, boy; but don't waste time. Let me get it over-- +before it is too late." + +"You wanted to see me about business, uncle?" + +"Yes," said Uncle James, with a groan; "terrible business. Ah, Tom, my +boy. But stop, go to the door, and see that no one is listening." + +Tom obeyed, opening and closing the door. + +"No, uncle, there is no one there." + +"Turn the key, my boy, turn the key." + +Tom obeyed, wondering more and more, as he returned to his uncle's side. + +"Now, quick," said the sick man; "go to that cupboard, and bring out +that tin box." + +He did as he was told, and brought out an ordinary deed-box, which at a +sign he placed upon a chair by his uncle's side. + +"Can I do anything else, uncle?" + +"Yes, boy," cried the sick man, "and it is my last request. Tom, I've +been a wicked wretch to you, and I want you to forgive me before I die." + +Tom smiled. + +"Of course, uncle," he said quietly, as a feeling of pity for the wreck +before him filled his breast, "I suppose I was very stupid, and made you +cross." + +"He does not know, he does not know," groaned James Brandon, as he clung +to the boy's hand, "and I must tell him. Tom, my boy, it was a sore +temptation, and I did not resist it. I robbed you, my boy, dreadfully. +Here, take these, it is to make amends: deeds of some property, my boy, +and the mortgage of some money I have lent--nearly five thousand pounds, +my boy, and all yours by rights." + +"Mine!" cried Tom, startled out of his calmness by the surprise. + +"Yes, all yours, my boy. Your poor mother confided it to my care, Tom, +for you, and I was tempted, and kept it all back. It was a fraud, Tom, +and I am a criminal. I could not die with that on my conscience. Tell +me you forgive me, Tom, before it is too late." + +Tom gazed at the convulsed face before him with a look of anger which +changed into pity, and then to disgust. + +"Do you hear me, boy? You must, you shall forgive me. Don't you see I +am almost a dying man?" + +"My mother trusted that all to you, and you sto--kept it back, uncle," +said Tom sternly. + +"Yes, my boy; yes, my boy. You are quite right--stole it all, robbed +you--an orphan. But I'm punished, Tom. I haven't had a happy hour +since; and you see these--these deeds in the strong cloth-lined +envelope, tied up with green silk--it is all yours, my boy. Take it and +keep it till you come of age, and then it is yours to do with as you +like. But tell me you forgive me." + +Tom was silent, and his uncle groaned. + +"Am I to go down on my knees to you?" he cried. + +"No, uncle," said Tom sadly; "and I forgive you." + +"Ah!" cried the wretched man, "at last--at last!" and he burst out into +an hysterical fit of sobbing, which was painful in the extreme to the +listener, as he stood gazing down, with the great envelope in his hand, +at the broken, wretched man before him, till the invalid looked up +sharply. + +"Put it away--in your jacket, boy, and never let me see it again. Give +it to your uncle to take care of for you till you come of age. I shall +be dead and gone then, Tom; but you will have forgiven me, and I shall +be at rest." + +Tom said nothing, for his head was in a whirl, but he quietly buttoned +up the packet in his breast. + +"Have you told Uncle Richard, sir?" he said, at last. + +"Told him? No, no one but you, boy." + +"I must tell him, sir." + +"Yes, but not here--not till you get home. Leave me now; I can bear no +more. Go down and send up your aunt. I must take something--and sleep. +I have had no rest for nights and nights, and I thought I should die +before I had time to confess to you, Tom. But you forgive me, my boy-- +you forgive me?" + +"Yes, uncle, once again I forgive you." + +"Now go," cried the invalid, catching at and kissing the boy's cold +hand. "Don't stop here; go back home, for fear, Tom." + +"For fear of what, uncle? you are not so bad as that." + +"For fear," panted the sick man, with a strange cough, "for fear I +should try to get them back. Quick! go.--Now I can sleep and rest." + +Tom went down, looking very strange, and found his aunt waiting +anxiously. + +"He is better, aunt," said Tom quietly. "You are to go up to him at +once." + +Aunt Fanny almost ran out of the room, and as soon as they were alone +Tom turned to his uncle. + +"We are to go back home directly," he said. + +"What, with him so bad! What about your business?" + +"It is all done, uncle; and I am to take you back home, and tell you +there." + +"Pish! why so much mystery, Tom?" + +"It is Uncle James's wish, Uncle Richard," said Tom gravely. + +"It was business then?" + +"Very important." + +"And we are to go?" + +"Yes, at once. I want to go too, uncle, for I feel as if I could not +breathe here. Don't speak to me; don't ask me anything till we get +back, and then I'll tell you all." + +"This is a strange business, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "but it is his +wish then. Well, we will go." + +That night Tom sat in his uncle's study, and told of his interview with +the sick man, while his hearer slowly turned his head more and more +away, till the little narrative was at an end. Once, as he spoke, Tom +heard the words muttered-- + +"A scoundrel! My own brother too." + +Then Uncle Richard was very silent, and his face was pale and strange, +as he took the packet from his nephew's hand. + +"He must have been half mad, my boy," he said huskily, "or he would not +have done this thing. This must be our secret, Tom--a family secret, +never mentioned for all our sakes. We'll put the deeds in the old +bureau to-morrow, and try and forget it all till the proper time comes. +There, I'm better now. Glad too, very glad, Tom. First that he +repented of the wrong-doing, and glad that you are so independent, my +boy. It was always a puzzle to me that your poor mother should have +left you so badly off. I said nothing, for I thought she must have +foolishly frittered away what should have been yours." + +"I wish I had never known this, uncle," said Tom bitterly. + +"Why, my boy? it is best you should. I am glad your poor, foolish, weak +uncle has tried to make amends. The next thing we shall hear will be +that, with a load off his mind, he has grown better. Why, Tom, he must +have come down here to be near you, and confess the truth. Well, +good-night, boy. It has been a trying day--and night. Sleep on it and +forget it; but first--" + +He held the boy's hand in his for a few moments, and his voice was very +husky when he spoke again. + +"A family secret, Tom. Your uncle--my own brother. We must not judge +the tempted. Good-night; and when alone by your bedside--`Forgive us +our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.' +Good-night." + +Uncle Richard led the way to the door, opened it, and half thrust him +without. + +Tom stood for a few moments in the dark hall, and then went slowly up to +his room. + +The next minute he had run down again, to silently enter the study, and +find Uncle Richard seated with his face buried in his hands, and his +breast heaving with the terrible emotion from which he suffered. + +"Uncle." + +"Tom." + +The next instant he was clasped to the old man's breast, and held +tightly there. + +For some minutes not a word more was said; then both rose, as if a great +weight had been lifted away. + +"Good-night, Tom." + +"Good-night, uncle." + +And those two were closer together in heart than they had ever before +been, since Heatherleigh had become Tom Blount's home. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +Uncle Richard made no further reference to the past day's business, but +Tom noticed that he looked very serious and dejected. He caught him +gazing too in a peculiar way, and upon their eyes meeting Tom saw his +uncle draw himself up rather stiffly, as if he were saying to +himself--"Well, it was not my fault--my honour is not smirched." + +Tom felt that his uncle must have some such thought as this, and exerted +himself to make him see that this sad business had only drawn them +closer together. + +The plan of turning the laboratory into more of a study had been +gradually working, and that morning, after their return from town, a +couple of book-cases were moved up, with a carpet and chairs, making the +circular room look cosy. + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, as they looked round that evening; "the place +looks quite snug, Tom. My old study was just right for one; but when it +was invaded by a great rough boy like you there was not room to move. +This will do capitally; you can take possession of some of the shelves +for your specimens that you collect, and we can make it a museum as +well." + +"You won't mind, uncle, if I do bring things up here?" + +"I shall mind if you do not, boy. This is our room, mind, where we can +be quite independent, and make it as littery as we like without being +called to account by Mrs Fidler every time there is a mess." + +As he spoke Uncle Richard unlocked the old walnut bureau, and took the +large envelope from his breast--the document which Tom had handed to him +over-night being within. + +"Your papers, Tom," he said, rather huskily. "They will be as safe here +as in my room; I will put them with these leases and things. Of course +you can have my keys if you wish to see them." + +"I don't want to see them, uncle," said Tom quietly. + +"Not to-day perhaps, but you will, my boy. Some day we will go over the +matter together; we neither of us want to talk about it now." + +"No, uncle, of course not." + +Uncle Richard placed the big envelope in the drawer and locked it up, +placing the keys in his pocket; but directly after he took them out +again, and opened the drawer in which lay several other legal-looking +documents in cartridge envelopes. + +"Get me one of those very large cartridge envelopes, Tom, out of the +stationery drawer," he said; and this being fetched from the +table-drawer, the important deeds were slipped in, fastened down, and +the envelope afterwards tied round in the most business-like way with +red tape. After which a wax-match was lit, and the ends of the tape +covered with sealing-wax, and stamped with an old signet-ring. + +"There, my boy, we'll leave it for the present. Some day I will go and +see my solicitor about the matter." + +Tom uttered a sigh of relief as the documents were locked up, for the +sight of them troubled him. He felt in a way that he could not have +explained, as if he were in some way answerable for the shame which had +come upon their family, and that it was causing something like restraint +between him and his uncle, who evidently was cruelly chagrined by his +brother's conduct. + +"I shan't be in any hurry to have them brought out again," thought Tom; +and as Uncle Richard placed the keys in his pocket, Tom began hurriedly +to talk about the speculum. + +"How long will it be before we are able to--to what you may call it?" + +"Mount it?" said Uncle Richard, smiling sadly. + +"Yes, uncle," cried Tom. "You don't know how I long to get it right, so +that we can have a look at the moon." + +"It will be some time yet, my boy," replied Uncle Richard with a sigh; +and Tom felt startled, for it seemed to him as if the stern, +decisive-looking countenance before him had grown older, and the lines +in it more deeply-marked. + +"Some time, uncle? Why, you said it was as good as finished." + +"Yes, my boy, but duty first and pleasure after. While I have been +doing this little bit of business other things have crossed my mind. I +shall go up to town again to-morrow." + +"To Uncle James's?" said Tom, after a pause. + +"For one thing, yes. It is painful, my boy, but I feel that I ought to +go." + +Tom was silent. He stood there feeling that his uncle was behaving +differently to him. For his words were cold and measured, and he did +not speak in the light, pleasant way of a couple of days back. At the +same time, it was not that there was a division between them, but as if +Uncle Richard treated him like one who shared with him a sad secret. He +was graver, and there was a confidential tone in his voice which made +the boy feel that he had grown older all at once. + +"Shall you want me to go with you, uncle?" said Tom at last. + +Uncle Richard looked at him intently. + +"Do you feel as if you could go, Tom?" he asked. + +Tom was silent; and then, as the searching eyes would take no denial, +and forced him to speak, the boy cleared his throat from something which +seemed to choke him, and spoke out hurriedly. + +"Don't think me queer and awkward, or ungrateful, uncle," he cried. +"I'm ready to forgive Uncle James, but I never did, and never can feel, +as if I liked him. I would rather not go and see him, but if you say I +ought to I will." + +"I do not say you ought to, Tom," said his uncle gravely; "but as his +brother, I feel that I must now he is so bad." + +"You're not angry with me, uncle?" + +"No, boy. I like the way in which you have spoken out. I could not +have stood it, Tom, if you had assumed anything and been hypocritical. +There, now, we will leave the subject. I shall go up again to-morrow +morning. You can spend your time in doing any little thing to make this +place more snug and home-like. I dare say I shall be back to-morrow +evening." + +Tom uttered a sigh full of relief as they went back to the cottage, and +that night slept soundly enough, never once giving a thought to the +documents in the old mill, which had suddenly turned him from a +penniless lad into one with a few thousands to start in life when he +came of age. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +That next morning when Tom jumped out of bed, he felt light-hearted, and +ready for anything. He threw open his window to have a look round, and +knew by a low whistling that David had come to work. Then reaching out +to have a look at the mill, with his head full of telescope, he stared, +for the door was open; and excited by this, and fearing something was +wrong, he hurriedly dressed, went down, and found that it only wanted a +quarter to eight. + +"And I thought it was only about half-past six," he muttered, as he +hurried out and across to the mill. + +All was still there, and he looked round, but nothing appeared to have +been disturbed; but upon looking up he could see the keys were in the +laboratory door, and he paused with his heart beating. + +"Pooh!" he muttered to himself, as he drove away the hesitation. +"Nobody would be there now." + +He went up the stairs, though softly, as if in doubt, and looked through +the ajar door, to see that which made him steal softly down again, for, +with a black bag on the front of the old bureau, Uncle Richard was +busily writing, evidently getting some business done before he went off +to town. + +"Morning, Tom," he said a quarter of an hour later, as he entered the +breakfast-room, black bag in hand; "you needn't have crept down again, I +was only doing a little business before breakfast." + +"Then you heard me, uncle?" + +"To be sure I did, my lad.--Morning, Mrs Fidler." + +"Good-morning, sir," said the housekeeper; "and--and I sincerely hope +you will find your poor brother better when you get up to town." + +Uncle Richard bowed his head, and the housekeeper went on-- + +"Don't you think, sir, if it could anyhow be managed, you ought to try +and get him down here again? You know how much better he grew while he +was here." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard quietly, as he went on with his breakfast. + +"And though I'm not clever as a nurse, you know, sir, I'd do anything I +could to make him well." + +"I do know it, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard warmly; "but," he added, +with his face growing more grave, "he will not come down here again." + +Mrs Fidler sighed, and Tom kept his eyes fixed upon his coffee-cup. + +The breakfast passed off very silently, and as soon as it was over, +Uncle Richard went into the next room, when Mrs Fidler seized upon the +opportunity to speak. + +"I feel as if I must say it, Master Tom," she said, in a low tone of +voice, "and I know you won't tell your uncle, but I don't like Mr James +Brandon a bit, and I don't like his son; but if master will bring him +down there's nothing I won't do to try and make him well; and I do +assure you, Master Tom, that there's a deal more in good jellies and +very strong beef-tea than there is in doctors' stuff." + +"They're much nicer," said Tom, smiling. + +"Ah, but it isn't all that, sir; it's the strength there is in them. +Perhaps master might like me to go up and nurse his brother." + +"No, I'm sure he would not," said Tom; and just then his uncle returned. + +"Going to walk part of the way with me, Tom?" said Uncle Richard. + +"I'm going to walk all the way with you, uncle, and carry your bag," +said Tom; and ten minutes later they were on the road, chatting about +the telescope, and the next things to be done, so that the long walk to +the station was made to seem short. Then the train came steaming in, +and Uncle Richard stepped into his compartment. + +"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to come, uncle, and tell him I +forgive him again?" whispered Tom, as he handed in the little black bag. + +"Certain. I'll give your message. Good-bye." + +The train glided away, and Tom started back for home with his mind busy +for a few minutes over the scene at Mornington Crescent; and then +thoughts flew on to the mill and into the future, when perhaps some far +greater telescope would be mounted, and nights occupied searching the +heavens. + +Then Tom's thoughts came back to earth, and Pete Warboys' hole under the +great pine-tree, and he was still busy over that, and the great +gipsy-like boy's habits,--poaching, probably stealing, and making +himself a nuisance to everybody,--when he caught sight of the lad +himself peering into a patch of coppice evidently watching something, +that something proving to be the dog, which soon after leaped out into +the road. + +Tom's footsteps had been silenced by the soft green turf which margined +the way, so that he was close up to the lad before he was noticed, and +then Pete gave a bound and shot into the coppice, followed by his dog; +but once more the dog turned back to give him a friendly bark. + +"After no good, or he wouldn't have rushed away like that," thought Tom, +as he went on, reached the cottage feeling very little the worse for his +long morning's walk, and meaning to go up and busy himself in the +laboratory; but to his surprise Mrs Fidler stopped him. + +"Don't go away, Master Tom; it's close to one o'clock, and lunch will be +ready. We will have regular dinner at seven, when your uncle comes +back." + +"If he does come to-night," said Tom. + +"Oh, he will, my dear, if he possibly can, you may depend upon it." + +The housekeeper was right, for soon after half-past six the station fly +brought Uncle Richard back, tired, but looking brighter than when he +started. + +"How is he?" said Tom anxiously. + +"Better, much better. Your aunt says a change came over him soon after +we had gone, my boy, and the doctor thinks that he will come round now." + +Tom looked very hard in his uncle's eyes, and Uncle Richard looked very +hard in his, but neither of them spoke. They each thought the same +thing though, and that was, that the doctor had said he had something +upon his mind. That something was no longer there, and its removal had +achieved what no medical man could have done, and so quickly that it +seemed to be like a miracle. + +A week passed, and two answers to letters of inquiry came down to +Heatherleigh, both saying that Uncle James was improving fast. + +Another week, and only one letter came, with the same report. + +The next week a short acknowledgment came from Sam, to say that his +father was nearly well, and had gone down to Bournemouth for a change. + +"I think, Tom, we may as well finish the telescope," said Uncle Richard +dryly. "Let's set to work at once." + +That same day Mrs Fidler, who had heard the news, seized an opportunity +to deliver her opinions to Tom. + +"It's just as I thought, sir," she said, "he was never really bad. It +was all nerves and fidgetting about himself. He thought he was in a +very bad state, and kept on making himself worse and worse, till he +believed that he was going to die. It was nothing but nerves." + +"It was something else," thought Tom; and what that something was he did +not confide to the housekeeper. + +"I'm glad he has got well again," he said to himself; "but I hope +neither he nor Cousin Sam will come down here." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +Time went on at its customary pace, and Uncle Richard had business in +London again, where he was detained for some time. + +At last there came a letter saying that he would not be back yet, but +that he hoped Tom would complete a perfect plane mirror before his +return, as he still thought they might do better, and get a truer image +of the faint stars; so, forgetting all about Pete Warboys and his dog, +Tom worked away as busily as if his uncle were at his elbow. + +Then came another letter delaying the return; and in a postscript Uncle +Richard wrote that he had called at Gray's Inn, and seen Sam, who said +that his father was now nearly well. + +"I shall be very, very glad when Uncle Richard gets back again," said +Tom that night when he went to his bedroom, and then he began thinking +about Pete. He got no further with him, but whenever he saw the dog, +the animal always barked and wagged his tail. + +"Dog's easier than boy," thought Tom. "Well, I can't help it; I tried +to be friends, and I fancied he meant to be now; but I suppose he can't +forgive me for the beating. Still, he doesn't shout after me now. How +I do long to get on again with telescope work!" + +The thought of this made him go to the window, pull up the blind, and +throw the casement wide. + +He listened for a few moments as he gazed over the dark garden, and then +laughed softly, for there was no likelihood, he thought, of any one +coming after the apples; then kneeling down so that he could rest his +arms upon the window-sill, and gaze out at the intensely black sky, +which was now ablaze with stars shining out with wondrous clearness. +Constellation after constellation glittered above his head, with many a +great star which he had now learned to know. There was Vega brilliant +in the extreme. There too was Altair. The bull's-eye shone out of a +deep golden hue; and below it, and more to the south, he made out Sirius +glittering in its diamond lustre. + +"That's Jupiter too," said Tom to himself; and as his eyes swept on, he +could see Venus low-down in the south-west, just passing out of sight. + +Gazing on, with his eyes sweeping along the west, he passed Cygnus, with +its great triangle, mighty Arcturus, and-- + +"What's that?" + +Tom's question to himself was put not concerning a bright star or +planet, but apropos of a noise which came from the direction of the +mill. + +He listened intently, with his heart beginning to throb, for there was a +faint noise as of a step on gravel, and then a faint whispering. + +Tom's heart ceased throbbing for a few moments, and then went on again +in a way which felt suffocating, as he felt convinced that there was +some one in the mill-yard. + +He listened for a minute, and then went softly down-stairs to get the +keys of the observatory, and go out. But as he took them from the nail +in the little hall, he felt that if he opened the door, the shooting of +the bolts would alarm Mrs Fidler and the maids, so he stole back to his +room, closed the door, listened again at his window, and became sure +that some one was in the mill-yard. + +"It's Pete Warboys," he said to himself as he listened. "What mischief +is he after now?" + +It was too dark to make out anything with his eyes; but his ears +maintained that something was going on, and a sudden chill of horror and +dismay ran through Tom. + +"He's going to smash the new speculum out of spite for the thrashing he +got," muttered Tom; and nerved now by his indignant excitement, he let +himself down from the window, and began to cross the garden without a +sound, thinking as he went of the position. + +"He couldn't get in at the door," he said, "without a strong crow-bar, +and the windows are now all strongly fastened. Perhaps after all it's a +mistake." + +But all the same there was a feeling troubling Tom which made him +determined to thoroughly make sure that no midnight marauder was about, +bent upon destroying the piece of optical work which had been made with +so much care. + +He crept out silently, and across the lane, raised the key to open the +yard gate, but replaced it in his pocket, walked a few yards, and, with +the intention of not alarming the visitor, softly began to scale the +wall, and did the very thing he wished to avoid, for as he passed over +the wall on one side of the mill, a dark figure passed over it on the +other side, with the difference that as Tom went in the figure went out, +and stood peeping over. + +Stooping low Tom crept up to the doorway and found it fast, tried one +window, the one that had been before opened, and found it quite right. +Then going round to the back, he found the other window was in the same +condition. + +"Nothing wrong," he said to himself, as he went on silently round the +mill, looking upwards at the first storey windows, and then he came to a +sudden stoppage, having struck against something in his way, and pretty +well invisible in the darkness. + +Then Tom's heart began to beat again heavily, for his hands, which flew +up, were resting upon one side of a long, slight, fruit-gathering +ladder--one of those which sprawl out widely at the foot, and run up +very narrow at the top, a form which makes them safe from tilting +sidewise, and so balanced that they are easy to carry about from place +to place. + +Tom knew the ladder by the shape: it was the one David borrowed from the +next neighbour, against whose long cow-house it always hung on two great +pegs, sheltered from the rain by the thick far-projecting thatch. + +And now this ladder had been reared up against the mill, and though the +top rounds could only be dimly-seen, there they were resting up against +the rails of the little gallery, close to the shutter which opened into +the roof of the observatory. + +"It's Pete," Tom said to himself, as he stood listening, but only to +hear the beating of his own heart. Then he took three or four steps up +very softly, but stopped short, for all at once there was a gleam of +light in the panes of the laboratory window, such as would be produced +by any one striking a wax-match. + +Tom stepped down again, stood looking up a few moments watching the +feeble light, which was little more than would have been produced by the +gleaming of the stars, and then an idea occurred to him. + +Getting behind the ladder he gave it a push, and it rose upright +directly, and he found that he had no difficulty in managing it. +Working it to and fro he walked its legs close up to the brick wall, and +then placing his hands upon the rounds, lowered it step by step till it +lay flat in the yard. + +"No running away this time," muttered Tom; and he crept back to the +entrance, which he opened softly with the key, entered the workshop, and +then closed the door and locked it on the inside, afterwards placing the +keys in his pocket, but took them out again, for he remembered, what he +had forgotten in his excitement, that since the laboratory had been +furnished, it too had been kept locked, so that to get into the chamber +where he had seen the gleam of light, he would have to unfasten the door +at the top of the flight of steps. + +For a brief moment the boy felt nervous, then he was himself again. + +"Pete will be in a horrible fright," he thought; and, creeping up, he +softly inserted the key, unlocked this door, and withdrew the key +without a sound. Then slowly and silently he pressed down the +thumb-latch, the door yielded with a faint creak, and he passed in, to +stand listening and looking round. + +All was still and very dark, save that he could just make out the shape +of the window, and if any one had passed the panes he might have been +visible as a black shadow. + +For an instant Tom wondered whether he could have been deceived, but the +next he knew it was impossible. The light might have been fancy, or a +reflection, but there was none about that ladder. + +Then his heart seemed to jump into his mouth, for there was a sound +overhead. Some one had evidently gone to the opening, stepped into the +little gallery, felt for the ladder, found it gone, and concluding that +the movable top had swung round, was now hurriedly spinning the wheel +and causing the whole of the light wooden dome to revolve. + +"Caught," cried Tom beneath his breath; and, reckless of consequences, +he crossed the laboratory, ascended the steps, and dashed across to +where the iron wheel was pivoted to the wall. + +"It's no good," he shouted. "Give up!" and he caught some one by the +shoulder; but before he could get a good grip he received a tremendous +buffet in the chest, which sent him staggering backward, and ere he +could recover himself his adversary had made for the trap-door, and +begun to descend as if quite at home in the place. + +Tom made after him, but in the darkness he bore too much to his right, +and as he corrected his course by touch, he only bent down to descend in +time to feel the trap-door brush by him, and fall with a bang, which +forced from him a cry, mingled with the shooting of the bolt. + +Fortunately as well as unfortunately, the trap-door fell upon Tom's +foot, which was half over the opening, and the bolt shot into vacancy, +so that the next minute the boy had dragged it up, descended two or +three steps, holding on by the edge of the floor, and then swung himself +forward and dropped into the chamber below. + +"You stop, or it'll be the worse for you," he shouted fiercely, for the +pain in his foot had roused him into a fit of passion which drove away +everything but the desire to get a good grip of Pete. + +There was no reply, no sound, and Tom felt that the scoundrel must be +close at hand stooping behind one of the tables or crouching against the +wall. + +"It's of no use," cried Tom fiercely. "You're caught like a rat in a +cage. Do you hear, sir? Give in!" + +_Creak_, _creak_! just as Tom was craning his head forward. + +The sound came from below, and with a muttered ejaculation, full of +vexation, the boy darted to the head of the steps, and rushed down in +the darkness at a break-neck speed, which ended in a big jump on to the +stone-floor, from whence he rushed toward the window which made that +noise when any one tried to open it--a difficult task with the new hasps +to any one who did not understand them. + +There was no one by the window, but no doubt about the presence of +another in the stone-floored place, for the footsteps had sounded, and +as Tom stood ready to spring he could detect a low panting noise. + +"Now then!" he cried; "you hear what I say--give up at once." + +There was no reply, and Tom tried to pierce the darkness, and then made +a sudden rush in the direction where he thought the visitor must be. + +He was not right, but his action betrayed where the fellow was, for he +rushed across the place, and sent a thrill through Tom's breast. + +And now a desperate game at blind-man's-buff commenced, in which he +moved cautiously here and there, with his clenched fists extended ready +to strike or ward off a blow, which was certain to be aimed at him if he +tried to seize the too active enemy. + +And as he moved here and there in the cold dark place, he realised how +easily one trying to escape could avoid a would-be captor by keeping +very still and away from the windows, or by ducking down when passing +them. Twice over he touched an arm, once a head, but their owner +bounded away with a faint ejaculation at each touch, and the hunt went +on round and round the place, till both stopped, listening for the +other's next movements. + +There was a long period of painful silence. + +"He's close to the door," thought Tom at last, for he fancied that the +breathing came from there; and moving slowly and almost imperceptibly, +he glided nearer, holding himself ready to make a spring at the +slightest sound. In this fashion he had half covered the workshop +toward the door, and was in the act of bounding forward the rest of the +way, when he heard a sound behind him, and the next moment the enemy was +rushing up the steps to reach the laboratory again. + +"Better than creeping about here in the dark," thought Tom, as he too +rushed for the steps and began to ascend, to have the door banged in his +face, and by the time he had reached it and got through, his quarry was +at the top of the next flight of steps, and had banged down the +trap-door. + +Tom was up directly, though, threw the trap over, and sprang panting +into the observatory, to stand in the darkness here too, listening and +trying to make out where his quarry was lying in wait; and heedless of +danger, he did not stop to take a necessary precaution. + +Then there came a loud scraping noise from outside, and Tom sprang +towards the open shutter, convinced that his quarry had climbed out into +the tiny gallery; but at the same moment he came heavily in contact with +some one, and was taken so unexpectedly, that at the end of a brief +struggle here and there upon the floor Tom uttered a cry, for he stepped +suddenly down over the edge of the trap-way, completely losing his +balance as his foot was checked on a stair eighteen inches below, and he +fell heavily, bumping down all of a heap to the lower floor, where he +lay half-stunned, listening to the banging down of the trap once more, +and feeling stupid and confused as he gathered himself up, and again +ascended the steps, to thrust open the door with hands and head. + +This time as he passed through he closed the trap after him, and stood +dizzy and panting, knowing that he was hurt, but unable to tell how +much. + +A sound that he heard cleared his head the next moment, for it sent a +thrill of excitement through him which told him he could not be very +bad, and he stepped quickly to the open shutter and began to get +through. + +For the sound he heard was the rap of the top of the ladder against the +little gallery rails; and as he crept out and into the little wooden +construction, he felt for and touched the end of the ladder, which was +quivering as if some one was going down. + +There was no dizziness in Tom's brain now. The enemy was just below and +escaping. + +Passing one leg over the rail, Tom planted a foot safely as he held on, +then the other, and began to descend as rapidly as he could, feeling the +ladder quiver more and more, and then hearing as he was half-way down a +whisper. Then he felt a jerk, one side of the slight implement was +wrenched over sidewise, and the top glided from the gallery. The next +moment he was falling as he clung, and before he had time to think, he +and the ladder came to the ground with a crash. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +Tom was some ten feet or so from the ground when he described an arc in +the darkness, so that it was not a very serious fall, but bad enough to +knock the sense out of him for a moment or two, and the worse from its +coming so closely upon his bumping down the upper steps. Consequently +he lay quite still with the ladder upon him for a while, with a dim idea +that he could hear whispering, scrambling, and then the patter of steps +somewhere not far away. + +Those footsteps were still to be heard when the boy thrust the ladder +over, rose very slowly to a sitting position, and tried to look round +him, seeing more stars than he had when he knelt at his bedroom window, +these too having a peculiar circling motion of their own, which made his +head ache violently. + +"He's got the best of me again," said the boy rather piteously, "for +it's no good to go after him now." + +Tom had the organ of order sufficiently developed to make him wish to +pick up and return the ladder instead of leaving it lying in the yard; +but he felt shaken up, and the feeling of confusion came upon him again +so strongly that he stood thinking for a few minutes, and then went and +unlocked the gate, listened a while, and then locked it after him and +crossed the lane into the garden. + +The next minute he was under his bedroom window, feeling unwilling to +climb up, for he was getting cold and stiff; but he dragged himself on +to the sill, got in, and without stopping to undress, threw himself on +the bed and fell into a sound sleep, in which he dreamed that two +policemen came down from London with the big black prison van and +carried off Pete Warboys, who was taken to the Old Bailey to be tried +for stealing the round wooden dome-shaped structure which formed the top +of the mill. + +He was awakened next morning soon after six by the pattering at his +window of some scraps of fine gravel, and jumping off the bed he found +David below on the lawn. + +"Here, look sharp and come down, Master Tom," cried the gardener +excitedly. + +"What's the matter?" said Tom, whose mind was rather blank as to the +past night's business. + +"Some 'un's been in the night and stole the tallowscoop." + +"Nonsense!" + +"But they have, sir. It's as fact as fack. There's the top wooden +window open, and Jellard's long fruit-ladder lying in the yard." + +Tom hurried down at once, to find the ladder just as he had left it; and +on entering the mill, closely followed by David, he looked round for +traces of the burglarious work that must have been done. + +But all was in its ordinary state in the workshop, and after a sharp +investigation, Tom was on his way to the steps, when David looked at him +in a half-injured way as if disappointed. + +"What, arn't nothing stole here, sir?" + +"No; everything seems to be right," replied Tom. + +"Well, I should ha' thought they'd ha' took the spacklums or something +while they was about it." + +But matters wore a different aspect upon the laboratory being reached. +On the whole the place looked undisturbed, save that a rug or two had +been kicked up, and a chair tilted over against the wall; but at the +second glance Tom felt a thrill, for there facing him was the old walnut +bureau, with its drawers open, and the contents tumbled over and over, +the small top drawer to the right especially taking Tom's attention, for +it hung nearly out and was perfectly empty. + +There had not been much in it, only a few papers, but one was the large +cartridge paper envelope, which contained the documents given to him by +his uncle when that strange visit was paid. These had evidently gone; +what else had been taken it was impossible to say. + +"They've been at it here, Master Tom, haven't they?" + +"I'm afraid so, David." + +"Then hadn't I better go and fetch the policeman directly, sir?" + +"No," said Tom decisively. "We must wait till uncle comes back, and see +what he says." + +"But they'll get right away, sir, 'fore he comes back." + +"I'm afraid whoever it was has got right away, David," said Tom; and he +told his companion as much of the events of the past night as he thought +necessary. + +"Oh, why didn't you come and call me up, Master Tom?" cried the gardener +reproachfully. "If I'd been there we could ha' captivated 'em, for +there must ha' been two. That there ladder couldn't ha' lifted itself +up again, and stood ready for the one inside to get down." + +"Yes, there must have been two," said Tom thoughtfully. + +"You should ha' comed and called me, sir--you should indeed. I've got +as much right to take care o' master's property when he's out as you +have." + +"I never thought of it, David." + +"It's on'y three 'undered and forty-nine yards and a half to my cottage, +sir. You might have thought o' me." + +"I only wish I had," said Tom warmly. "I should have been so glad to +have you." + +"Well, sir, there's something in that," said David, but only to repeat +himself in a reproachful tone--"It was on'y three 'undered and +forty-nine yards, and what's that to a young gent like you." + +"It can't be helped now, David. Let's go up-stairs." + +Tom felt stiffer as he went up the step-ladder, and the whole business +of the struggle in the dark came back as they stood in the observatory, +where all seemed to be correct, save an overturned stool, and the +position of the telescope in the middle changed. + +"What's gone from here, sir?" asked David. + +"I don't see anything." + +"Oh, but they must have took something else, sir." + +"Perhaps so, but I cannot see what." + +"Then that's because you disturbed 'em, sir. They was ramshacking your +uncle's desk thing when you come. Tend upon it that was it. Oh, I do +wish I'd been there just at the bottom of the ladder ready to nab 'em as +they come down. Say, Master Tom--think your uncle kep' his money in +that there old chest-o'-drawers thing?" + +"I think he used to keep a little bag of change there," replied Tom +thoughtfully; and it seemed more probable that the thieves were after +that than in search of papers, which could have been of no earthly use +to them, though the drawer was nearly empty all the same. + +"You did get hold o' one of 'em, sir?" said David, after a pause. + +"Oh, yes, more than once." + +"And he felt like that there Pete Warboys, didn't he?" + +"Yes--no--I don't know," said Tom confusedly; and David scratched his +head. + +"That's like asking a man a riddle, sir," he said. "Can't make much o' +that." + +"Well, what can I say, David?" cried Tom impatiently. "It was pitch +dark, and I was thinking of nothing else but catching him. I could see +nothing but the dim-looking windows." + +"But you felt him, sir." + +"Oh yes, I had hold of him." + +"Well, did he feel like Pete?" + +"What nonsense! One lad would feel like another." + +"Oh no, sir, he wouldn't. Pete's bones'd feel all loose and shimbly. +Bound to say you heared his jyntes keep on cracking." + +"No, I don't remember that.--Yes, I do," continued Tom excitedly. "I +did hear him go crack twice when we were wrestling." + +"There you are, you see," cried the gardener triumphantly, "that's +c'roborative evidence, and c'roborative evidence is what they make +detective police on. It was Pete Warboys, sure enough." + +"I thought it must be, David." + +"Not a doubt 'bout it, sir. We've got him this time safe enough, and +he'll be sent away for the job, and a blessing to Furzebrough, I say. +But I'll try you again, sir. Just lead you up like. Now, then, to make +more sure--you smelt him too, didn't you?" + +"Smelt him?" cried Tom. + +"Ay, sir, that's what I said. You could smell him yards away." + +"Oh no, I didn't smell him," said Tom, laughing. + +"Do you mean to tell me, Master Tom, that, you didn't smell Pete the +other night when you was letting go at him with that stick atop o' our +wall?" + +"I remember smelling onions very strong." + +"There!" cried David triumphantly. "Of course you did. I like an onion +roasted, or in stuffing, or the little 'uns pickled, but that chap lives +on 'em. You ask anybody in the village, and they'll tell you they can't +keep an onion in their gardens for him. He's a savage at 'em. And you +mean to tell me that you didn't smell onions when you was fighting with +him last night?" + +"No, I'm sure I didn't." + +"I don't like that," said David, polishing one of his red ears. +"P'r'aps he hadn't been able to steal any yesterday. But it's a wonder +you didn't smell that." + +"But perhaps it wasn't Pete." + +"Now don't say that, my lad. There's no getting away from them bones. +Nobody never had such loose bones. It was him right enough." + +"Think so, David?" said Tom dubiously. + +"Course I do, Master Tom. Who else would ha' knowed where to find +Jellard's ladder?" + +"Plenty o' people," said Tom eagerly; "all the village." + +"Don't you say a word, like that, Master Tom," said the gardener +solemnly, "because it arn't right. I've knowed Furzebrough man and boy +ever since I was born, and there arn't a soul in it as'd go and get that +ladder and break in and steal your uncle's contrapshums. I won't say as +there arn't a lot o' people who talk about 'em, and believe old Mother +Warboys when she says they're bad and dangerous, and like to bring evil +on the place; but, bless your 'art, sir, there arn't one as would do +your uncle harm. I won't say as the boys, and maybe a school-gal, +wouldn't help theirselves to a happle or a pear or two as were in +reach--I won't deceive you, Master Tom, I've done it myself coming home +from school; but take it altogether, there arn't a honester village +nowhere in Sorrey, and I'll stick to that, even if I was up before a +judge, and a jury of my fellow-countrymen swore me till I was black in +the face." + +Tom smiled. + +"Ah, you may laugh, sir," said David, shaking his head; "that's youth, +and wanting to know better. I'm a bit older than you. This here's a +honest place, sir. I won't say nothing about tramps from London, and +furreners coming in search o' work; but you might keep gold and silver +jools down here without locking your doors--leastwise if Pete Warboys +warn't about; but I told you how it would be." + +"Well, let's go down, David," said Tom, who could not help thinking +about the proverb concerning a dog with a bad name. "This shutter must +have a proper fastening. But who would have thought of any one getting +a ladder? You had better take it back." + +"Yes, sir, and tell old Jellard to put a chain and padlock on it, or +else there's no knowing what may happen." + +So after deciding to leave the old bureau just as it was until his uncle +had examined and seen what was missing, and noting that it had been +opened by means of some kind of chisel inserted just above the keyhole, +Tom locked up, and then held the gate open for David to carry the ladder +he had shouldered home. + +"Nyste sort of a job, Master Tom," he said, "clearing up the bits arter +robbers and thieves; but there--you never knows what you may come to in +this life." + +The next moment Tom had to duck his head to avoid a blow as the ladder +was swung round; and that morning Mrs Fidler, who knew nothing of what +had happened, took Tom aside directly after breakfast. + +"I beg your pardon, Master Tom," she began, and the boy stared; "I +didn't notice it before we begun, but I do now, and as master's out it +makes me feel anxious. You're not well, sir." + +"Oh yes, quite well," said Tom hastily. + +"No, sir, you can't deceive me. But I know it's only natural for young +people to say so. Physic isn't nice, sir, but it's very necessary +sometimes, and if you would be advised by me you'd let me give you +something this morning. Better late than never, sir." + +"What, me take some medicine?" cried Tom. "Nonsense! I'm quite right." + +Mrs Fidler shook her head. + +"Take which you like, sir; I've got them both in my store closet. A +tablespoonful of castor oil--" + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Tom, with a grimace. + +"--Or a cupful of prune tea." + +"That sounds better," said Tom, smiling. + +Mrs Fidler shook her head. + +"I shouldn't like to deceive you, Master Tom," she said, "because though +prune tea sounds very nice, you don't taste the French plums I make it +of, but the salts and senna in which the prunes are stewed. But it's a +very, very valuable medicine, my dear, and if you will be prevailed +upon--Dear me! look at that now. Oh, how obstinate young folks can be!" + +For at her description of the concoction of prune tea, Tom thrust his +handkerchief to his mouth, and ran out into the garden, before going +across to the workshop to continue the manufacture of a perfect plane of +glass, such as would satisfy Uncle Richard on his return. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +Uncle James Brandon sat one morning a short time before the events of +the night described in the last chapters, biting his nails, and looking +old, yellow, and careworn. He was supposed to be quite well again, and +the doctors had given up visiting him, but, as his son said in a very +contemptuous, unfilial way to his mother-- + +"He's better in health than temper, and if things are going on like this +I shall be off somewhere, for I'm sick of it." + +For there had been quarrels daily between father and son, stormings +against wife and servants, and poor Pringle the clerk had vowed to +himself that he would not stay at the office for another week; but he +always stayed, for there were reasons at home against his throwing +himself out of work. + +So Uncle James sat in his private room at the Gray's Inn office, looking +old, yellow, and biting his nails, like the ancient ogre, sometimes +making up his mind in one direction, sometimes in another. + +At last he touched his table gong, and, as quickly as he could get +there, Pringle presented himself. + +"You ring, sir?" + +"You know I rang, sir," cried Uncle James savagely. "Send him here +directly." + +"Cert'ny, sir, but--er--" + +"I said send him here." + +"Yes, sir. Who, sir?" + +"Mr Samuel, you blockhead. Didn't you hear what I said?" + +"Yes, sir; but Mr Samuel's not in the office, sir." + +"Bah!" ejaculated his employer; and Pringle made his escape. + +Ten minutes later Sam entered the place, and the clerk whispered to him +sharply-- + +"Gov'nor wants you, sir. Awful temper, sir." + +"Oh, is he?" said Sam sullenly. And then to himself--"I'm not going to +take any of his nonsense, so I tell him." + +Pulling down his cuffs, and looking very pugnacious, he entered the +private room ready to repel an attack, but to his surprise, his father, +who the minute before had been seated looking very irresolute, now +became very determined, and pointed to a chair. + +"Sit down, my boy," he said in a low voice. + +Sam felt relieved, and he drew forward a chair. + +"Sam, my boy," continued James Brandon, "I'm in terrible trouble." + +"What about, father--money?" James Brandon nodded. + +"I've been too hasty, my boy. I was very ill, and I did what I should +not have done in calmer moments." + +There was a pause, and Sam waited, wondering what was to come next. + +"You remember my sending for your cousin to come up?" + +"Yes, father; you sent me away on business," said Sam, in rather a +sneering tone, "so as to get me out of the way, but I heard all about it +afterwards." + +"All about it?" said his father, with an anxious look. + +"I suppose so," replied Sam carelessly. + +"No, my boy, you did not," said his father, leaning forward and taking +his son by the coat as he spoke in a very low voice. "The fact is, Sam, +while I was ill and low-spirited I got a number of curious fancies into +my head--half-delirious, I suppose--about some deeds and documents left +in my charge by your aunt, Tom Blount's mother, when she died." + +"Yes?" said Sam, growing interested now. + +"I fancied somehow, my boy, that it was my duty to give those deeds up +to your cousin; and though I fought against it for some time, the idea +grew too strong for me, and I felt that I must send for him and give +them over into his charge." + +"Were they his by rights, father?" said Sam sharply. + +"They were given into my charge, my boy," replied his father evasively, +"and I behaved very weakly and foolishly in giving them up to your +cousin." + +"Then you did give them up to Tom that day?" + +"Yes, Sam, and it is a very troublesome matter. I tell you, I did not +know what I was about then, and it will affect you very seriously by and +by, if I don't get them back." + +"You mean in money matters, father?" said Sam sharply. + +"Yes; affect me now heavily, and you by and by." + +"Get them back then at once," said Sam--the young lawyer giving the +elder advice. + +"Yes, Sam, my boy, that's what I want to do, but how?" + +"Write and tell young Tom to bring them up." + +James Brandon shook his head. + +"No use--no use, my boy. I must have said a great many foolish things +to the lad that day." + +"But you must get the papers or whatever they are back again, father," +cried Sam, who was now growing excited. "You'll have to go down there +yourself." + +"Impossible; but I have made up my mind to send you to try and get +them." + +"And suppose I did, father?" + +"Suppose you did? Why then, my boy, I could--I mean we could laugh at +them, treat anything that was said with contempt. Do you hear? With +contempt." + +"Stop a bit," said Sam quietly. "You always told me to be cautious in +business matters, and that I was to keep one foot down firmly till I +found a safe place for the other." + +"Of course, my lad, of course." + +"Well, suppose I go down to that country bumpkin's place?" + +"Yes, if you went down you would find out where the papers were kept," +said James Brandon eagerly. + +"And if I did?" + +"You could bring them away. The boy's too stupid to take very great +care of them." + +"But suppose he has given them to Uncle Richard?" + +"Pish! what then? Your uncle would only pitch them into a drawer, and +go away to forget them, and dream about the moon. You could go down on +a visit, find out where they are, and bring them away." + +"I say, dad," said Sam, with a sneer, "isn't that very much like +stealing?" + +"No, no, no, no," cried his father quickly; "only getting back some +documents left in my charge--papers which I gave up during a severe +illness, when I did not know what I was about. You understand?" + +"Oh yes, father, I understand, but it looks ugly." + +"It would look uglier for you to be left almost without a penny, Sam, +and your cousin to be well off." + +"Ye-es," said Sam quietly, as he stood with his brows knit; "that would +be ugly, dad." + +"Then you will go?" + +"Perhaps. That depends. Not as you propose. They'd miss the papers, +and I should get the credit of having taken them." + +James Brandon stared at his son in surprise, forgetting the fact that he +had been training and moulding him for years to become a self-satisfied, +selfish man, with only one idea, that of taking care of himself, no +matter who suffered. + +"He's growing a sharp one," thought the father, half gratified, half +annoyed. Then aloud-- + +"Oh no, Sam, I don't think that." + +"You don't want to think that, father," said Sam, drawing himself up +importantly. + +"Oh yes, my boy," said James Brandon. "I don't want to get you into +trouble." + +"No, father, of course not; it would be getting you into a scrape as +well. Look here, suppose I slip down and get the deeds without being +seen--without any one being a bit the wiser?" + +James Brandon shook his head. + +"Oh, I don't want the job," said Sam coolly. + +His father was silent for a few moments, and Sam took out a knife, threw +himself back in his chair, and began to trim his nails. + +"But look here, Sam," said James Brandon at last, and he seemed to be in +a nervous, excited state. "It is of vital importance to me that I +should have those papers." + +"Then if I were you I should go down and get them, father," said Sam +coolly. + +"But that is impossible, my boy. Come, you will do that for me?" + +"I don't see why I should," replied Sam; "you don't make things very +pleasant for me." + +"But I will, my boy, I will do anything you like; and don't you +understand how important it is for you?" + +"Yes, I begin to see," said Sam coolly. "You've got yourself into a +scrape, father, over some of young Tom Blount's affairs, and you want to +make cat's-paws of me." + +"No, sir," cried his father angrily. + +"Oh, but you do." + +"I do want you to help me get those--those--" + +"Chestnuts," said Sam, with a grin. + +"Well, call them that if you like, my boy," said his father, trying to +be jocose, but looking ghastly pale the while, and with the perspiration +standing in tiny drops upon his forehead. "But you must help me, Sam. +The money will all be yours by and by." + +Sam sat back staring straight before him in silence for a few minutes, +while his father watched him intently. + +"Well, I don't want you to get into trouble, father," he said at last. +"You don't open out to me frankly, but I can see as far into a millstone +as most people. I'm not quite a fool." + +"No, my boy, no," said James Brandon eagerly. "I'm delighted to find +what a sharp man of business you are growing." + +"But you never made yourself hoarse by telling me so, dad," said Sam, +with a grin. + +"Because I did not want to make you conceited, my dear boy," cried the +father. "Then you will help me?" + +"The money's no temptation to me, father," said Sam loftily. + +"But it will be very useful to you by and by, my boy. Surely you don't +want that ill-conditioned cub to inherit it." + +"Of course I don't," said Sam. "There, all right, I'll go and get them +for you somehow, but if there's any rumpus afterward you'll have to +stand the racket, for I shan't. I shall say you sent me." + +"Of course, my boy, of course. But you are too clever to make any +mistake over the business, and--and you are beginning to be a great help +to me, Sam. The time's getting on now towards when we must begin to +think of your being a junior partner. Only about three or four years, +Sam.--Then you will go down at once?" + +"You leave that to me," said Sam importantly. "But I must have some +money." + +"Yes, my boy, of course. Half-a-sovereign will be plenty, I suppose?" + +"No, you don't," said Sam, with a look full of contempt at the shrunken, +degraded man before him, who was receiving the punishment already of his +misdeeds, and suffering more keenly than from any which could have been +inflicted by the law. + +"But how much do you want, my boy?" he faltered--"fifteen shillings?" + +"I want two pounds," said Sam coolly, "to pay my expenses. Perhaps I +shall have to give some blackguard half-a-sovereign to get the papers +for me, and if I come back with them all right, you'll have to give me +five pounds." + +"Five pounds!" gasped his father. + +"Yes, dad; and if you make so much fuss about it I shan't go unless you +give me ten pounds." + +James Brandon looked in a ghastly way, which made his sickly face seem +agonised, and he slowly drew out his purse and handed his son the money. + +"When will you start?" he said. + +"Now, directly," said Sam, rising from his chair; and his father's +countenance brightened. + +"Hah!" he exclaimed, "that's very prompt and business-like of you, Sam. +You'll be careful though." And he whispered some instructions. + +"You leave me alone for that, dad," said Sam. "I know what I'm about." + +As he spoke he rose quickly from his chair, gave his father a short nod, +and opened the door, to find himself face to face with Pringle, whose +hand was raised. + +"Oh!" cried the clerk, starting. "Beg pardon, sir, I was just going to +knock." + +"What is it?" cried James Brandon angrily, and turning pale in dread +lest the clerk should have heard anything which had passed. + +"These deeds, sir--finished the copying," said the man quietly, and with +a look of surprise that his employer should have asked him what he +wanted. + +"Oh yes; put them down," said Brandon hastily. + +"What shall I go on with next?" + +"The letters I told you about last night." + +"Cert'ny, sir, of course," said Pringle; and he hurried out of the room, +leaving father and son staring at each other across the table. + +"Think he heard, Sam?" said James Brandon, looking more ghastly than +ever. + +"No, not he. Couldn't have heard more than a word or two. He daren't +listen." + +"Think not, Sam?" + +"Sure of it, dad. There, I'll be off now." + +"Yes, do; and pray be careful. One moment, Sam: your uncle is not out +with you?" + +"Which means he is with you," said Sam, smiling. + +"Yes, my boy, a little. We don't quite agree about--about a little +matter; but he would be friendly to you. So don't you think you had +better go down as a visitor?" + +"No, father, I don't," said Sam shortly; and he went out at once. + +"Gov'nor must have made a terrible mess of it, or he wouldn't be in such +a stew," said Sam to himself, as he went thoughtfully away, and came to +the conclusion that the best thing he could do would be to have a +mouthful of something. + +The mouthful took the form of a good dinner at a restaurant, and over +this he sat thinking out his proceedings in a very cool, matter-of-fact +way, till he thought it was time to make a commencement, when he +summoned the waiter, and asked for the railway time-table. Then, after +picking out a suitable train, he paid his bill with one of his father's +sovereigns, called a cab, and had himself driven to the terminus, where +he took his ticket for the station beyond Furzebrough Road, and soon +after was on his way down into the wild part of Surrey. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +Sam Brandon timed himself so accurately that he was crossing the little +river-ford just as it was so dark that he could hardly make out the +stepping-stones. But he got over quite dry, and after a short walk on +the level, began to mount the sandy hill which formed part of the way +entering Furzebrough at the top end, and led him by the fork in the road +down one side of which his father had steered the bath-chair, and +plunged into the soft sand of the great pit. + +It was a soft, silent time, and the place seemed to be terribly lonely +to one accustomed to the gas-lamps of London streets. The shadows under +the hedges were so deep that they appeared likely to hide lurkers who +might suddenly leap out to rob, perhaps murder, for with all his outward +show in bravado, Sam Brandon felt extremely uneasy consequent about the +mission which had brought him down there, and he at once decided that it +would be better to walk in the middle of the road. + +Five minutes later he had to take the path again, for he met a horse and +cart, the driver shouting a friendly good-night, to which Sam responded +with a stifled cry of alarm, for he had nearly run against a man who +suddenly appeared in the darkness, but proved to be quite an inoffensive +personage bound for home. + +Then as the crown of the hill was reached, there was the great gloomy +fir-wood, whose columns stood up quite close to the road, and under +whose shade Sam had to make his way toward the village, thinking deeply +the while, that after all his task was not so easy as it seemed before +he came down into the country. + +"No fear of being seen though," he thought, as he went on, continually +on the look-out for danger to himself, but seeing none, hearing none, +till he was in the deepest part of the sandy lane, with the side of the +fir-wood on his right, a hedge-topped bank on the left. + +It was darker now than ever; and as it was early yet for the work he had +in hand, he had slackened speed, and finally stopped short, hesitating +about going on. + +"What a horrible, cut-throat-looking place!" he muttered, as he tried to +pierce the gloom which hid the beautifully--draped sand-banks dotted +with ferns, and made lovely by flowers at all times of the year. "Any +one might be in hiding there, ready to spring out." + +He had hardly thought this when he uttered a cry of horror, swung round, +and ran as hard as he could back toward the crown of the hill, for all +at once there was a peculiar sound, like the magnified hiss of some +large serpent, and, looking up, he could dimly see against the starlit +sky a gigantic head with curling horns, whose owner was evidently gazing +down upon him where he stood in the middle of the lane twenty feet +below. + +Sam Brandon must have run five hundred yards back before want of breath +compelled a slackening of speed, and his panic fear gave place to +common-sense. + +"What a fool I am!" he said to himself, with wonderful accuracy; "it +must have been some precious old cow." + +This thought brought him quite to a stand, and after a little +consideration, he felt so certain of the cause of his alarm that he +turned and continued his route again toward the village, reaching the +dark part, hesitating for a few moments before going on, and now hearing +up to the left and over the dimly-seen hedgerow the regular _crop, crop, +crop_ of some animal grazing upon the crisp dew-wet grass. + +"If anybody had told me," he muttered, "that I could have been scared by +a jolly old cow, I should have kicked him. How absurd!" + +He walked on now firmly enough, till, in spite of the darkness, the road +became more familiar, and in due time he could see the lights at +Heatherleigh, and looking up to his right against the starry sky, the +top of the great mill. + +It was too soon, he felt, and turning back, pretty well strung up now to +what was rapidly assuming the aspect of a desperate venture, he walked +on till the golden sand looked light upon his left, and showed a way +into the wood. Here he turned off, walked cautiously in amongst the +tall columns for a few yards, and then sat down on the fir-needles, +listened to find that all was still, and taking out cigarette-case and +match-box he struck a light and began to smoke, sheltering the bright +burning end of the little roll of tobacco, and trying as he rested to +improve his plans. + +For he was hot and tired. He had found the station beyond Furzebrough +quite seven miles from the village, and being a perfectly fresh route to +him, it had seemed twice as far; while the fact that he wished to keep +his visit a profound secret forced him to refrain from asking questions +as to the way, after being instructed by the station-master at the +first. + +It was restful and pleasant there on the soft natural couch of sand and +fir-needles, and after a time Sam's head began to bow and nod, and then, +just as he was dropping off fast asleep, the cigarette, which he had +been puffing at mechanically, dropped from his lips and fell in his lap. + +In a few minutes the fume which had been rising changed its odour from +burning vegetable to smouldering animal, and Sam leaped up with a yell +of pain, to hastily clap his hands to a bright little round hole upon +the leg of his trousers, where the woollen material had caught fire and +burned through to his skin. + +"Hang the stupid thing!" he grumbled, as he squeezed the cloth and put +out the tiny glowing spark. "Must have dropped off. Looked nice if I'd +slept all night in this idiotic place. Too soon yet, but I mustn't go +to sleep again." + +To avoid this he began to walk up and down among the trees, but +carefully kept close to the road, for he grasped the fact that it would +be very easy to go astray in a fir-wood at night. + +Now as the dark hours are those when certain animals which live in the +shade of trees choose for their rambles abroad, it so happened that one +of these creatures was awake, had left its hole, and was prowling about +on mischief bent, when the yell Sam Brandon uttered rose on the night +air. + +The first effect was to cause the prowler to start off and run; the +second caused curiosity, and made the said prowler begin to crawl +cautiously toward the spot from whence the cry arose, and in and out +among the tree-trunks, till the shadowy figure of Sam could be seen +going to and fro to avoid more sleep. + +Then, as the prowler lay near at hand upon his chest watching, there +came a time when Sam went down upon his knees in the densest spot near, +to shelter himself from observation while he lit a fresh cigarette. + +Now it so happened that the darkest spot was close to where the prowler +lay without being able to escape, as it would have caused a noise, and +consequent betrayal. + +Then after selecting a cigarette by touch, and opening his match-box, +Sam struck a little wax taper, began to light his cigarette, and +naturally held the flame so near his face that, as he knelt there, it +was well illumined for the benefit of the prowler, who crouched close +and stared hard, expecting moment by moment to be seen. + +But Sam saw nothing for the glare, while the prowler recognised his +features, and lay still and waited close by the smoker till nearly +another hour had elapsed, when Sam drew a long deep breath and said +softly-- + +"Now for it." + +For _it_ meant money, freedom from all domination, and, as the lad +thought very unwisely, a general sense of independence of father and the +whole world; though in carrying out this act he was riveting, so to +speak, moral fetters round his wrists. + +He had had hard work to string himself up to his task, but now he showed +plenty of determination, and going back into the lane, he walked rapidly +toward Heatherleigh, passing nobody on his way. + +Upon reaching the bottom of the garden he hesitated for a few moments, +peering over the hedge at the house; then seeking the palings, and +looking over them at a spot where the trees were rather open, and, +lastly, making his way to the gate, where he satisfied himself that +there were only two lights visible there--in the servants' part of the +house, and in the little dining-room. + +Apparently contented, he walked back to where the yard wall turned off +at right angles, and following this for a few yards, he climbed over and +made his way like a dark shadow close up to the mill, where he stood +listening and looking sharply round. + +All was still, and in spite of the glittering stars, it was very dark +close up to the tall brick building--so black, in fact, that unless +close up, there was not the slightest probability of his being seen even +by any one upon the watch. + +Satisfied of this, he went softly to the door, took hold of the handle, +and tried it, pressing hard at the same time, in expectation that it +might yield, as people were so careless about locking up in the country. +But he was soon convinced that the door was securely fastened, and he +moved now to one of the workshop windows and tried it, with no result. +Then he gave it a sharp shake, but there was no suggestion of its +yielding, and he at once went right round to the other side and tried +the window there. + +The result was the same, and he uttered a low ejaculation indicative of +his vexation on finding everything so secure. + +"More ways than one of killing a cat," he said softly, and taking a +large screw-driver from his pocket, he was in the act of thrusting its +wedgelike flat point in beneath the framework of the casement when there +was a step behind him, and as he turned sharply, it was to face a tall, +thin, rough-looking figure, very indistinctly seen as it stood close to +him, and the word "Halloo!" was whispered hoarsely almost in his ear. + +For a few moments Sam was paralysed. Then he recovered himself, and +stepping back he raised the screw-driver, as if it had been a short +Roman sword. + +"You hit me," said the shadowy figure, "and I'll let you have this +hedgestake right on the head." + +"Who are you? What are you doing here?" said Sam, in a subdued voice. + +"And who are you, and what are you a-doin' of here?" was the retort. +"You give me any of your mouth, and I'll go and ring the old man's +bell." + +Sam had met his match, and stood thinking what course he should pursue +when his interrupter continued-- + +"I know: you're come because the old man arn't at home. Think I don't +know yer?" + +"Hush! hold your tongue!" said Sam, and for the moment he felt disposed +to run for it; but there was the fact that, dark as it was, he had been +recognised, and if he had any doubt it was dispelled by his companion +saying with a faint laugh-- + +"Got any more o' them pears?" + +"No," said Sam shortly; and recovering himself a little, "What do you +want?" + +"To see what you're a-going to do," was the reply. + +"But you've no business here, sir," said Sam haughtily. + +"More have you. I arn't a fool. I see you trying to break open the +winders with that thing." + +"It's a lie; you didn't." + +"Oh yes, I did. I know; I can see in the dark. What are you after?" + +Sam was silent, and the disposition was on him strongly now to strike +the fellow down. + +He dismissed the thought again, feeling how useless it would be to make +him an enemy, and the other course now offered itself to him. + +"You don't want to know what I'm after," he said, with a faint laugh. +"It's only for a bit of fun." + +"Not it. People don't break in at windows for fun. You give me +something, or I'll go and tell." + +Sam's heart leaped with satisfaction at this. Money, then, would buy +the young scoundrel off, and he hastily took out a coin, and held it out +so as to silence his enemy; but at the same time he felt that there was +nothing to be done now but get back to town with his mission +unfulfilled. + +To his great delight the coin was snatched and pocketed, but he did not +feel so well satisfied the next moment. + +"That's on'y a shillin'. Give's another." + +A second was held out and taken. + +"Now I wants another," said Pete, and upon this being given, he demanded +a fourth, and then a fifth. + +Pete was satisfied now, and he said with a low chuckle-- + +"If any o' these is bad 'uns, I shall go and tell." + +"But they're not, they're all good," whispered Sam. "Now be off." + +"Shee-arn't! I'm goin' to stop and see what you do. But you can't get +in like that. The winders has all got noo fasteners. I could get in if +I liked." + +"How?" said Sam, in spite of himself. + +"Think I'm goin' to tell you for this," said Pete. "You give me +another, and I'll show you how to get in. I see you come in the wood +and smoke over yonder." + +"And you've been watching me ever since?" + +"Course I have. What do you want to get?" + +Sam made no answer, for he was trying to arrange his thoughts, and make +out what was the best thing to do. Then all at once Pete broke out +with-- + +"You ain't half a chap. I could soon get in there if I wanted." + +"Could you? How?" + +"I've been in the mill lots o' times," said Pete evasively, "'fore they +took the stones out, and since old Dicky Brandon pulled the sails off." + +"Tell me how you managed it," said Sam, after a glance round; for, +mingled with his uneasy feeling about being betrayed by the great lad +before him, he began to feel desperate, and as if he must succeed now he +had gone so far. He was convinced in his own mind that the most likely +place to find the documents he sought would be in his uncle's study, and +to him the first floor of the old mill was that study. Tom had told him +as much, and that the old walnut-wood bureau was the depository where +their uncle kept his papers. + +"People in the country are such idiots," he said to himself; "they never +think of having strongrooms or iron safes. He has locked the papers up +there as sure as a gun." + +It was with a certainty of this being the case that he had come down, +and now that there was nothing between him and the prize but a window +and this spying lad, the position was irritating to a degree. + +Sam thrust his hand into his pocket, where it came in contact with +half-a-sovereign and some silver, and he began to think that of these he +could perhaps after all make a key. The only question was how to begin. + +Pete had uttered a low sniggering laugh on hearing Sam's last question, +and now feeling that he must either act or give up; the latter repeated +his inquiry. + +"I used to have some bantams," replied the young scoundrel. "Bantams +like wheat and barley." + +"And you used to come and steal some for them?" said Sam sharply. + +"Oh, did I? Who said anything about stealing? I didn't eat the barley; +the bantams did." + +"But you stole it all the same," said Sam, who felt now that he had a +handle to take hold of. + +"Oh, did I? So are you," snarled Pete. "You've come to steal +something, or you wouldn't be here in the dark." + +"Never you mind about that," said Sam quickly. "Look here; you tell me +the way to get in, and I'll give you another shilling." + +Pete thrust his dirty face close to Sam's. + +"Give us hold then." + +"No; you show me the way first." + +"Shee-arn't! Give us the shillin' first." + +"I don't believe you know a way." + +"Oh, don't I! You give me the shillin', and you'll see." + +Sam hesitated, but there was no time to lose. It seemed to be his only +policy to make friends with this young ruffian, and he finally took a +shilling out of his pocket, the action being grasped at once by the lad +in spite of the darkness. + +"No games," said Sam. "If I give you the shilling, will you tell me +fairly?" + +"Course I will." + +"There; now tell me." + +Pete took the shilling handed, made believe to spit upon it, and thrust +it into his pocket. + +"Winders is fastened up tight now." + +"What, those up higher too?" + +"Yes; all on 'em." + +"Then how am I to get in?" + +Pete laughed softly, and Sam grew angry. + +"I thought so," he whispered. "You don't know." + +"Oh, don't I just?" said Pete, with his sniggering laugh. "I said I'd +tell yer, and I will." + +"Quick then. How?" + +"There's a kind o' door up atop as opens right over and lies on its +back. It's got a bolt to it, but you can shove yer hand under when yer +gets up inside them little palings and push it back. Then yer can open +the door and get in." + +"How do you know?" said Sam sharply. + +"How do I know? 'Cause I've done it." + +"But up there? How did you get up?" + +"Ladder," said the lad laconically. + +"What, is there a ladder here?" + +"No," said Pete. + +"Bah!" ejaculated Sam. "What's the good of telling me that, then?" + +Pete chuckled now with satisfaction, as if he enjoyed his companion's +trouble. + +"I know where there's a ladder," he said. + +"One we could get?" + +"You couldn't. I could." + +"Get it for me, then, there's a good fellow." + +"Ha, ha! Oh, I say; arn't you getting jolly civil!" + +"Hush!" whispered Sam excitedly. "Don't make that noise. Some one will +hear." + +"Yah! There's no one to hear! The old man's gone out, and old Mother +Fidler's fast asleep, and snoring by this time." + +"But there's he," whispered Sam. + +"What, young Tom Blount? Yah! Not him: he won't come." + +"Where's the ladder?" whispered Sam, in agony. + +"Don't I tell yer, yer couldn't get it if yer did know!" + +"Then will you get it for me?" + +"Give's another shillin', and I will." + +"Oh!" groaned Sam. "I've given you too much now." + +"All right. I don't want the ladder. I arn't going to fetch that and +carry it ever so far for nothin'." + +"But is it long enough?" + +"Yes; just reaches up to them railings outside the top door. Yer can't +get in without." + +"If I give you another shilling--the last, mind--will you fetch me a +ladder?" + +"Course I will." + +"All right then; make haste." + +"Give us the shillin' first." + +"Then you won't fetch the ladder." + +"Oh yes, I will--honour bright." + +Sam unwillingly produced another shilling. + +"There, that's the last I'm going to give you," he whispered. "Now, +then, fetch the ladder quickly." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +He uttered his low, sniggering, malicious laugh again, and without a +word went off towards the back, disappearing into the darkness, and +then, unseen by Sam, crawling over the wall like some great dark slug, +leaving the London boy alone with his thoughts, as he kept close up to +the mill, and gazed toward the cottage, dreading moment by moment an +interruption from that direction. + +His thoughts were not pleasant company. For there he was upon his +uncle's property, feeling that not only had he come down there in the +character of a thief, but circumstances had forced him into taking for +confederate about as low-typed and blackguardly a young scoundrel as +there was for twenty miles round. He had been forced to bribe the +fellow heavily for him, and in addition to place himself entirely at his +mercy, so that in the future, if he was successful in getting the +papers, this scoundrel would be always coming upon him for money, and +getting it by threats. + +"I can't help it," muttered Sam; "it's the gov'nor's fault, and he'll +have to pay for it all. He sent me, and--pooh, it isn't stealing. It's +all in the family, and I've a better right to have what there is than +young Tom Blount." + +Sam tried to think of other things, but two matters had it all their own +way--the dread of being caught, and the coming of Pete with the ladder. + +But the time wore on, and neither event seemed likely to happen. He +grew hotter and hotter; every now and then he felt a peculiar nervous +attack in one leg, which made his right knee tremble violently, and +again and again he was on the point of rushing off, leaping the wall, +and making for the open country, when at last he heard some faint noise +coming out of the darkness. + +Once he felt that all was over, and there was nothing left for him to do +but flee. For there were heavy steps in the lane coming nearer and +nearer, till they stopped opposite the gate, and Sam's heart throbbed +like the beating of a soft mallet. + +"Policeman!" he thought, and he would have turned to run, but his feet +felt as if glued to the ground, and the agony he suffered was intense. + +Just as he was at the worst point, there was a scratching sound, a gleam +of light, the smell of tobacco, and directly after the steps were heard +again, to pass on and die out in the distance. + +"`Conscience makes cowards of us all,'" Sam might have said, but he did +not know the words; and so he only wiped his forehead, and began to +think of how he could get back to town, for it was perfectly evident +that Pete had got all he could out of him, and, so far from returning +with a ladder, in all probability he had invented the whole story, and +there was no ladder anywhere nearer than in the rascal's imagination. + +The moments passed on like minutes, and Sam felt as if an hour must have +passed. + +"It's of no use," he said to himself; "he has been too sharp for me, and +I shall have to come down as the dad said, and take my chance. I can do +no more." + +He sighed in his misery and dread, for he knew that there was an +all-night walk before him, till he could take one of the earliest +morning trains somewhere on the road. But it had to be done, and he +went from out of the deep black shadow of the mill to the wall where he +came over, and was in the act of raising himself up, when his neck was +caught as if in a fork, and he was thrown down on to his back. Then, as +he struggled up, he grasped the fact that Pete must have been coming +back, and thrust the top of the ladder over first, sending the ends on +each side of his neck. + +"Don't do that, mate," came to him in a sharp whisper from the wall. +"Ketch hold and steady it while I run it to you." + +Sam caught hold of the ladder eagerly, forgetting the pain in +satisfaction, and the next minute the bottom round rested on the top of +the wall. Then Pete crept over, slug fashion, and lifted the end off +and set it down. + +"There y'are," he said. + +"What a while you've been," whispered Sam. + +"Oh, have I! Juss you go and fetch it yerself, and see how quick you'd +be. It was worth two shillin' to go for that; there, hyste it up and in +with you." + +"Hoist the ladder by myself?" + +"Yes, it's easy enough. Bottom's heavy and top's light. Shall I do +it?" + +"Yes, quickly." + +"'Nother shillin'. I arn't going to have nothing to do with it, and so +I tell yer, without." + +"I wish you wouldn't speak so loudly," whispered Sam impatiently. + +"Yah! go on! nobody can't hear us. Where's that shillin'?" + +"I told you I wouldn't give you any more," said Sam, stoutly now, "and I +won't." + +Pete chuckled. + +"All right; I'll hyste the ladder, only mind you telled me to--it was +your doing." + +"Yes, my doing," said Sam, who was full of nervous impatience. "Be +smart; here, I'll help." + +"I can do it," said Pete, and with two or three sharp jerks he raised +the ladder right on end, and then, after working it round two or three +times, let the light narrow end down against the railing, just in front +of the long shutter on the rounded roof. + +"Will it bear me?" whispered Sam nervously. + +"Bear a dozen on yer. Up you goes, and I'll keep watch. If young Tom +Ugly Blount comes, shall I give him one over the head?" + +"Yes," whispered Sam, as he began to mount. + +"Shove yer hand under the door, and yer can feel the bolt directly. You +can open it. Look alive." + +Sam mounted round by round, wondering whether the thin ladder would bear +his weight or collapse and let him down, as a punishment for the +degrading crime he was about to commit; and the higher he went, and the +ladder vibrated more easily, the more nervous he grew. Twice he stopped +breathless and full of dread. + +"Is it safe?" he whispered. + +"Yes; up with yer." + +Then he grasped the railing, stepped over into the little gallery, and, +stooping down, soon found that he could unbolt the shutter. + +The next minute he was inside, and descending at once into the +laboratory, he took the screw-driver from his pocket, and had no +difficulty in prizing open the drawers, the wood bending enough to set +free the catch. A match gave him sufficient light, and when he paused +before the right drawer, in which were several carefully-sealed-up +papers and envelopes, he hesitated, wondering which would be the +documents he wished to secure. + +Helped by so feeble a light, it was hard work to tell, and at last he +came to the conclusion that it would be best to make sure; and to this +end he gathered all together, and thrust them, to the number of eight or +nine, into his breast-pocket and buttoned his jacket. + +"Hurrah!" he muttered. "Safe. Now for home." + +He had hardly conceived this thought, when a sound overhead caught his +ear, and he felt for the moment that Pete had come to see what he was +doing. The next minute he was in full flight, pursued by Tom, as we +have seen, and at last reached the ground, thanks to the help of Pete, +who, after lying in hiding while the ladder was lowered, hurriedly +raised it again. + +Just as Tom was half-way down Pete gave the ladder a wrench, hoisted one +leg, and sent it sidewise. Then-- + +"This way," he whispered, catching Sam's hand, guiding him to the corner +of the yard, and as soon as they were over leading the way at a steady +dog-trot. + +"You keep alongside me," he said; "I'll show yer a near cut. Where do +you want to go?" + +"I want to get on the main road two or three miles away," whispered Sam. + +"All right. Did you get it?" + +"Yes, but don't talk." + +"Shall if I like," growled Pete. "I say, look here. I arn't seen you +ter-night, and I don't know nothin' about that ladder. Let 'em think it +was Tom Ugly Blount. But I say, you'll give me another shillin'?" + +"I'll give you two," panted Sam, "if you'll promise never to blab." + +"You're a good 'un," said Pete, laughing softly. "Won't ketch me +talking. Hand over; and if you come down again I'll help yer any night. +I hates that there t'other chap, but I likes you." + +"Thankye," said Sam, who gave the lad a couple of shillings more, when, +as good as his word, Pete guided him to the road a good three miles on +his way. + +"Good-night, mate," the lad said, holding out his hand. + +"Mate!" thought Sam in disgust, as he felt constrained to shake hands. + +"I say, I know: you're going on to London." + +"Am I? you don't know," said Sam hurriedly. "But I say, are you going +home to bed now?" + +"No," said Pete, with a chuckle; "I'm going back to my roost in the +wood. Good-night, matey." + +"Good-night," said Sam; and he started off at a rapid rate along the +hard road, feeling the papers tightly buttoned up in his pocket, where +they soon grew hot, and as if they were going to burn his chest. "Oh, +what a terrible walk," he muttered; "and that fellow will know I'm +making for London. Don't matter," he said directly after; "he won't +tell tales, and if he comes up, ferrets us out, and wants more money, +the gov'nor 'll have to pay." + +Pete went back to his sandy hole, and in an hour was fast asleep, while +Sam was plodding steadily on toward the great city, growing more and +more weary as the hours passed, and longing to lie down and sleep, but +dreading to do this for fear of some policeman or tramp coming upon him, +when he felt that the result would be the same--the papers he had gone +through so much to obtain would be found, and perhaps pass entirely from +his hands. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +Sam Brandon was more asleep than awake when he made his way into +Westhall Station, and took a ticket for town. He had taken nearly an +hour to get over the last mile, after struggling hard during the first +part of the night to get as far as possible away from Furzebrough, +haunted as he was by the belief that the theft would be discovered +before many minutes had passed, and that he would be pitched upon as the +criminal. For though the struggle had been in the dark, and he had not +spoken a word, he felt sure that Tom must have known him, and that some +one would start very soon in pursuit. Hence, with his brain full of +handcuffs, prison cells, magistrates, and other accessories of the law, +he had toiled on through the night until utterly exhausted. + +The early morning train soon came gliding into the station, and Sam took +his place, trying in vain to look careless and indifferent, and as if he +were occupied over his ordinary affairs; but it could not be done. He +looked dusty as to his boots and trousers; there was a bloodshot +appearance in his eyes; his cheeks were hollow, and his lips feverish +and cracked. + +Then the other passengers kept on staring at him, and the more so +because he looked uneasily at them. In fact, as one passenger said to +himself, he looked "as if he been up to no good." + +The drowsy sensation which had made him feel as if walking in a dream +had now completely passed away, and though he rested his head in a +corner, and, after buttoning up his jacket tightly, tried to sleep, he +could not lose consciousness, but sat there with every joint aching, and +a miserable feeling of weariness in his back, listening to the rattle of +the train, which kept up what sounded like some weird tune, always +beginning and never ending. + +There came minutes when he felt as if he were going to be seriously ill, +for his head throbbed, and there was a burning sensation at the back of +his eyes, while the events of the past night seemed as if they had +happened a long time back. + +Once when the train stopped--though stop it did at every station--Sam +closed his eyes tightly and shammed sleep, feeling convinced that when +the carriage door was opened, he would hear a rough voice ordering him +to get out, consequent upon his description having been telegraphed all +along the line; and then the door was opened and banged to again after a +man had spoken in a rough voice, but only said jocularly-- + +"Got room for a little 'un?" + +He then squeezed in close to Sam, and proved to be a huge fellow of +about twenty stone. + +Every one in the compartment laughed but Sam, who went through the same +agony again and again, till the tickets were taken at Vauxhall, when the +collector looked so much like a detective that the mental suffering was +worse than ever. + +Waterloo at last. He was parched with fever; his throat felt dry, and +there was hot coffee waiting at the buffet, such as would relieve the +faintness from which he suffered; but he dared not stop to partake of +it. He hurried out of the great station, and walked fast across the +bridge, and only began to feel more safe when he was amongst the crowd +going and coming in the busy streets. + +At last, after dodging in and out in all directions to baffle pursuit, +he jumped into a cab to be taken home, but began to feel the next moment +that if he were pursued it would be known where he had taken refuge. + +Taken altogether, Sam Brandon began to taste very bitterly the agonies +of those who break out of straight paths, never having realised till +then how thorny the wrong course was, and how deep the pits and chasms +in the way. + +The cabman looked at him peculiarly when he got in, but that was nothing +to the grin which overspread his face when the lad alighted and went up +to the front door; while upon his summons being answered, the maid +saluted him with the expressive words--"Oh, lor!" + +"Is my father down yet?" asked Sam. + +"No, sir, and it's lucky for you as he ain't. My! he would kick up a +fuss, if he see you such a sight after being out all night." + +"Bah!" ejaculated Sam, and he ran up-stairs to his room. + +"Bah! indeed," cried the indignant girl; "serve you right if I was to +tell master what time you come home. But I won't." + +And there was no need. For Sam had hardly shut himself in before there +was a hand upon the lock of the door, and his father entered in his +dressing-gown, looking haggard and pale, consequent upon a sleepless, +anxious night. + +He closed and locked the door, before turning excitedly to his son. + +"Well?" he whispered in a husky voice. + +"Got back," said Sam laconically. + +"Yes; and you have not succeeded?" cried James Brandon. + +Sam was silent. + +"I say, you have not succeeded?" + +"I heard what you said, father," replied Sam surlily. + +"I knew it would be so," cried his father. "It's all because you would +be so rash, and ready to believe that you know everything. Now if you +had gone down as I advised, on a visit, everything would have been as +easy as a glove. You could have stayed there two or three days with +your cousin now your uncle is in London." + +"Oh, then you knew Uncle Richard was in London?" + +"Of course I did, or I shouldn't have let you go, sir. And then you +could have come back with what we wanted decently, and not come crawling +into the house as if you had been found out committing a theft, and the +detectives were after you." + +Sam gave a sudden jump and glanced at the door, but laughed it off +directly with a sneer. + +"Don't be absurd, father," he said. "Of course I only went on a very +honest mission--for you." + +It was James Brandon's turn to wince now, and as he saw his son's +sneering laugh he turned upon him angrily. + +"It's my own fault," he cried, "for trusting such an idiot. I might +have known what would be the consequences; but I thought you were +growing up into a man whom I could trust with important business." + +"Legal business," said Sam sneeringly. + +"Yes, sir, legal business," cried James Brandon. "You're worse than +your cousin." + +"Ever so much," retorted Sam. "Well, dad, have you done?" + +"Yes, sir, I have done--done with you too. You might have saved me +thousands, instead of--" + +"How do you know I haven't?" said Sam sourly. + +His father's mouth opened, and a curious change came over his +countenance. + +"Why, Sam, my boy!" he panted. "You don't mean to say--" + +"That the idiot has been of some use to you? Yes, I do. There, when +you've done rowing me let's get the business over, for I'm sick of it. +I want to go to bed." + +"Then--then--you've--you've--" stammered James Brandon. + +"Succeeded?--of course I have," said Sam coolly, as he lay back in a +chair, heavy-eyed, nervous, and utterly exhausted by his night's work. +"If I wasn't so tired I should have something more to say." + +"My dear boy!" cried James Brandon effusively; and his son uttered a +low, unpleasant laugh. "Sam, you have the--the papers?" + +"Yes." + +"Quick then--give them to me." + +Sam thrust his hand into the breast-pocket of his closely-buttoned coat, +and glancing in sidewise, he drew out a folded paper. + +"That it?" he said coolly, as he handed it to his father, watching him +keenly the while. + +"That? Absurd!" said James Brandon, taking it and tossing it back. +"The agreement for letting a house. You don't mean to say--" + +Sam interrupted him. + +"Try that then," he said. + +But again his father tossed the paper away with an angry ejaculation, +while his face grew more haggard and anxious-looking. + +"That's it then," said Tom. "I had to grab them in a hurry, and get +away." + +"That is not the packet," cried his father. "There were four deeds tied +up with green silk ribbon. I explained to you exactly what they were +like. Surely you had more common-sense than to think these things were +what I wanted!" + +"Don't I tell you I had to take them in a hurry?" said Sam, smiling at +his father's anxious face, as he kept one hand still in his breast, and +now with a triumphant air flourished out a great cartridge paper +envelope. "There," he cried; "will that do then?" + +"No, no, no," said James Brandon angrily; "four deeds tied up with green +silk ribbon, I tell you;" and he waved the thick envelope aside, but Sam +still held it out. + +"Don't you be in such a hurry, gov'nor," he cried. "That's the packet, +only perhaps the old man put the deeds in the envelope. Look inside." + +Sam's father snatched the packet from his son's hand, dragged out its +contents, which were tied together with green ribbon indeed, and proved +to be written in a round legal hand; but as he read the endorsements one +by one, he threw them contemptuously down with a groan. + +"What, ain't those right?" cried the lad, speaking anxiously now. + +"Right? No," cried his father. "There, I see you are playing with me. +Where is the right packet?" + +"Right? The right packet? I made sure that was it. I opened that old +bureau of his, and these deeds and things were all together." + +"Oh, Sam! Sam!" groaned his father. + +"It was quite dark, you know, and I had to work by feel till I got the +drawers open, and then I lit a match or two, so as to make sure which +was the packet I wanted. There were the four things together tied up +with green silk ribbon, and I had no time to read them even if I'd +wanted to; but I felt so sure it was not necessary." + +"It was madness. You ought to have looked carefully," said James +Brandon. + +"Yes; that sounds all right, but it's a wonder I got them. I only just +had time to stuff them into my pocket when he came, and then--" + +"He came! Who came?" cried James Brandon. + +"Tom; and a pretty fight I had for it before I could get away." + +"Then he caught you steal--caught you seeking for those papers?" cried +James Brandon wildly. + +"Of course he did; I told you so." + +"Then it's all over. He has told your uncle by this time." + +"Not he. How could he know? Didn't I tell you it was dark as pitch?" + +"What? Then you think he does not know who it was?" cried James +Brandon, with the air of a man catching at a straw to save himself. + +"Sure of it," said Sam coolly, as he opened one of the papers and began +reading--"`Instructions for grinding and polishing specula.'" + +He opened another. + +"`The various modes of mounting telescopes.'" + +Throwing this down, he took up a third paper, and read-- + +"`Elutriation as applied to Emery and other Powders.'" + +Lastly he took up the fourth, and read half to himself-- + +"`The method practised by Monsieur Foucault in silvering the surfaces of +glass specula.' I seem to have dipped into the wrong drawer, dad," he +said coolly. + +James Brandon groaned. + +"I made so sure that I had got the right things. They do look like +legal papers, don't they?" + +Sam's father made no reply, but began walking up and down the room. + +"What does he mean by tying up his stupid recipes like that!" said Sam +angrily. + +"Exposed yourself to all that risk, and for nothing," cried James +Brandon. + +"Don't say `yourself,' dad," cried Sam softly. "It was your doing; you +sent me." + +James Brandon was silent for a time. + +"You are sure he did not know you?" he said at last. + +"Of course I am. Don't I tell you it was dark as pitch?" + +"Then how do you know it was Tom who came?" + +"Who else was likely to come?" + +"Of course--of course," murmured James Brandon; "who indeed?" + +"Besides, that other chap was outside, and helped me with the ladder." + +James Brandon gave quite a jump. + +"That other chap?" he cried. "You don't mean to say any one else saw +you?" + +"Yes, a fellow I saw when I was down there before; he came and caught me +trying to get in." + +James Brandon threw out his hands, and walked up and down his son's +bedroom gesticulating. + +"It's all over," he cried wildly; "it's all over. I'm a ruined man. My +position as a solicitor gone; my character destroyed; the money I had +saved swept away; and all through the stupidity of my own son." + +Sam sat back watching his father curiously, as he paced about the place, +addressing, as it seemed to him, the walls, the windows, and at times +the pieces of furniture. He repeated the same things over and over +again as he bemoaned his ill-fortune, and the way in which his plans had +been brought to naught. Reproach after reproach was piled upon Sam, but +the father did not glance at his son, who still watched him, but with +eyes that grew fixed and dull-looking, till all at once the lids began +to fall, opened up again, fell lower, opened again, and then went right +down, and were not raised. + +For Sam was utterly exhausted by his many hours' exertions, and his +father's monotonous, droning voice, as he went on bemoaning his fate, +after irritating him for a time, and making him ready to make retorts, +gradually began to have a soothing effect, making him feel drowsy; then +more drowsy, and at last, when James Brandon paused before the chair in +which the lad lay back, and gazed full in his face, saying-- + +"What I want to know, sir, is, how you could be such an obstinate idiot +as to persist in going your own way, after all my strong, +carefully-thought-out advice?--what I want to know, I say, is--why, he's +asleep!" + +James Brandon was quite right--his son had dropped off into a deep, +dreamless sleep, and it is probable that if he had shouted in his ear +instead of speaking in a subdued, hurried voice, he would not have +succeeded in awaking him to the sense of anything he said. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +Uncle Richard came back late the second night after the robbery, tired +out, and glad to go to bed, so that nothing was said respecting the +events at the observatory till the next morning at breakfast. + +"Hah! no place like home, Mrs Fidler," he exclaimed. "London hotels +are all very well, but I'm always glad to get back to Heatherleigh." + +"It does me good to hear you say so, sir," said the housekeeper, "for +I'm always afraid, sir, that when you come back from the grand places +you've been at you'll be dissatisfied." + +"No fear of that, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard merrily. "Well, Tom, +my lad, I need not ask how you are; you look quite hardy." + +"There, Mrs Fidler," said Tom, "you hear that?" + +"Yes, my dear, I hear that," said the housekeeper, compressing her lips; +"but you can't deceive me. You know you were ill." + +"I know you wanted to dose me with prune tea," cried Tom hastily; and he +made a grimace. + +"Well, sir, who are you that you are not to be dosed with prune tea?" +said Uncle Richard, with a mock-serious look. "Mrs Fidler has on more +than one occasion tried to play the doctor's part with me." + +"And I'm sure, sir, I meant it for the best," said the housekeeper, +drawing herself up. + +"Of course you did, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard. Then, to change +the conversation--"Well, Tom, how about the plane mirror; have you got +one perfect yet?" + +"Perfect, uncle?" said Tom, smiling. "I'm afraid not." + +"So am I, my lad; but have you made one as perfect as possible?" + +"Yes, uncle, I've done that," said Tom, who, ever since he rose that +morning, had been in a state of mental perturbation, eager to tell his +uncle about the breaking into the mill, but fully determined not to say +a word--for several reasons--until they were alone. + +"Well, let's hear what you did." + +"Exactly as you told me, uncle. I took the three pieces of thick +plate-glass, and ground them together, changing their positions over and +over again, and ended by polishing them one over the other till I think +they are as flat as they can possibly be." + +"That remains to be proved, Tom--in the telescope. One of the three +ought to be good enough for us; but we shall see." + +Then the breakfast went on, with Uncle Richard spending a good deal of +time over his letters; and at last Mrs Fidler rose and left the room, +while Tom felt his cheeks grow warm with excitement. + +The time had come for speaking about the robbery, and the question was +how to begin. For the boy felt that he had been left in charge of the +observatory, and that his uncle might fancy that he had neglected +something in the way of securing the place. How then to begin? + +While he was mentally seeking for the words connected with the first +plunge, the difficulty was solved, the announcement coming out quite +naturally, just as Tom felt that he must plunge at once into the story +of how he had--in his ignorance--become once more poor. + +"What was the matter with you, my boy?" said Uncle Richard, suddenly +dropping the letter he was reading, and looking searchingly at his +nephew. + +"Matter, uncle?" + +"Yes, when Mrs Fidler wanted to physic you. There must have been +something wrong or she would not have noticed it. Too much fruit?" + +"Oh no, uncle," cried Tom eagerly. "She saw how dull and tired I looked +after that night in the mill." + +"What? you never were 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, +before he settled himself in an easy-chair, leaving Tom standing by the +table. + +"Nice fellow you are, sir," he said severely; "I left you in charge for +a few days, and you get up an affair like this ready for me when I come +back." + +"Uncle!" cried Tom indignantly. + +Uncle Richard's countenance relaxed. + +"Sit down, Tom," he said, "and let's talk like business men. That's +right. You did well in keeping the matter perfectly private; but now +let's have everything open and clear as the day. This was nothing more +nor less than a burglary, and you surprised the burglar or burglars. +Which was it, singular or plural?" + +"I only saw--I mean felt--one, uncle," said Tom uneasily; "but there +must have been two." + +"Why?" + +"Because there must have been some one outside to lift the ladder up +again." + +"After you had laid it down. Of course." + +"And I heard a whispering too." + +"Must have been at least two then, Tom. Well, that's something. Now +then for the next. You had a regular struggle with the burglar--a big +strong fellow of course, or he would not have got the better of you." + +"Oh no," said Tom quickly; "not very big or strong. I held my own with +him pretty well, but he had the best of it." + +"You could not see his face?" + +"No, uncle." + +"But you formed an idea of who it was?" Tom was silent. + +"Some one who must have known the place, eh?" + +"Yes, uncle, I think he must have known the place." + +"Such a fellow as our amiable young poaching friend, Pete Warboys, eh?" + +"David says he is sure that it was Pete." + +"Why does he say that?" + +"Because Pete would know where the ladder was kept, and get it into the +yard." + +"To be sure; no one more likely," said Uncle Richard, watching his +nephew keenly, and then opening and shutting two or three of the drawers +as if waiting for Tom to go on speaking. + +But Tom remained silent. + +"But you don't think it was Pete Warboys, eh?" + +Tom still remained silent, and his uncle drew out the drawer in which +the deeds had been placed. + +"Come, my boy, I must cross-examine you," continued Uncle Richard. "Out +with it. There is always to be perfect confidence between us two." + +"Yes, uncle," cried Tom passionately, "but don't make me speak. It is +only a suspicion, and I may be wrong." + +"I'll tell you if you are, Tom, my boy. You heard what I said--there +must be perfect confidence between us two. When that ceases, which I +think will never be, you and I will part." + +"But it seems so hard, so brutal to say such a thing when perhaps it is +all imagination, and due perhaps to one's not liking some one else." + +"True, Tom," said Uncle Richard gravely; "but we must have out the +truth. Come, I'll help you, for I'm afraid I think as you do--you fancy +it was your cousin Sam?" + +Tom nodded quickly. + +"Why?" + +Tom tightened his lips as if saying, "I won't speak," but his uncle's +eyes were searching him, and in a slow, faltering way he said-- + +"I don't think Pete Warboys would break in here to steal valuable +papers, uncle." + +"No; it hardly seems likely, Tom. Go on." + +"And--and I thought--must I go on, uncle?" + +"Yes, boy, to the bitter end," said his uncle sternly. + +"I thought, uncle, that as Uncle James had given me those papers, which +made me rich instead of him, my cousin Sam had felt disappointed, and +come down here at night, asked Pete Warboys to help him--" + +"But he did not know Pete Warboys." + +"Only a little, uncle; he had seen him. He might have asked him to get +him the ladder." + +"Might, Tom; but that looks doubtful. Well?" + +"And then, as I could not find out that anything else was stolen--or +taken," said Tom, correcting himself, "except those papers, I thought +that it must have been Cousin Sam." + +"Nothing else stolen but those papers?--you mean the packet you saw me +put in the drawer here?" + +"Yes, uncle, in the big envelope. There was nothing else taken but +them, and some of the other papers." + +"Sure, Tom?" + +"Yes, quite sure, uncle; and this made me think that nobody else was +likely to take them--nobody else would care to do such a thing. But, +uncle--" + +"Yes." + +"I don't think I mind much. I never expected to have any money, except +what I could earn for myself; and if it was Sam--" + +"What, who came and broke open this bureau like any burglar would?" + +"Yes, uncle," said Tom sadly; "if you too really think it was Sam." + +"Stop a moment, boy. Had your cousin any notion as to what was kept in +that bureau?" + +"I'm afraid so, uncle. When he came down here, and I took him about and +showed him the place, I remember he asked me what was kept there, and I +said you kept your valuable papers there." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Uncle Richard. + +"But if you do think it could have been Sam--" + +"Stop again, sir," cried Uncle Richard; "are you keeping anything back? +Are you sure that you did not recognise him by some word, or when you +were near the window? Did you not get a glimpse of his face?" + +"No, uncle," said Tom firmly. "I never once had the slightest idea as +to whom it could be, till I began to think about it after the struggle, +and he had got away. Then I'm afraid I made sure it was he." + +"Humph!" + +"But if you think it was he, uncle--" + +"I do think it was, Tom. I feel sure of it, my boy." + +"But you won't punish him, uncle?" + +"I have punished him, Tom." + +"What, you knew, and you have done this?" cried Tom excitedly, as he +sprang from his seat, and caught his uncle by the arm. + +"I have punished him, Tom, and most severely." + +"Uncle! I'd sooner have given up the money a dozen times over. I wish +I'd never known of it. Think what it means. Why, a magistrate would +treat him like a thief." + +"Well, he is a thief," said Uncle Richard sternly. + +"Yes; but oughtn't we to hide it from the world, uncle? He is only a +boy, and it will spoil his whole life. I'd give the money, I say, a +dozen times over sooner than he should be punished. Boys are stupid and +thoughtless, uncle; they often do things in haste that they would not do +if they considered first, and such a little thing sometimes means so +much afterwards." + +"Was this a little thing, Tom?" + +"No, uncle," cried Tom piteously; "but it would be so horrible. He is +my own cousin." + +"Yes, Tom, and my own brother's son." + +"Yes, uncle; and he never liked me, and I never liked him, but I can't +stand by and let you punish him without saying a word." + +"Then you mean to tell me, Tom, that you would let him go scot free, +sooner than have him punished for trying to take _again_ what is your +heritage?" + +"Yes, uncle, I would," cried Tom excitedly, "every penny, sooner than he +and my aunt and uncle should come to disgrace." + +"But they behaved badly to you, sir." + +"Perhaps I deserved some of it, uncle." + +"Then you must have been a bad one, Tom." + +"Yes, uncle, I'm afraid so. But you will let him off? Perhaps he'll +repent and send the papers back." + +"The same way as foxes do with the farmers' chickens," said Uncle +Richard, smiling. + +"Uncle, it is too serious to laugh at," cried Tom indignantly. "Sam +Brandon is your own nephew." + +"Yes, Tom, and all you say is in vain. I have punished him severely for +a cruel, cowardly robbery." + +"But you'll do no more, uncle?" cried Tom. "Humph! Well, no, I think I +may say that I shall do no more. Possibly I shall never see him again." + +"Ah, I don't mind that, uncle," cried Tom anxiously. "But tell me-- +how--what you have done. I would not speak to anybody, and kept it all +so quiet till you came, uncle, because of that. You--you haven't put it +in the hands of the police?" + +"How could I, my boy, when I knew nothing of the robbery until you told +me this morning?" + +"But you said you had punished him, uncle." + +"So I have--cruelly." + +"I don't understand you," said Tom, with his brow puckered-up, and some +of the old ideas about his uncle's sanity creeping back into his mind. + +"I suppose not, Tom; but I have punished your cousin all the same-- +unconsciously of course." + +"I wish you'd tell me what you mean, uncle," said Tom, with his face one +mass of puckers and wrinkles. + +"I will, Tom. No; I would never be the man to bring the law to bear on +my own brother or nephew, though on your account I should have taken +pretty stern measures to enforce restitution of any papers that had been +stolen; but I have, without knowing it, allowed your cousin alone, or +perhaps incited, to come down here in my absence, and cunningly attempt +to get those deeds back into his or his father's possession." + +"Oh, uncle! you don't think--" + +"Silence. I don't want to think or surmise, Tom. I only want for you +and me to be left alone to our own devices, and you keep interrupting me +when I want to explain." + +Tom made a deprecating gesture. + +"Unconsciously, I say, I have punished your cousin, for he came down +here and stole some worthless papers." + +"No, uncle," said Tom sadly; "the deeds are gone." + +"Yes, my boy," said Uncle Richard; "on second thoughts I felt that it +was my duty to place them in a safe depository, and I took them up to +London when I went, and saw them locked up in the deed-box with my other +valuable papers, and then placed in the strong-room at my lawyer's, +where they are out of every would-be scoundrel's reach." + +"Uncle!" cried Tom excitedly. + +"Well, Tom?" + +"I am glad." + +"That the papers are safe?" + +"Bother the old papers!" cried Tom; "that you have punished him like +that." + +Then the lad burst into a fit of peculiar laughter, and became calm the +moment after. + +"Come on, uncle," he cried; "I want to show you the three plane mirrors +that I've ground." + +"Beauties, Tom," said Uncle Richard a few minutes later. "Tom, my lad, +you're my dear sister's son, and the queerest boy I ever met." + +"Am I, uncle?" said Tom dryly. + +"Yes, my lad." + +"You don't mind?" + +"Not a bit, Tom. I'm glad." + +"Then hooray! let's get to work. I want to see the moon with the new +plane mirror." + +"Moon, bah! You're lunatic enough as it is, boy." + +Tom gave his uncle a comical look, and then shyly held out his hand, +which was gripped in a clasp which made him wince. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +There was a heavy post one morning at breakfast, and as Mrs Fidler +glanced at the letters, she screwed up her face and turned her eyes upon +Tom, to shake her head as much as to say, "What work, what work!" + +For to write a letter was a terrible effort to Mrs Fidler. She could +write a beautifully clear hand, as the names of the contents of her +jampots bore witness, but, as she confided to Tom, it was "such a job to +find the next word to set down." + +One of the letters was so big and legal-looking in its broad blue +envelope, whose ragged edges told that it was lined with linen, that it +took Tom's eye at once; but Uncle Richard merely slit it open, peered +inside, and laid it beside his plate till the meal was at an end. + +"I'm going up into the laboratory, Tom," he said then, and left the +room. + +"That means he'd like me to go too," thought Tom, and in a minute or two +he followed, and caught sight of Pete at the end of the lane watching +him, with his dog at his heels, but only to turn off and walk away. + +"Does that mean mischief?" thought Tom, as he went into the mill, and he +shook his head as he felt that Pete was a hopeless case. + +To his surprise, on entering the laboratory, where Uncle Richard was +seated before the bureau with the great letter before him, he was +saluted with-- + +"I see there's your _protege_ Pete Warboys banging about again. He is +always watching this place, or waiting for you to go and play with him." + +"You mean fight with him, uncle," said Tom dryly. + +"Well, that does seem more in your way. Mr Maxted says you're winning +him over, but I doubt it." + +"Yes, uncle, so do I," said Tom, smiling. + +"I feel in doubt," continued Uncle Richard, "whether I ought not to have +tried to prove whether it was really he who helped to break in here. +But there: I only want to be left in peace, and a month's imprisonment +would do him harm, and bring out matters I want forgotten. Ever seen +these before?" + +He drew some legal-looking documents from the big envelope and held them +out. + +"The other papers that were stolen from that drawer, uncle?" + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, looking very stern as he took them back and +threw them into the receptacle, which he then locked up, and pocketed +his keys. "Which is it, Tom--repentance, or because they are of no use +to the thief?" + +"Let's hope it is the first, uncle," replied Tom gravely, and his uncle +uttered a long, deep-toned-- + +"Hah!" Then, "Come along, and let's think of something pleasanter, my +boy." + +They went up into the observatory, where the new diagonal mirror Tom had +ground and silvered was fitted into the telescope; and that night being +gloriously clear, the new addition was tested, and proved to be almost +perfect. + +"As nearly perfect as we shall get it, Tom," said Uncle Richard; and +then till quite late a glorious evening was spent, searching the dark +depths of space for twin stars, Tom having a goodly share of the +observations; and when he was not using the glass making shift with the +star-finder, and listening the while to his uncle's comments upon that +which he saw. + +The telescope was directed at the double star Castor; which, with +Pollux, was glittering brightly in the black-looking sky, when Uncle +Richard made way for the boy to take his place. + +"Wonderfully clear, uncle." + +"But do you notice anything particular?" + +"Yes; I was going to say, it's like it is sometimes when the moon is +low-down; the air seems to be all in a quiver." + +"That is so, Tom. People don't, as a rule, think that they can see the +atmosphere, but you can see it to-night all in motion. I think it means +wind." + +"Wind blowing hard a very long way up?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +"Oh!" ejaculated Tom. + +"What's the matter?" + +"It was so sudden. A cloud has swept right across." + +Uncle Richard stepped up to the opening, and looked out into the night. + +"Yes," he said, "we may shut up for the night; there's a dense black +curtain of clouds drawing across the sky. Come and look. Ah! how +brilliant!" + +Tom started. He had just taken his eye from the great glass, when the +interior of the observatory was lit up for an instant by a flash of +lightning, and as soon as his dazzled eyes mastered the intense darkness +which followed, he joined his uncle, and looked out of the great shutter +opening, to see the singular sight, of one-half of the heavens +brilliantly illuminated with the countless orbs, while the Milky Way was +clearly defined; the other of an inky blackness, moving steadily, +cutting off star after star, till two-thirds of the sky was darkened, +and in half-an-hour, when the shutter was drawn over and fastened, not a +star was to be seen. + +"We are going to have a wild night, Tom, I think," said Uncle Richard; +and as he spoke there was a rumbling noise amongst the woodwork +overhead, caused by a passing blast. "There, let's go in." + +Coffee was waiting when they went in, after leaving all safe, and very +welcome, for they were both shivering. Soon after bed was sought, and +Tom dropped into a deep sleep, from which he was roused by a rattling at +his door, while some one else seemed to be shaking his window. Then +there was a rumble like thunder in the chimney, and the beating at the +door. + +"Tom! wake up, lad!" + +"Yes! All right!" cried the boy, springing out of bed. "Anything the +matter, uncle?" + +"Yes. Terrible storm. The big shutter has been torn open, and is +beating about on the top of the mill." + +"All right; I'll go and fasten it," cried Tom, beginning to dress +rapidly, and waking up more and more to the fact that a wild storm was +raging. Every now and then, after a great deal of shrieking and +howling, as if the wind was forcing itself through crack and cranny, +there came a loud heavy bass booming sound, as a vast wave of air broke +upon the house, making the windows seem to be on the point of falling +in, while the slates upon the roof clattered and the chimneys shook. + +"My word, it blows!" muttered Tom, as he buttoned up his jacket tightly, +and hurried down-stairs, to find that there were lights in the kitchen +and dining-room, while in the hall stood Mrs Fidler, in a wonderful +costume of dressing-gown, shawl, and night-cap. + +"What a storm, my dear!" she said. + +"You up?" + +"Oh yes, my dear; it was impossible to lie. I've lit the kitchen fire, +for poor cook is in hysterics, and Maria is sobbing and crying--quite +helpless." + +"How silly!" muttered Tom. "Where's uncle?" + +"Here I am. Ready?" + +For Uncle Richard appeared with a ready-lit lantern and the keys. + +"We shall have to go out by the front door, Tom; the wind's worse on the +other side of the house." + +"I'm ready, uncle." + +"Pray take care, sir," said Mrs Fidler. "If one of the sails of that +mill is blown off--oh, dear, dear, what am I thinking about?" + +"What indeed, Mrs Fidler! Be ready to close the door after us, for the +wind has tremendous force.--Come along, Tom." + +He led the way, opened the door, and the wind rushed in, banging others, +setting pictures swinging, whisking a couple of hats off their pegs, and +rushing up into the house with a roar. + +Mrs Fidler strove to close the door as they passed out, but failed, and +Tom had to help, holding on by the handle, and dragging the door to. + +Outside, the evergreens were beaten down, and the loose strands of the +different creepers were flogging wall and trellis-work in a way which +forbode destruction to both tree and trellis. Twice over Tom had to +turn his back to get his breath, and in the darkness he could see the +ornamental conifers of the garden bent over like grass; while from a +short distance away, where the pine-wood commenced, there was a +tremendous roar, as of breakers during a storm. Fir-trees in a soft +breeze murmur like the sea; in a gale the resemblance is startling. + +Half-way to the yard gate Tom was caught by a sudden blast, buffeted, +and, staggering hard, had again to turn his back before he could get his +breath; while as the gate was reached, another blast caught the lantern, +swung it against the post, the glass was broken, and _puff_, the light +went out. + +"We must go back," said Uncle Richard, with his lips close to Tom's ear. + +"No, all right; there's a box of matches in the table-drawer up-stairs." + +They pushed on, Tom closing the gate, which was nearly torn from his +hand, while, as they ascended to the mill, the wind came with redoubled +violence, and they had quite a struggle to get, to the door. + +"It is terrible," panted Uncle Richard, as soon as they were inside with +the door closed, and the wind shrieking and roaring around the tall +building as if seeking to sweep it away. + +They mounted in profound darkness to the laboratory, where the matches +were found, and all the time the trap-door overhead was being lifted a +few inches every minute, and fell with a clap, while the shrieking of +the wind, and the rattling and banging of the woodwork in the +observatory, sounded ominous of danger to the work of many, many months. + +"Time we came, Tom," said Uncle Richard grimly, as the lantern was lit, +and the broken pane replaced by the covers torn from an old book just +about the size. + +"Yes, quite," replied Tom. "Come on." + +He stepped quickly to the ladder-like stairs, sprang up, threw open the +trap-door, and was about to enter the room, when the trap-door was flung +back upon him violently. + +"Hurt?" shouted Uncle Richard. + +"Yes; not much," cried Tom, and thrusting the trap-door open again, he +forced it back, and, aware now of the danger, held it firmly as he got +up; and then, while his uncle followed with the light, closing it again +directly and securing it with a bolt. + +Tom's heart beat as the dim light of the lantern was thrown upon the +great telescope, for fear that it should have met with injury, but to +his great delight the top was directed right away from the open shutter, +which now gave evidence of its loose state by yielding to the pressure +of the wind, and giving a tremendous bang. + +"Now, Tom, how are we to stop that?" shouted Uncle Richard, for the roar +through the opening, mingled with hissing and shrieking, was deafening. + +"Don't know," yelled the boy, as he crept to the opening and found that +the wind had wrenched it open, and turned it right over upon the roof. +"Must do something," he shouted again, as he drew in his head. + +"If we don't the wind will end by lifting off this roof, and destroying +my glass." + +"Cord's broke," said Tom in a momentary lull of the wind. Then the roar +began again, and the building quivered, while the shutter was lifted and +beaten down again with a bang. + +Then, from somewhere out in the darkness, came a tremendous roaring +crash, apparently very near. + +"What's that?" cried Tom; "house blown down?" + +"One of the big elms on the green for certain. Hark!" + +Tom was hearkening, for directly after there was another crash, and +another. + +"No doubt about it," said Uncle Richard. "One has struck the other, and +the great elms have gone down like skittles." + +"There goes another," cried Tom, as there was a fresh crash, which +sounded louder than either of those which preceded it. "But I don't +want our observatory to go, uncle. You put the light down on the other +side, where it'll be sheltered from the wind, and I'll get out into the +gallery and try if I can drag the shutter over, and then we must nail it +in its place." + +"Impossible, my lad. You could not stand out there without being blown +off." + +"But I must, uncle.--If the wind comes in--" + +_Whoo_! + +A tremendous squall struck the place, the shutter banged, the wooden +dome roof rattled, and in the midst of the deafening din the wind drove +in upon them with such force that they felt as if in the open air, and +believed for the time that the round wooden top had been lifted off to +go sailing away. + +"That was a rum one, uncle," cried Tom breathlessly. "Now then, I must +go, before another comes." + +"No, no, my lad; life is of more consequence than observatories; it is +not safe for you to go." + +"But I shall be all right if you hold me tightly," cried Tom. "Come +on." + +Uncle Richard gave way, and took a firm grip of the boy's jacket as he +climbed out through the shutter opening into the little gallery, where +he reached over to get to the far edge of the shutter, to draw it to +him, but the next moment he had crouched down and held on for dear life. + +For, as if the storm had pounced upon him to tear him off the high +building and sweep him away, down came the wind with a savage roar, and +when for a few moments there was a slight lull, Tom yielded to the drag +put on him by his uncle, and half climbed, half allowed himself to be +lifted into the observatory. + +"I never thought the wind could be so strong," he panted breathlessly. + +"It is terrible to-night. I must go myself." + +"You--uncle? Why, the place would hardly bear a man of your weight, and +I couldn't hold you up if you slipped." + +"Could you reach the edge of the shutter?" + +"No, uncle, not by far enough." + +"That was as far as I could reach, too. We must give it up and risk +everything." + +Tom gave his uncle a droll look, the light from the lantern shining +dimly on his face. + +"We can't give it up, uncle. I'll try again when the wind is not so +strong." + +"But you could not reach, boy, and I dare not loose my hold even for a +minute." + +"'Tis awkward," shouted Tom; "but we must do something. Stop a minute: +I know. Rope." + +"Yes, of course, the new strong rope in the bottom of the tool-chest." + +Tom took the lantern, and as his uncle held up the trap-door, the boy +went down, to return in two or three minutes with a small coil of thin, +thoroughly trustworthy new rope, and a hammer and some strong nails; and +as soon as the lantern and trap-door were secured, he began to knot the +rope round his waist. + +"I don't like letting you go, Tom," said Uncle Richard, with his lips to +the boy's ear. + +"And I don't like to go, uncle; but this knot can't slip, and you won't +loose me." + +"No; you may depend upon that, my lad." + +"Very well, then: look here. I've brought the hammer and some nails. +We can't fasten the shutter safely here, it would only break away +again." + +"Then it is of no use, boy; we must let the place take its chance." + +"We won't, uncle," screamed Tom, to make himself heard. "Look here: I +know. Where I touched the nearest corner of the shutter it's +broken-away, so I shall get out in the gallery, turn it over into its +place, and nail it down from outside." + +"Are you mad?" cried Uncle Richard. "How are you going to get in?" + +"Shan't get in. You'll let me down outside." + +"Absurd, boy! The rope would be shut in the door, even if I would +harbour such a wild scheme for a moment." + +"No, it wouldn't," shouted Tom; "the rope would run through the +broken-away corner." + +"Nonsense, it is impossible. The place must go." + +_Whoo_! came the wind again; and once more it seemed as if the roof was +to be lifted off like a gigantic umbrella, and carried far away by the +storm. + +"I must go and do it," cried Tom. + +"_No_, _no_, _no_!" shouted Uncle Richard. "Let's go down--we may be +hurt." + +"Uncle, the telescope!--all our work! Oh, I can't come away." + +"But it is risking your life, boy." + +"'Tisn't, uncle," cried Tom desperately. "You can hold me tightly with +the rope. I should put some nails in my pocket--so, and stick the +hammer handle down inside my jacket--so, and then climb out quickly +while you held tightly by the rope, and--Just like this, uncle." + +And before he could be checked, Tom stepped to the opening, and with the +rapidity born of habit lifted himself out, and then holding on by the +sill, lowered his legs into the little gallery. + +Uncle Richard darted forward to seize him, but another terrific blast +struck the mill, pinning Tom against the woodwork, and literally driving +his uncle back from the opening, while the telescope swung round upon +its pivot, and various objects were blown to the far side. + +For the full space of a minute it seemed as if the dome-like roof must +be torn off, while, to add to the confusion and horror, the lantern was +blown over and went out, leaving them in utter darkness. + +At last, when the strength of the squall was partly spent, Uncle +Richard, as he held on by the rope, shouted to Tom to come back; but in +his excitement the boy heard nothing. He gave a fierce drag at the +rope, crept sidewise beneath the shutter, and exerting all his strength +tried to turn it over upon its hinges. But each effort was in vain, for +the wind pressed it down. + +"I can't do it--I can't do it," he panted, as, pressing his feet against +the rail of the gallery, he heaved and heaved with all his might, but +only succeeded in getting his arms underneath a little. + +Then the rope was dragged fiercely, and his uncle's voice came through +the opening overhead and to his left, but only in a confused murmur, +though he felt what must be said; and in despair he was dragging out his +hands, for the wind roared louder than ever, pressing him down against +the structure with tremendous force. But all at once his hands were set +free, for the slight raising of the shutter had been sufficient for the +wind to get beneath, and with a rush it was swept by his face, just +grazing his chin. There was a tremendous clap, and it was closed, while +the boy thought of nothing but holding on as the wind once again pressed +him against the building. + +And now for a few moments he lost nerve, and clung desperately, feeling +as if he must be plucked from his feeble hold and dashed down into the +yard. Hammer and nails were forgotten, and he pressed his forehead +against the woodwork, while the confusion caused by the roaring of the +wind seemed to increase. + +Then it was as if a great nerve communicating with safety had been +touched, for he felt the rope jerked along sidewise, till it was in the +jagged opening at the bottom left-hand corner of the broken shutter. + +The feeling was electric, and sent a thrill through the boy. + +"I'm all right, I can't fall," he muttered; and dragging out the hammer +by its head, he felt for the first nail, then ran his hand up the side +of the shutter for some distance, judged what would be a fair position +for the nail, tapped it in a little way, and then began to drive with +vigorous strokes, sometimes missing in the darkness, but nearly always +getting good blows on the nail-head, and at last feeling that it was +well home. + +All this while he felt himself held tightly to the woodwork by the +strain upon the cord, and the pressure of the wind: + +Getting out another nail, he drove that in a foot lower, close to his +chest; another minute, and a third nail was driven home, the exertion +and excitement of doing something effectual driving away all thought of +danger. + +Then jerking the rope a little so as to get more freedom he stood well +up, reached as high as possible, and drove in several more nails, and +reached over to the other edge of the shutter, where he drove in a +couple between the hinges, in case they should be wrenched. + +"That must be safe now," he said to himself, as he lowered himself down +to a kneeling position in the gallery, the rope being tightened as he +did so, yielding at first, but drawing as if it were made of indiarubber +instead of the best hemp. + +And now once more Tom felt a sensation of shrinking, for the time had +come for his descent, which seemed very easy to talk about in the +observatory, but very difficult to perform with the wind blowing a +hurricane, and all around him a darkness so thick that it was like that +of old--a darkness to be felt. + +"But the telescope's right," thought Tom, "and the roofs safe;" and +getting his lips to the broken opening, he yelled out, doubtful whether +his words would be heard in the midst of that bewildering noise--"All +right, uncle; lower away!" + +He had thrust the hammer back inside his jacket, and now gave the rope a +snatch, feeling it yield gently and steadily, as he rose and tried the +knot with both hands, but had to thrust them out again to save himself +from being dashed against the building, so fierce a squall once more +struck him from behind. + +The next instant he was once more pinned against the place, and held by +the rope as well. This gave him renewed confidence. + +"Uncle is on the look-out," he muttered; and as soon as the worst +pressure of the wind was over, he once more shouted through the opening, +and losing no time, laid hold of the rail with both hands, resting his +chest upon it, raised his legs horizontally, allowed them to drop down, +and hung by his arms and the cord; then, as the rope gave, by his hands, +and the next minute by the rope, which glided over the rail slowly, and +then stopped short, leaving him swinging with his face level with the +flooring, and swinging to and fro. + +_Whoosh_! came the wind again, making him lose his hold of the rope and +catch at the floor of the gallery, into which he drove his finger-nails +for a moment, but only to have them wrenched away, as the wind shrieked +and yelled in his ears, and turned him right round and round rapidly +like an over-roasted joint. + +"Lower away, uncle, lower away!" he shouted; but he might just as well +have spared his voice, for not a word could by any possibility have been +heard in the observatory, the wind sweeping breath and sound away, and +nearly strangling him when he faced it. + +Twice over he got a grip of the edge of the gallery, but only to be +snatched away again and swung to and fro. + +"Why don't you lower away? Quick! quick!" he shrieked out; and as if in +response, he descended three or four feet, and then a couple more in +little painful jerks. Then the rope stopped; the wind dashed at him, +and he was swung to and fro and round and round like a feather. Now his +feet touched the bricks of the mill, then he was far away again, for the +rail over which the rope passed projected fully four feet from the top. + +He was more and more bewildered; the rope cut into his chest, in spite +of his seizing it and holding it with both hands, but only to let go +again to stretch them out in the darkness, as he was swung about by the +gale, for he was seized now by a dread that he would be dashed heavily +against the wall. + +Once more he was in motion in jerks, but only for a foot or two, and +then the horror of being dashed against the wall grew worse, for the +greater length of rope gave the wind more power to swing him violently +to and fro. + +"Why doesn't he let me down?" thought Tom, with a fierce feeling of +anger rising against his uncle; but that was only momentary, for a fresh +dread assailed Tom--he was certain that he had felt the knot of the rope +crawling as it were upon his breast, which he knew must mean its giving +way, and with a frantic dash he flung up his hands to grasp the cord +high up once more. + +"Could he climb back into the gallery?" + +He tried, but his strength was failing, and after three or four efforts +he gave it up, to hang there inert, certain that the rope was nearly +undone, and that as soon as his grasp failed upon the thin cord, which +could not be long, down he must go, fully five-and-twenty feet--a +distance which the horror and darkness and agony made ten times as +terrible as it really was, though it would have been bad enough if half. + +And all the while the wind raved and roared and tossed him about till he +was giddy, and rapidly losing consciousness; twice over he banged +heavily against the wall, though for the most part he was swung to and +fro parallel to the little gallery. Then a horrible feeling of sickness +attacked him, his hands fell to his sides, his head drooped, but the +next moment he felt himself reviving, for he was gliding rapidly down; +his feet touched the bottom, the rope slackened, then tightened, +slackened again, and fell at his feet; while by the time he had +staggered to the door, round at the other side of the building, trailing +the rope after him like an elongated tail, and holding his painful chest +with his hands, that door was opened, and he staggered into his uncle's +arms. + +"Well done, my brave lad!" cried Uncle Richard in the comparative +silence of the workshop; but Tom could not answer. + +"What is it? You are not hurt?" + +There was no reply, only a feeble gasp or two, and in his horror his +uncle gave him a rough shake, but directly after felt in the darkness +for the rope, and rapidly untied it. + +"Speak, my boy, if you can," cried Uncle Richard then. "You are not +hurt?" + +"No; I'm going to be all right now, I think," said Tom hoarsely. Then +in quite a fierce way he grasped at his uncle's arm. "Why didn't you +lower me down?" he cried. + +"I couldn't, boy. It was all in the dark, and the rope kept getting +wedged by the broken wood. I was afraid to use violence for fear of +breaking it, or ravelling it through. Let me help you back into the +house. You've saved the roof of the mill." + +"Think so?" said Tom huskily. + +"Yes, more, Tom--sure," cried his uncle, jerking the rope into a corner, +and re-opening the door. + +"Think the light's quite out?" + +"Yes, certain," cried Uncle Richard; and banging to and locking the +door, he caught hold of Tom's arm. + +"I'm all right now," said the boy; and they hurried back into the house, +securing gates as they went, to find Mrs Fidler looking whiter than +ever; and quite tearful as she exclaimed-- + +"Oh dear! I was afraid something dreadful had happened. Do pray sit +down and have a cup of tea, sir." + +They did, and with the storm increasing in violence, Tom went up once +more to his room, to lie down in his clothes, and listen to the raging +wind, and the sounds which told from time to time of destruction to +tile, chimney-pot, or tree. + +At least he meant to do this, but in ten minutes or so the sound of the +wind had lulled him to sleep, and he did not open his eyes again till +morning, to find the storm dropped and the sun shining brightly. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +"Them four lights from the cowcumber frames, Master Tom, lifted off, +carried eight-and-forty foot, dashed down and smashed, so as there arn't +a single whole pane o' glass left." + +"That's a bad job, David," said Tom, as he stood looking about him at +the ruin caused by the hurricane; "but the telescope is all right." + +"Yer can't grow cowcumbers with tallow-scoops, Master Tom. The first +thing I see as soon as I goes into the little vinery there was two big +slates off the top o' the house, blowed off like leaves, to go right +through the glass, and there they was sticking up edgeways in the vine +border." + +"Well, only a job for the glazier," said Tom. + +"Strikes me there won't be glass enough left in the village to do all +the mending. Mrs Bray's front window was blowed right in, and all the +sucker and lollypop glasses knocked into a mash o' glass splinters and +stick. There's a limb off the baking pear-tree; lots o' branches teared +loose from the walls; a big bit snapped off the cedar, and that there +arby whitey blowed right sidewise. It's enough to make a gardener as +has any respect for himself break his 'art." + +"Never mind, David; I'll come out and help you try to put things +straight." + +"Will you, Master Tom?" + +"Of course I will." + +"But we can't mend them there frame-lights. The wood's gone too." + +"No, but I'll ask uncle to buy some new ones; they were very old." + +"Well, if you come to that, sir, they was that touch-woody that if it +hadn't been for the thick paint I put on 'em every spring, till they had +quite a houtside skin o' white lead, they wouldn't ha' held together. +Stop, that arn't all: the tool-house door's blowed right off. Natur's +very well in some things, but I never could see what was the good o' so +much wind blustering and rampaging about. I was very nigh gettin' up +and coming to see how things was, on'y the tiles and pots was a-flying, +so that I thought I'd better stop in bed." + +"I wish you had come," said Tom. + +"Ay, that's all very well, Master Tom; but s'pose one o' they big ellums +as come down on the green--four on 'em--had dropped atop o' me, what +would master ha' done for a gardener? There's nobody here as could ha' +kept our garden as it ought to be." + +"It was a terrible night, David." + +"Terrible arn't the word for it, Master Tom. Why, do you know--Yah! +You there again. Here, stop a minute." + +David ran to a piece of rock-work, picked up a great pebble, and trotted +to the side of the garden, whence a piteous, long-drawn howl had just +arisen--a dismal mournful cry, ending in a piercing whine, such as would +be given by a half-starved tied-up dog left in an empty house. + +David reached the hedge, reached over, hurled the stone, and sent after +it a burst of objurgations, ending with-- + +"Yah! G'long home with yer. Beast!" + +"That's about settled him," he said as he came back, smiling very +widely. + +"Strange dog, David?" + +"Strange, sir? Not him. It's that ugly, hungry-looking brute o' Pete +Warboys'. That's four times he's been here this morning, chyiking and +yelping. You must have been giving him bones." + +"I? No, I never fed him." + +"Then cook must. We don't want him here. But I don't think he'll come +again." + +"Did you hit him?" + +"Hit him, sir? What with that there stone? Not I. Nobody couldn't hit +him with stick or stone neither. Keepers can't even hit him with their +guns, or he'd been a dead 'un long ago. He's the slipperest dog as ever +was." + +"_Hy--yow--ow--oo--ooo_!" came from a distance--a pitiful cry that was +mournful in the extreme. + +"Hear that, sir?" + +Before Tom could answer the gardener went on-- + +"So you had the trap-door atop busted open, did yer, sir?" + +"Yes, and a terrible job to shut it," said Tom. "I thought we should +never get it fast." + +"Ah, I arn't surprised. Wind's a blusterous sort o' thing when its +reg'lar on. Just look: here's a wreck and rampagin', sir. What am I to +begin to do next?" + +"David!" + +"Yes, sir; comin', sir," cried the gardener, in answer to a call; and as +he went off to where his master was pointing out loose slates and a +curled-up piece of lead on the roof to the village bricklayer, the +miserable howl came again from much nearer. + +"Pete must be somewhere about," thought Tom; and then, after giving +another glance round at the damage done by the storm, he hurried out to +have a look round the village, going straight to the green, where half +the people were standing talking about the elms, which lay broken in a +great many pieces, showing the brittleness of the wood, for the huge +trunks had snapped here and there, and mighty boughs, each as big as a +large tree, were shivered and splintered in a wonderful way. + +Every here and there a ruddy patch in the road showed where tile or +chimney-pot had been swept off and dashed to pieces. The sign at the +village inn had been torn from its hinges, and farther on Tom came upon +the Vicar examining the great gilt weather-cock on the little spire at +the top of the big square, ivy-clad tower. + +He was at the edge of the churchyard using a small telescope, and +started round as Tom cried, "Good-morning." + +"Ah, good-morning, Tom. What a night! There, you try. Your eyes are +young." + +He handed the telescope. + +"It's terrible, my lad," he said. "There's a barn out at Huggins's laid +quite flat, they say, and two straw-stacks regularly swept away." + +"The stacks, sir?" cried Tom, pausing, glass in hand. + +"Well, not all at once, but the straw. They tell me it has been swept +over the country for miles. I never remember such a storm here. I've +seen them on the coast." + +"Why, the bar under the letters has bent right down, sir," said Tom, +after a minute's examination. "I can't see whether it's broken." + +"Not likely to be, Tom," said the Vicar; "it is of copper. See anything +else broken?" + +"One of the arms--the one with the E on it--is hanging right down." + +"Hah! Well, it must be mended. Did you hear the small bell in the +night?" + +"No," said Tom. + +"It kept on giving a bang every now and then, for the tower shutters are +all gone on the other side. Four came into my garden. I can't find +more, so I suppose they have been blown into the tower among the bells. +Good-morning. I must go round the place and see who is damaged. Your +uncle says you nearly had the top off the mill, and that you behaved +splendidly." + +"Oh, nonsense, sir!" said Tom, colouring. "I only nailed down the top +shutter." + +"Only? Well, Tom, I wouldn't have got up there and nailed it down for +all the telescopes in England. Good-morning." + +They parted, and Tom continued his way round by the church, getting a +glimpse of the gaping window opening in the tower where the bells hung +exposed; and then after passing a great horse-chestnut lying in the next +field, he went on round by Mother Warboys' and the other cottages, +catching sight of the old woman standing at her door, with her hand over +her eyes, as if watching. + +The next minute she caught sight of him, and shouted. Then she shook +her stick at him, and said something in a threatening way. + +But the boy hurried on, crossed the fields, got into the narrow lane, +and then went on and on till he was able to turn into the road which +divided his uncle's field and grounds from the mill-yard. + +No sooner had he turned into the sandy road than his ears were saluted +by the dismal howling of Pete's dog, which was evidently somewhere near +the mill. + +"What a nuisance!" thought Tom, and he paused for a few moments, looking +in that direction. "Bound to say Master Pete's hanging about somewhere, +and the dog can't find him." + +However, he did not stop, but trotted off in the opposite direction to +have a look at Huggins's barn, which lay completely flat, the thatch +scattered, and the wooden sides and rafters strewed all over the +farm-yard. + +Of the two straw-stacks nothing was visible on the spot but the round +patches of faggots upon which they had been raised. The straw itself +decorated hedges, hung in trees, and was spread over fields as far as he +could see. + +All at once he heard a yelp, and turning, there was Pete Warboys' dog +racing toward him as hard as it could come. As it drew nearer, tearing +along the sandy road, it began to bark furiously, and looked so vicious +that Tom stooped and picked up a big stone. + +That was sufficient; the dog yelped aloud, turned, leaped over a hedge, +and ran for its life. + +"Awful coward, after all," muttered Tom, throwing down the stone and +returning to the house, where he set to work and helped David for the +rest of the day. + +Three times had David charged out after the dog, which kept coming and +howling close at hand, and each time the gardener came back grumbling +about some one having been "chucking that there dog bones." + +"Cook says she arn't, sir, and t'other says she arn't; but I put it to +you, sir, would that there dog come a-yowling here if he warn't hungry?" + +"Perhaps that's why he has come, David," said Tom. + +"No, sir, not athout he expected to get something. I wish him and Pete +Warboys had been jolly well blowed out o' the parish last night, that I +do." + +That night at intervals the dog came howling about the place, and kept +Tom awake for a while, but the exertions of the past night and the work +of the day had told so upon him that he fell into a heavy, dreamless +sleep, but only to be awakened just after sunrise by the mournful howl. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +"Oh, I can't stand this," said Tom, jumping up, and hurriedly beginning +to dress, after throwing open his window to see the east gradually +turning red, and the clouds far up tinged and necked with orange. + +Then there was another low, piteous howling. + +"Lie down, you brute!" he shouted out of the window, to be answered by a +quick, yelping bark. + +"Perhaps Pete is not about, and the dog really is starving," thought +Tom; and he finished dressing as another howl broke out, more piteous +and mournful than ever. + +"Will you be quiet!" he shouted from the window. "Lie down, and I'll +bring you a bone, you ugly, rat-tailed, low-bred dog-ruffian." + +He was interrupted by a joyous, yelping bark. + +"That dog does want to be friends with me, but I can't have him here," +thought Tom, who now opened his door as quietly as he could, but it gave +a loud creak, so did one of the boards, as he walked towards the +staircase. + +"That you, Tom?" came from his uncle's room. + +"Yes, uncle." + +"There's a dog making a miserable noise. Try and drive it away." + +"Just going to, uncle," said Tom. Then to himself, as he went +down-stairs--"Driving's no good, or old Dave would have got rid of him +yesterday. I shall have to try him with a bone." + +He laughed to himself as he made his way into the larder, wondering what +Mrs Fidler would say if she could see him; and after looking beneath +two or three wire covers, he pounced upon a bladebone of a shoulder of +mutton, pretty literally a bone, and bore it away, taking his cap and +going out into the garden, getting to the side gate in the lane, and +passing out just as the sun rose above the horizon. + +"Here, hi! ugly!" he cried, breaking into the midst of a howl; and the +dog came bounding toward him with its yelping bark. "There; it's very +stupid of me, but just you take that and be off into the woods, and if +you come here again look out for squalls." + +The dog made a fierce snap at the bone, upon which its sharp teeth +clapped, and then with a growl bounded off, but stopped and came back, +dropped the bone in the sand, looked up at Tom, and threw up its head to +howl again. + +"Why, halloo! what's the matter then?" cried Tom, holding out his hand; +"got another adder-bite in the nose?" + +"Ow--ow!" moaned the dog, pressing its head up against the hand. Then +it started away, barked sharply, turned, and looked at Tom. + +"Here, let's have a look," he cried; and the dog uttered an eager bark. +"Come here." + +The dog ran to him directly, and after a momentary hesitation Tom took +hold of its head, and held up its muzzle without the slightest +resistance being offered. + +"Well, we seem to have got to be pretty good friends," said Tom, as he +looked carefully, and then let go; "but I don't see anything wrong. +Besides, it isn't swollen." + +The dog barked loudly now, and started away for a few yards. + +"Here, here! Don't leave your sandy bone," cried Tom, and the dog ran +back. "Here, catch hold." + +Then there was a snap made at the tempting morsel, but it was dropped +again directly, for the poor brute to throw up its muzzle and give forth +another piteous howl. + +"Oh, I say, don't do that," cried Tom; and this was responded to by a +burst of barking. + +"Why, what's the matter with you? Mouth sore? Toothache?" + +There was another burst of barking, and the dog ran on a few yards, and +looked back to bark again. + +"I don't understand your language, old chap," cried Tom. "What do you +want? Found a rabbit round here?" + +Another eager bark, and the dog pricked up its ears, and looked more and +more excited. + +"All right, come and pick this up then. It's too good to leave." + +The dog rushed at the bone as Tom turned it over with his foot, seized +it, and ran on again, dropped it, and barked. Then, as the boy +advanced, it seized the bone and ran on farther, to go through the same +performance. + +"Very well, I'll come," cried Tom. "Bound to say he has found an adder +somewhere, and wants me to kill it, though I should hardly think there +are any about now," and he set off at a trot after the dog, whose whole +manner changed at this, for it went bounding off along the road, +stopping every now and then to drop the bone and bark excitedly; twice +over it left the meat and ran on, but at a word it came back, picked it +up, and went on as before, with tail and ears erect, looking as full of +business as could be. + +"Isn't this very stupid?" muttered Tom; "me running after this +miserable-looking brute. He's going to change masters, and wants me to +go hunting with him--that's what it is. Pete has knocked him about once +too often. Wonder what uncle would say if I took such an object back. +And old David!" + +He laughed heartily as he pictured the gardener's disgust, but somehow +he could not help feeling satisfied by the dog's show of affection. + +At this point he stopped, for they had gone some distance along beside +the fir-wood, and to try how the animal would behave, he called it. + +The bone was dropped, and the animal rushed back to him barking +excitedly, allowing itself to be patted, and then jumping up and butting +its head against him in a way more eager than pleasant. + +"Well, isn't that enough?" cried Tom, giving the dog a few friendly +pats, which made it dart on again barking. + +"Here! hi! The bone!" and the dog dashed back, picked it up, and bolted +steadily on again, till at about a mile from Heatherleigh it stopped by +an opening into the wood, bounded up the sandy bank, and stood there +barking as it looked back. + +"Look here," cried Tom, as he came up, and talking to the dog as if it +understood him. "No treachery, old chap; Pete hasn't sent you, has he, +to lure me into the wood for another fight? Because if that's it I'm +going back. I don't want to knock myself about again--or be knocked," +he added merrily. + +There was a volley of barks here, and the dog was going to plunge into +the depths of the fir-wood without the dropped bone, but a word checked +it, and it picked up its mouthful and went on, while Tom hesitated at +the edge. + +"I'm not going any farther," he muttered. "What's the good?" but the +dog was back, looking wilder and more excited than ever. "All right! go +on then; I'm after you," he cried. "It will be a grand run before +breakfast, and there's plenty of time." + +From this moment, as Tom trotted quickly over the fir-needles at the +dog's heels, the poor brute went steadily on, uttering a low, muffled +bark every now and then as it threaded its way in and out among the +fir-trees as if bound for some particular spot. + +This began to impress Tom now, and he wondered why his companion did not +begin to hunt about; then this wonder increased as first one and then +another rabbit was put up, to dart away, eliciting low growls from the +dog, but that was all. It showed not the slightest disposition to dash +after them. + +"Can dogs think?" said Tom to himself, with a new interest now in his +pursuit. "He must mean something. Is it an adder? I'll be bound to +say he is going right away to that open place where he was stung, to +show me the dead viper that he has killed." + +The farther they went on, the more convinced Tom felt that this was the +case, for they were going right in the direction, and making good +progress too, the dog never stopping for a moment, but just swinging its +ugly head round to see if it was followed before settling to its steady +trot once more. + +This went on for quite half-an-hour, and Tom was pretty well breathless +as he stopped to have a bit of rest, while the dog halted, dropped its +bone, turned up its head, and howled again dismally. + +"I can't help it, old chap," cried Tom; "I haven't got four legs to run +with; I must walk now." + +As the dog saw him advance it barked joyously again, and trotted on once +more, but more slowly as it found that it was not followed so swiftly. + +Then all at once a fresh idea flashed through Tom's brain, and he fell +a-wondering whether he could be right. He had never been across the +wood this way before, but it was undoubtedly in the direction of Pete's +lurking-place under the great pine-tree, and it seemed possible that the +dog was making for there. + +But why? For what reason? + +Tom felt uneasy, and involuntarily, in spite of a slight sensation of +shrinking, began to trot once more, while the dog seemed to gladly +increase its pace after a look back. + +"It must be," thought Tom; "he is leading me straight to the sandy cave. +What for?" + +An undefined sensation of uneasiness began to increase upon him. He was +getting hot with exercise, but his blood was quite cool. Imagination +had not stirred him; he had had no breakfast; and if a fight was before +him, he felt most decidedly that he would rather not. In this spirit +then he kept on telling himself that he might as well turn back now, but +all the same he kept trotting on after the dog, putting off the return +till he had gone a little farther and a little farther, and always +keeping on, till all at once it seemed to be a little lighter on ahead, +and he strained his eyes in the full expectation of seeing Pete Warboys +waiting for him. + +"And if he is," he half thought, half muttered, "as sure as I live I'll +get David to help me, and we'll trap and half kill this treacherous +brute." + +Another hundred yards, and he was looking wonderingly about him, for the +place was strange. He had never been there before. + +Then he grasped the meaning of the strangeness. The storm had evidently +come down here with terrific force, making a path through the +pine-forest, some of whose trees were laid like wheat after a heavy +wind; while just in front one huge tree had been blown right over, and +in falling had crushed down a dozen or more in the path of its fall, +letting in light, and strewing the soft earth with broken limbs, and +trunks lying like jack-straws on the ground. + +"That's why he has brought me," said Tom, half aloud. "Halloo, where is +he? Here! here! old boy, here!" + +He was answered by a furious barking, and the dog sprang up into sight +on the trunk of the big tree close up to its roots, barking furiously at +him, and then turning and leaping down out of sight; while Tom felt as +if all of a sudden his blood had begun to turn cold, and his legs +beneath him had grown weak. + +For a horrible thought had suddenly flashed across his mind, like a +meteor over the field of the great telescope. He knew now the dumb +language of the dog, and why it had fetched him; and as if to endorse +his thought, there came from about a dozen yards away so wild and +blood-curdling a yell, that for the moment he could not believe it to be +the dog, but that it came from some one in mortal peril. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +That cry was "help!" in its meaning as plainly as if it had come from a +human throat, and with eyes hot and dry, Tom dashed forward with his +worst fears confirmed. + +The tree had been blown over by the storm, and he knew it now. It was +the great pine whose roots overhung Pete's cavern, and now the hollow +which formed the entrance was filled up by the roots, the narrow passage +closed, and at the bottom of a new pit formed in the sand, where the +buried roots had been torn out and broken off, there was the dog, with +jaws open, tongue out, and eyes starting, tearing away at the sand, +which kept gliding back as fast as it was thrown out, evidently trying +to rescue its master, who must have been buried there. + +"Oh, you good old chap!" cried Tom, as he sprang to the side of the pit; +and the dog, taking the words for encouragement, uttered a loud bark, +and tore away at the sand with its fore feet and kicked it away with its +hind at a tremendous rate, sending it flying in quite a mist. + +Tom had grasped the situation thoroughly now, and felt that Pete must +have been sleeping in his cave that night with his dog, when the tree, +only held on one side, had given way, burying him. Then the dog had +contrived to scratch its way out, leaving its master prisoned to lie +there in darkness, while during all the next day and night the faithful +companion for whom he had shown so little kindness had howled, and +howled in vain, for help. + +Tom saw it all now, and he sprang down into the hollow from which the +pine roots had been torn, to begin cheering on the dog, and helping with +all his might; till once more he turned cold; but it was with a far more +terrible chill, as he felt that it was all those hours since Pete had +been covered in. Worse, the position of the root indicated that one +side had been driven right into the cave, the old roof, as it were, +sinking down, and only one thing could have happened--the unfortunate +occupant must have been crushed to death. + +But the dog was animated by no such ideas. It knew that its master was +below, and it panted, and growled, and snarled as it tore away at the +sand. + +Then a fresh idea struck Tom. He could do but little good; he must run +for help, and bring men with shovels, a rope, levers, and an axe, for +they would perhaps have to cut the unhappy prisoner free. + +But no; he might be the means of the poor fellow losing his life if a +spark still lingered. If he could only reach his face and uncover that +before going for aid! And so he toiled on, scooping out the sand with +both hands close by where the dog tore, for every now and then it buried +its muzzle, snuffling and blowing, and raised it again to bark +furiously. + +"He knows," thought Tom; and he tore away with all his might down there +upon his knees, close at the side of the dog, to whom he uttered a +cheering word of encouragement, accompanied by a pat on the back. + +But it was slow work, for every now and then the sand from above +crumbled down, great pats dropped from amongst the roots as soon as that +beneath was taken away, and at the end of half-an-hour a feeling of +despair accompanied the deadly weariness that now attacked his arms and +shoulders, and involuntarily Tom Blount uttered a piteous cry. + +It was from the hopelessness of what he was doing that this cry escaped +him, but the dog took it for one of encouragement, and it plunged its +nose into the loose sand again, grew more and more excited as it tore +away, and suddenly, to Tom's astonishment, head and shoulders +disappeared, and it gradually struggled on till even the long thin tail +disappeared. + +Reaching down, the boy now found the sand come away more easily, and he +was thrusting his arm in as far as it would go, when he felt the dog's +cold nose against his hand; the dry sand seemed to boil up as he +snatched back his arm, and directly after the dog worked itself out +again, to stand barking with all its might, and then begin scratching +once more. + +After working a few minutes longer, Tom reached in again, and found that +his hand moved about freely in one direction, but touched pieces of root +in the other, and then he started back with a cry of horror, for down in +a hollow between two pieces of root he felt a face. + +The fear was only momentary. Then he was searching again, and this time +easily touched the face, which was quite clear of sand, the roots above +striding over it, so to speak, and, as he felt upward, proving to be +some inches distant. + +But the face was cold and still, and despair crept over the worker +again. He fought it back though, tore away at the sand, and at the end +of a few minutes had cleared an opening like a rabbit burrow, which he +could see led right to the roots and must convey air. + +Then with a tremendous burst of barking the dog made a plunge to get in, +half filling the burrow before Tom could hold it back, when the +intelligent beast stood with its tongue out, panting heavily, and +seeming to question him with its eyes. + +Tom thought for a moment, then he took off his neckerchief, pulled out +his pocket-book, and tore out a leaf of paper, one side of which was +covered with the names of the moon's craters. + +"Come away," he cried to the dog, as he carefully stepped out on to the +firm ground, the dog barking excitedly, but following him. + +"Must stop and keep the hole open," thought Tom; and then, laying his +paper on a tree-trunk, he wrote clearly:-- + +"Follow the dog to the fir-wood. Pete buried in sand. Bring help, +shovels, axes, ropes. + +"T.B." + +He rolled this in his neckerchief, tied it round the dog's neck, and +then stood pointing homeward. + +"Go home!" he shouted; "fetch--fetch! Go home!" + +The dog made no sound, but went off at a long loping gallop, Tom +watching it till it was out of sight, and then cautiously creeping back +into the hole to scoop away some of the sand which lay heaped round the +burrow, to keep watch by one who he felt sure was dead. + +All Pete's short-comings were forgotten as Tom sat there, feeling that +he dare do no more for fear of loosening the sand, and bringing it +trickling down like so much water; all he could think of then was, that +a fellow-creature lay buried close to him mutely asking for help, and he +wanted to convince himself that he had done everything possible in the +way of giving that aid. + +It was a difficult matter to mentally decide, and there were moments +when he felt that he ought not to have trusted to the dog, but should +have gone himself, for a dozen things might prevent help coming, even if +the dog proved to be a trustworthy messenger. + +So strong was this idea, that three times over he was on the point of +starting off to run back; but each time just as he was rising, the sand +came trickling down in a way which showed how soon the burrow would be +closed up; and without air, now that the place had been opened, he felt +that the last chance would be gone. + +So Tom settled himself down to keep the burrow clear, trembling at times +as he listened, faintly hoping that the words he spoke now and then +might elicit a reply. + +But he hearkened in vain, all was solemnly still save the calls of the +birds, and the rustling made by the rabbits as they chased each other in +and out among the pines. By and by a squirrel came racing up, caught +sight of him, sprang to the nearest tree-trunk, dashed up it, and then +out upon the first big horizontal bar, where it sat twitching its +beautiful tail, scolding him angrily for intruding in what it looked +upon as its own private property. + +After a time too there was the cheery call of the nuthatch, and the busy +little bird flitted into sight, to alight upon a pine-trunk, and begin +creeping here and there, head up or head down, peering into every crack, +and probing it in search of insects. A flock of jays, too, came jerking +themselves into the tree-tops, displaying their black and white +feathers, the china-blue patches upon their wings, and one in particular +came quite near, setting up its soft loose crest, and showing its +boldly-marked moustachios as it peered with first one light-blue eye, +then with the other, at the motionless object seated in the sand-pit, +wondering whether it was alive. + +Tom saw all these things that morning, for in his excited state they +were forced upon him, though all the time he seemed to be following his +messenger through the wood, keeping up its long steady canter; now +diving between two closely-growing trees, now bounding over a clump of +bracken, and now seeming to catch one end of the neckerchief in a strand +of blackberry thorn, at which the dog tugged till the silk was torn and +freed. Again he saw the dog caught in this fashion, and soon after +watched it reach the edge of the wood and bound down into the lane, +where it soon after encountered a gipsy-like party, who caught sight of +the dog's strange collar, and sought to stop it, and steal the letter, +for which the dog fought fiercely, and finally escaped by leaping back +into the wood and disappearing entirely, so that he could trace it no +more. + +All imagination, but as real to him as a troubled dream, till he stooped +once more to clear the opening, and gaze in, shuddering, and afraid to +break the awful stillness around. + +Then he crouched again upon his knees to listen, and wonder whether the +dog had reached Heatherleigh yet. Next whether it would ever have the +intelligence to make its way there, and if it did, whether it would not +pretty surely be chased away by David, who would for certain be the +first to see it, and begin throwing stones. + +"I wish I had thought of that before," muttered Tom despairingly; and as +the time went on he despaired more and more of seeing the +long-looked-for help arrive. For he told himself that he had been mad +ever to dream of the dog proving a successful messenger, since, +according to his calculation at last, there had been ample time for the +journey to have been made thrice over. + +It was of no use to shout for help or to whistle, for nobody ever came +through these woods, save a poacher now and then by night, to set wires +or traps for the rabbits; and at last in despair Tom felt that he must +go. + +Then hope came once more, as he thought better of the dog, for what +greater intelligence could dumb beast have shown than, after struggling +out of the cave, to have made its way not to its regular home, where it +could only have appealed to the feeble old grandmother, but straight to +one whom, though no friend, it had seen more than once with its master? + +"See," he said to himself, "how, in spite of all driving away, the poor +thing kept on coming back to the cottage, and how wonderfully it led me +here, and worked by my side. He'll do it. I'm sure he will, and before +long I shall see uncle coming." + +Then the time wore on, till these hopes were dashed again, and a +despairing fit of low spirits attacked the watcher. "It's of no use," +he said, half aloud; "I must go;" and he bent over the still open hole, +to try and think out some plan of keeping back the sand. But all in +vain; he felt that there was no way. Either he must stop there to keep +on scooping the place free every few minutes, or leave it to take its +chance while he went for help. + +"No, I can't," he cried; "it's throwing away the very last hope. I must +stay. Oh, why does not some one come?" + +Tom's face darkened now, for his over-strained imagination had painted a +fresh picture--that of the miserable-looking cur somewhere close at +hand, settled down in a hollow to deliberately gnaw the sandy bone. For +it was too much to expect of a dog that, after perhaps starving for +eight-and-forty hours, it would leave the meal for which it hungered, +and go and deliver such a message as that upon which it was sent. + +"Oh, how long! how long!" he groaned. "I could have gone there and back +half-a-dozen times." + +It was a moderate computation according to Tom's feelings, for it seemed +to him half the day must have glided by in the agony he was suffering. + +But it had not. Time had been going steadily on at its customary rate, +in spite of the way in which the lad in his excitement had pushed on the +hands of his mental clock. + +"I must go," he cried at last, "or no help will come. That brute is +somewhere close by, I'm sure. Here, hi!" he shouted; but there was no +reply--no dog came bounding up; and after listening for a few minutes he +began to whistle loudly, when his heart seemed suddenly to stop its +beating as he leaned forward listening, for, faint and distant but quite +clear, there came an answering whistle. + +He whistled again, and he pressed his hand upon his breast, feeling half +choked with emotion. + +The signal was answered, and directly after there was a distant hail, +followed by a joyous barking, and the dog came bounding up, to rush down +into the hollow, thrust its sharp nose into the burrow, take it out, +begin barking again, and then dash off once more among the clustering +pine-trunks. + +Tom whistled again, then hailed, was answered, hailed again, and sank +down half choked by the emotion he felt, and hard pressed to keep back a +burst of feeling which tried to unman him. + +"This way! ahoy!" he yelled, as he leaped up out of the hole, himself +once more. "Quick! help! ahoy!" + +Then the dog tore up barking furiously, half wild with excitement, and +directly after Tom caught sight of the Vicar, closely followed by his +uncle; and then came David with a bundle of tools over his shoulder, +followed at a short distance by the village bricklayer, the carpenter, +and two more men. + +At this a peculiar giddy feeling came over the watcher, there was a +strange singing in his ears, and he stood there as if stunned. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +"Where is he?" cried Uncle Richard. "Yes, I see!" + +The words brought Tom back to himself, and he was as active again as the +rest, his strange seizure having lasted only a few moments. + +"Heaven grant that we are not too late!" said the Vicar. "Here, Tom, +you had better keep the dog back." + +"But you are sure some one is buried here?" said Uncle Richard. + +"Yes; it is Pete Warboys--he has a kind of cave here. It's crushed in," +Tom hastened to explain. + +"If we try to dig him out we shall suffocate him," cried Uncle Richard, +speaking as if he had no doubt of the boy living still. "Look here, +carpenter--David, there is only one way: three of us must be here with a +rope fastened to this great root, and three others must work at a branch +yonder. We shall have great leverage then, and we may be able to turn +the trunk right over." + +"Want a screw-jack, sir," said the carpenter. + +"We must make screw-jacks of ourselves," cried Uncle Richard. "You, +David, take the axe and lop off a few of the branches that will be in +our way; you, carpenter, saw off three or four of these roots as closely +as you can; Tom, keep the hole open; Mr Maxted, keep the dog out of the +way; I'll make fast the ropes." + +Every one went to work at once as Uncle Richard fell back into his old +way when he was a planter with a couple of hundred coolies under him, +and acre after acre of primeval forest to clear before he could begin to +cultivate the ground. + +Then the dog barked furiously for a few moments, but at a word from Tom +crouched panting with its tongue out and ears pricked, evidently +satisfied with the efforts being made to release its master. The +strokes of the axe fell thick and fast, the saw rasped through the wood, +and dust and chips flew, while the forest echoed to the sounds of busy +work. + +Best part of an hour's hard toil, and then one side of the tree was +fairly clear; the ropes were tied to root and branch projecting at right +angles, and the ends passed round tree-trunks. + +"Now then!" said Uncle Richard. "Ready?" + +"Hadn't we better haul straight, sir?" cried the carpenter. "It'll give +us more power." + +"No," said Uncle Richard; "the pulling will be harder, but we can hold +inch by inch this way, and make fast the ropes when we have turned the +trunk over." + +"Right, sir," said the man. + +Then the word was given, and after a glance to see that the burrow was +still open, Tom seized the end of the rope, to add his bit of weight, +wondering the while whether they would injure the poor fellow beneath, +but pretty well satisfied that they were pulling right away. + +The tree creaked and moved, some smaller branches snapped, but no good +was done. + +"All together again," cried Uncle Richard; and they panted and hauled, +but all in vain. + +"Off with that rope from the branch," cried Uncle Richard. + +This was done, and it was then made fast to another projecting root, so +that all could pull at the one end. + +Again the word was given, but there was no result, and after a couple +more tries the task seemed hopeless, when Tom seized the saw, and began +to cut at a piece of root which he had seen rise a little and move some +sand. + +"Hah, that's right," cried the Vicar; "that's a sound root, and holds +the tree down." + +In five minutes the saw was through, and once more all began to haul, +when the great tree seemed to give, turning over slowly like a wheel, +and amidst shouts and cheers, and a furious burst of barking from the +dog, the mass turned more and more, till the whole tree, with its vast +root, had made a complete revolution; and when the ropes had been made +fast, to secure it, there was the great hollow clear, but the sand had +gone down with a rush, and the burrow was covered in. + +Tom did not wait for the trunk to be secured, for he had seen the +result. + +"Don't, boy, don't," shouted the Vicar; "the tree may come back and +crush you." + +"Let it!" muttered Tom between his teeth, as he dropped upon his knees, +scooping away at the sand, helped now by the dog, which began to be too +useful, and got in the way. All the same though, by the time the tree +was fast the sand had been swept from Pete Warboys' face; and David and +Uncle Richard stooping and passing their hands beneath him, very little +effort was required to draw him right out of the hole, and up among the +pine-trees, where he was laid gently down, amid a profound silence, +while Uncle Richard knelt beside him, and the dog, after a furious +volley of barks, began to snuffle at its master's face. + +"Dead?" whispered the Vicar, as Uncle Richard carefully made his +examination, just as he had many a time played medicine-man or surgeon +to a sick or injured coolie. + +He made some answer, but it was drowned by the dog, which threw up its +head and uttered a mournful howl, while a feeling of awe made those +around look on in silence. + +"You are in too great a hurry, my good friend," said Uncle Richard then, +as he turned to the dog. "There's a little life in your master yet, but +one arm is broken, and I'm afraid that he is badly crushed." + +Tom drew a breath full of relief, while his uncle rose to his feet. + +"I think, Maxted, if you will go on first, and warn his grandmother, and +have a bed ready, and also get the doctor there, we will make a litter +of a couple of poles and some fir-boughs, and carry him home. It would +be better for you to go to the old woman than for Tom." + +"Yes," said the Vicar, who set aside his regular quiet, sedate bearing, +and ran off through the wood at a sharp trot. + +"Out with your knife, Tom," cried Uncle Richard; "cut a piece three feet +long off one of those ropes, and unravel it into string." + +Tom set to work, while the carpenter cut off a couple of straight +fir-boughs, which David trimmed quickly with the axe, and a few +cross-pieces were sawn off about thirty inches long. + +Then Tom stared in wonder to see how rapidly his uncle bound the short +pieces of wood across the long, afterwards weaving in small pieces of +the green fir, and forming a strong, fairly soft litter. + +"Not the first time by many, Tom," he said. "Accidents used to be +frequent in clearing forest in the East. There: that will do. Now for +our patient." + +He knelt down beside Pete, placed a bough of thickly-clothed fir beneath +the injured arm, and then closely bound all to the boy's side. + +"More harm is often done to a broken limb by letting it swing about," he +said, "than by the fracture itself. Now four of us together. Pass your +hands beneath him, enlace your fingers, and when I give the word, all +lift." + +This was done, Pete deposited upon the litter, and secured there by one +of the ropes, after which he was carefully borne to his grandmother's +cottage, where the doctor was already waiting, and the old woman, +tramping about stick in hand, looking as if prepared to attack her +visitors for bringing down mischief upon the head of her grandson. + +At last, as the boy was laid upon a mattress, she began to scold at +Uncle Richard, but only to be brought up short by the doctor, who +sternly bade her be silent, and not interrupt him while he examined Pete +and set his arm. + +This silenced the poor old woman, who stood back looking on, till the +doctor had finished, and gone away to fetch medicine for his patient. + +"Yes," he said, "very bad, and will be worse, for in all probability he +will have a sharp attack of fever, and be delirious when he recovers his +speech. It is really wonderful that he is still alive." + +As these words were said, Tom looked back through the open cottage door, +to see Pete lying motionless upon the mattress, and the dog sitting up +beside him, looking down at the still white face. + +"Looking at the dog, Tom?" said the Vicar. + +"Yes, sir. What a faithful beast it is." + +"Splendid," said the Vicar. "And yet I've seen Pete ill-use the poor +brute, and I'm afraid it was half-starved; but it does not seem to +influence the dog's affection for him." + +"No, sir, not a bit. There are worse things than dogs, sir." + +"Yes, Tom," said the Vicar, tightening his lips, "a great deal." + +That night Pete's eyes opened, and he began talking rapidly about +falling trees and sand, and the black darkness; but his grandmother, +worn-out with watching, had fallen asleep, and there was no one to +hearken but the dog, which reached over every now and then to lick his +face or hands. + +And at the touch the injured, delirious lad grew calmer, to drop off +into his feverish sleep again, while, when Tom came early the next +morning, it was to meet the doctor coming away. + +"Don't go in," he said; "you can do no good; quiet and time are the only +remedies for him.--Ah, good-morning, Mr Maxted." + +For the Vicar was up early too, and had come to see after his worst +parishioner. + +"Good-morning, doctor. May I go in?" + +"Yes, if you will be quiet." + +The Vicar stole in, stayed for some time, and then came out as silently +as he had gone in, to look inquiringly at the doctor. + +"You think he will die?" he said. + +"I hope not," replied the doctor earnestly. "Not if I can prevent it." + +Just then there was another visitor to the cottage in the person of +Uncle Richard, while soon after David appeared round the corner, where +there was a sharp bend in the lane, having risen and started an hour +earlier so as to come round by Mother Warboys', and inquire about the +injured lad. + +"Don't you go a-thinking that I keer a nutshell about Pete Warboys, +Master Tom," said David, as he was looking into the cottage with the boy +by his side, "because I don't, and it sims to me as the fewer Pete +Warboyses there is in the world the better we should be. It warn't him +I come about's mornin'--not Pete, you know, but the lad as had had an +accident, and got nearly killed. See?" + +"Yes, I see, David," said Tom, nodding his head. + +"It's him as has got the friends--the young accident--not Pete. Say, +Master Tom?" + +"Yes." + +"If Pete Warboys dies--" + +"Hush! don't talk about it," cried Tom in horror. + +"Oh, cert'ny not, sir, if you don't wish me to. May I talk about the +dog?" + +"Oh yes, of course," cried Tom, as he looked round at the bright, +smiling earth, glittering with diamond-like dew, and thought how +terrible it would be for one so young to be snatched away. + +"Well, sir, I was thinking a deal about that dog last night, for I +couldn't sleep, being a bit overcome like." + +"Yes, I was awake a long time," said Tom, with a sigh. + +"Not so long as I was, sir, I'll bet a bewry pear. Well, sir, I lay +a-thinking that if--mind, I only says if, sir--if Pete Warboys was to +die, how would it be, if master didn't say no, and I was to knock him up +a barrel for a kennel to live in our yard?" + +"I should ask uncle to let me keep him, David, for he's a wonderful +dog." + +"I don't go so far as that, sir, for he's a dog as has had a horful bad +eddication, but something might be made of him; and it was a pity, +seeing why he came yowling about our place, as you was so handy heaving +stones at him." + +"What?" cried Tom indignantly. + +"Well, sir, p'r'aps it was me. But it weer a pity, warn't it?" + +"Brutal," cried Tom. + +"Ah, it weer. He's a horful hugly dog though." + +"Not handsome certainly," replied Tom. + +"That he arn't, sir, nowheres. But if he was fed reg'lar like, so as to +alter his shape, and I took off part of his ears, and about half his +tail, he might be made to look respectable." + +"Rubbish!" cried Tom. + +"Oh no, it arn't, sir. Dogs can be wonderfully improved. But what do +you say to askin' cook to save the bits and bones while there's no one +to feed him? I'll take 'em every day as I go home from work. What do +you say?" + +"Yes, of course," cried Tom; and from that day the ugly mongrel was +regularly fed, but after the first feeding it did not trouble David to +take the food, but left its master's side about three o'clock every +afternoon, and came and fetched the food itself. + +"Which it's only nat'ral," said David, with a grim smile; "for if ever I +did see a dog as had ribs that looked as if they'd been grown into a +basket to hold meat, that dog is Pete Warboys'; but I hope as good meat +and bones 'll do something to make his hair grow decent, for he's a +reg'lar worser as he is." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +It was about a fortnight after the accident, that Tom was returning one +day from Mother Warboys' cottage, where the old woman had sat scowling +at him, while Pete lay back perfectly helpless, and smiled faintly at +his visitor, when he met Mrs Fidler by the gate looking out for him. + +"There's some one come from London to see you, Master Tom." + +"From London?" + +"Yes, sir; he said his name was Pringle." + +"Pringle!" cried Tom eagerly. "Where is he?" + +"In the dining-room with your uncle, sir; and I was to send you in as +soon as you came back." + +Tom hurried in, and found the clerk from Gray's Inn very smartly +dressed. His hat was all glossy, and there was a flower in his +button-hole. + +"Ah, Pringle," cried the boy, "I'm so glad to see you. This is Pringle, +who was so kind to me, uncle, when I was at the office." + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard, rather grimly; "Mr Pringle has already +introduced himself, and--ahem!--told me of the friendly feeling which +existed between you." + +The clerk, who had evidently been very uncomfortable, had brightened up +a little at the sight of Tom, but his countenance fell again at Uncle +Richard's words. + +"Now, Mr Pringle, perhaps you will be good enough to repeat that which +you have told me--in confidence, for I should like my nephew to hear it, +so that he can give his opinion upon the matter." + +"Certainly, sir," said Pringle, brightening up, and becoming the +sharp-speaking clerk once more. "The fact is, Mr Thomas, I have left +Mr Brandon's office--which I won't deceive you, sir, he didn't give me +no chance to resign, but in consequence of a misunderstanding with Mr +Samuel, because I wouldn't tell lies for him, he sent me off at once." + +"I am very sorry, Pringle," said Tom sympathetically. + +"So am I, sir," replied the clerk; "and same time, so I ain't. But to +business, sir. So long as I was Mr Brandon's clerk, sir, my mouth +seemed to be shut, sir; but now I ain't Mr Brandon's clerk, sir, it's +open; and feeling, as I did, that there are things that you and your +respected uncle ought to hear--" + +"About my uncle and cousin?" cried Tom, flushing. + +"Yes, sir. There was certain papers, sir, as--" + +"Thank you, Pringle," cried Tom quickly; "neither my Uncle Richard nor I +want to hear a single word about matters that are dead and buried." + +"Thank you, Tom," cried Uncle Richard eagerly. "Mr Pringle will bear +me out when I say, that you have used my exact words." + +"Yes, sir," said Pringle, looking into his hat, as if to consult the +maker's name. "I can corroborate that--the very words." + +"So you see, Mr Pringle," continued Uncle Richard, rising to lay his +hand upon his nephew's shoulder, "you have brought your information to a +bad market, and if you expected to sell--" + +"Which I'm sure I didn't, sir," cried the clerk, springing up, and +indignantly banging his hat down upon the table, to its serious injury +about the crown. "I never thought about a penny, sir, and I wouldn't +take one. I came down here, sir, because I was free, sir, and to try +and do a good turn to Mr Thomas here, sir, who was always a pleasant +young gentleman to me, and I didn't like the idea of his being done out +of his rights." + +"Indeed!" said Uncle Richard, looking at the man searchingly. + +"Yes, sir, indeed; I'd have spoken sooner if I could, but I always said +to myself there was plenty of time for it before Mr Thomas would be of +age. Good-morning, sir; good-morning, Mr Thomas. I'd like to shake +hands with you once more. I'm glad to see you, sir, grown so, and +looking so happy; but don't you go thinking that I came down on such a +mean errand as that. I ain't perfect, I know, and in some cases I might +have expected something, but I didn't here." + +"I don't think you did, Pringle," cried Tom, holding out his hand, at +which the clerk snatched. + +"Neither do I, Mr Pringle, now," said Uncle Richard, "though I did at +first. Thank you for your proffer, but once more, that unhappy business +is as a thing forgotten to my nephew and me." + +"Very good, sir; I'm very sorry I came," began Pringle. + +"And I am not. I beg your pardon, Mr Pringle; and I am sure my nephew +is very glad to see you." + +"Oh, don't say no more about it, sir; I only thought--" + +"Yes, you did not quite know us simple country people," said Uncle +Richard. "There, Tom, see that your visitor has some lunch. Dinner at +the usual time, and we'll have tea at half-past seven, so as to give you +both a long afternoon. I dare say Mr Pringle will enjoy a fine day in +the country." + +"I should, sir, but I've to go back." + +"Plenty of time for that," said Uncle Richard; "the station fly shall be +here to take you over in time for the last train. There, you will +excuse me." + +That evening, as Tom rode over to the station with his visitor, and just +before he said good-bye, Pringle rubbed away very hard at his damaged +hat, but in vain, for the breakage still showed, and exclaimed-- + +"I don't care, sir, I won't believe it." + +"Believe what, Pringle?" + +"As them two's brothers, sir. It's against nature. Look here, I +wouldn't have it at first, but he was quite angry, and said I must, and +that I was to take it as a present from you." + +"What is it?" said Tom; "a letter?" + +"Yes, sir, to your uncle's lawyer, asking him as a favour to try and get +me work." + +"Then you'll get it, Pringle," cried Tom. + +"That I shall, sir. And look here, cheque on his banker for +five-and-twenty pounds, as he would make me have, to be useful till I +get a fresh clerkship. Now, ought I to take it, Mr Thomas?" + +"Of course," cried Tom. "There, in with you. Good-night, Pringle, +good-night." + +"But ought I to take that cheque, Mr Thomas? because I didn't earn it, +and didn't want to," cried Pringle, leaning out of the carriage window; +"Ought I to keep it, sir?" + +"Yes," cried Tom, as the train moved off, and he ran along the platform, +"to buy a new hat." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +"And you did not know anything about it, Pete?" said Tom one day, as he +sat beside the lad in Mother Warboys' cottage, while the old woman kept +on going in and out, muttering to herself, and watching them uneasily. + +Pete looked very thin and hollow-cheeked, but for the first time perhaps +for many years his face was perfectly clean, and his hair had been +clipped off very short; while now, after passing through a phase of +illness which had very nearly had a fatal result, he was slowly gaining +strength. + +The dog, which had been lying half asleep beside his master, suddenly +jumped up, to lay its long, thin nose on Tom's knee, and stood watching +him, perfectly happy upon feeling a hand placed for treating as a sheath +into which he could plunge the said nose. + +"You give him too much to eat," said Pete. Then suddenly, "No, I can't +recklect. It was blowin' when I got in to go and sleep, 'cause she was +allus grumblin', and then somethin' ketched me, and my arm went crack, +and it got very hot, and I went to sleep. I don't 'member no more. I +say." + +"Yes." + +"I shan't take no more doctor's stuff, shall I?" + +But he did--a great deal; and in addition soups and jellies, and sundry +other preparations of Mrs Fidler's, till he was able to go about very +slowly with his arm in a sling, to where he could seat himself in some +sandy hollow, to bask in the sun along with his dog. + +"But it's bringing up all the good in his nature, Tom," said the Vicar, +rubbing his hands, "and we shall make a decent man of him yet." + +"Humph! doubtful!" said Uncle Richard. + +"You go and look for comets and satellites," cried the Vicar +good-humouredly. "Tom's on my side, and we'll astonish you yet. Wait a +bit." + +Uncle Richard smiled, and David, when Pete formed the subject of +conversation, used to chuckle. + +"Not you, Master Tom," he said; "you'll never make anything of him, but +go on and try if you like. I believe a deal more in the dog. He arn't +such a bad one. But Pete--look here, sir. If you could cut him right +down the thick part below his knees, which you couldn't do, 'cause he +arn't got no thick part, for them shambling legs of his are like +pipe-shanks--" + +"What are you talking about, David?" said Tom merrily. + +"Pete Warboys, Master Tom. I say, if you could cut him down like that, +and then graft in a couple o' scions took of a young gent as I knows-- +never you mind who--bind 'em up neatly, clay 'em up, or do the same +thing somewheres about his middle, you might grow a noo boy, as'd bear +decent sort o' fruit. But you can't do that; and Pete Warboys 'll be +Pete Warboys as long as he lives." + +The old gardener had some ground for his bad opinion, for as the time +rolled on, Pete grew strong and well, and then rapidly began to grow +into a sturdy, strongly-built fellow, who always had a grin and a nod +for Tom when they met; but it was not often, for he avoided every one, +becoming principally a night bird, and only showed his gratitude to +those who had nursed him through his dangerous illness, after saving his +life, by religiously abstaining from making depredations upon their +gardens. + +"Which is something," David said with a chuckle. "But I allus told you +so, Master Tom; I allus told you." + +Tom, too, proved that the country air and his life with his uncle agreed +with him, for he grew wonderfully. + +"But you do sit up too much o' nights, Master Tom," said Mrs Fidler +plaintively. "I wouldn't care if you'd invent a slope up in the top of +the mill; but you won't." + +"I often get a nap on the couch down below," said Tom, laughing. "Look +here, Mrs Fidler, come up again some evening, and you shall see how +grand it all is." + +"No, my dear, no," said the housekeeper, shaking her head. "I don't +understand it all. It scares me when you show me the moon galloping +away through the skies, and the stars all spinning round in that dizzy +way. It makes me giddy too; and last time I couldn't sleep for thinking +about the world going at a thousand miles an hour, for it can't be safe. +Then, too, I'm sure I should catch a cold in my head with that great +shutter open. I was never meant for a star-gazer. Let me be as I am." + +And time went on, with Tom plunging more and more deeply into the grand +science, and rapidly becoming his uncle's right-hand man, helping him +with the papers he sent up to the learned societies, till in the course +of a couple of years people began to talk of the discoveries made with +the big telescope at Heatherleigh. + +Then came a morning about two years and a half after the terrible storm. +Tom, who had not retired till three o'clock, for it had been a +gloriously clear night, and he and his uncle had been busy for many +hours over Saturn's satellites, which had been observed with unusual +clearness, was sleeping soundly, when he was awakened by the sharp +rattling of tiny pebbles against his window. + +"Hulloo! what is it, David?" he cried, as he threw open his window. + +"I told you so, sir; I told you so," cried the gardener. "I allus said +how it would be." + +"Some one been after the apples again?" + +"Apples! no, sir; ten times worse than that. Pete's took." + +"What?" + +"Just heard it from our policeman, sir, who has been out all night. +Pete Warboys has been for long enough mixed up with the Sanding gang, +and was out with them last night over at Brackenbury Park, when the +keepers come upon them, and there was a fight. One of the keepers was +shot in the legs, and two of the poachers was a good deal knocked about. +They were mastered, and four of 'em are in the lock-up." + +"But you said Pete was taken." + +"Yes, sir, he's one of 'em; and that arn't the worst of it." + +"Then what is?" + +"His dog flew at one of the keepers when they were holding Pete Warboys, +and the man shot him dead." + +"Poor wretch!" said Tom. + +"Ay, I'm real sorry about that dog, sir. He was a hugly one surelie, +but just think what a dog he'd ha' been if he'd been properly brought +up." + +The news was true enough; and fresh tidings came the very next day to +Heatherleigh, Uncle Richard hearing that his brother had disposed of his +practice, and gone to live down at Sandgate for his health. + +Then, as the days glided by, the report came of examinations before the +magistrates, which the Vicar attended. + +"I went, Tom," he said, "because I was grieved about the young man, for +I tried again and again to wean him from his life; but nothing could be +done--everything was too black against him. He and the others have been +committed for trial, and Pete is sure to be severely punished." + +"Perhaps it will be for the best, Mr Maxted," said Tom. "It will be a +very sharp lesson, and he may make a decent man after all." + +"_Nil desperandum_," said the Vicar; "but I am afraid." + +The trial came on, and Tom felt tempted to be present. It was not for +the sake of seeing his old enemy in the dock, but out of interest in his +fate, which on account of his youth resulted in the mildest sentence +given to a prisoner that day; and as soon as he heard it pronounced by +the judge, Pete rather startled the court by shouting loudly to Tom, +whom he had sat and watched all through-- + +"Good-bye, Master Tom; God bless yer!" + +The next minute he was gone, and somehow the young astronomer went away +back home feeling rather sad, though he could not have explained why. + +It was about a month later that a legal-looking letter arrived, directed +to him, beautifully written in the roundest and crabbiest of engrossing +hands. + +It was from Pringle, telling how, thanks to Uncle Richard's letter of +recommendation, he was never so happy in his life, for he was in the +best of offices, and had the best of masters, who was a real gentleman, +with a wonderful knowledge of the law. + + "You'd have taken to it, Mr Thomas, I'm sure, if you'd been under + him; but one never knows, and it wasn't to tell you this that I've + taken the liberty of writing to you. I suppose you know that your + uncle sold his practice, but perhaps you don't know why. I heard all + about it from the new man they had. I met him over a case my gov'nor + was conducting. It was all along of Mr Samuel, who used to go on + awfully. He got at last into a lot of trouble and went off. You'll + never believe it; but it's a fact. He's 'listed in the Royal + Artillery." + +"And the best place for him," said Uncle Richard, frowning, when he read +the letter in turn; "they will bring him to his senses. By the way, +Tom, Professor Denniston is coming down to see our glass; he wants to +make one himself double the size, and says he would like our advice." + +"Our advice, uncle?" said Tom, laughing. + +"Yes," said Uncle Richard seriously; "your advice, gained by long +experience, will be as valuable as mine." + +One more reminiscence of Tom Blount's country life, and we will leave +him to his star-gazing, well on the high-road to making himself one of +those quiet, retiring, scientific men of whom our country has such good +cause to be proud. + +Heatherleigh and its neighbourhood had been very peaceful for four +years, and the word poacher had hardly been heard, when one day, as Tom +was in the laboratory, he heard a sharp tapping being given at the yard +gate with a stick, and going to the window he started, for there was a +tall, dark, smart-looking artillery sergeant, standing looking up, ready +to salute him as his face appeared. + +"Cousin Sam!" mentally exclaimed Tom, and his face flushed. + +"Beg pardon, sir; can I have a word with you?" came in a loud, decisive, +military way. + +"Why, it's Pete Warboys!" cried Tom. "Yes, all right; I'll come down," +and he went below to where the sergeant stood, drawn up stiff, well +set-up, and good-looking, waiting for the summons to enter. + +"Yes, sir, it's me," said the stranger, smiling frankly. + +"I shouldn't have known you, Pete." + +"S'pose not, sir. They rubbed me down, and set me up, and the clothes +make such a difference. Besides, it's over four years since you saw +me." + +"Yes--how time goes; but I did not know you had enlisted." + +"No, sir; I never said anything. You see, I came out of prison, and I +didn't want to come back here, for if I had, I couldn't ha' kept away +from the rabbits and birds, and I should have been in trouble again. +You made me want to do better, sir, but I never seemed as if I could; +and just then up comes a recruiting sergeant, just as I was hesitating, +and I looked at him, and heard what he had to say, how the service would +make a man of me." + +"And you took the shilling, Pete?" + +"Yes, sir; and the best day's work I ever did," said Pete, speaking +sharply, decisively, and with a manly carriage about him that made Tom +stare. "I was was bombardier in two years, and a month ago I got my +sergeant's stripes." + +He gave a proud glance at the chevrons on his arm as he spoke. + +"I'm very glad, Pete." + +"Thankye, sir. I knew you would be. You did it, sir." + +"I?" + +"Yes, sir. Mr Maxted used to talk to me, but it was seeing what you +were set me thinking so much; but there was no way, and I got into +trouble. I'm off to Malta, sir, in a month. On furlough now, and down +here to see the old woman." + +"Ah! She's very feeble now, Pete." + +"Very, sir. She's awfully old; but she knew me directly, and began to +blow me up." + +"What for?" + +"Throwing myself away, sir," cried Pete, with a merry laugh. "Poor old +soul, though, she knows no better. Good-bye, sir. I shall see you +again. I read your name in the paper the other day about finding a +comet, and it made me laugh to think of the old days. Good-day, sir. +I'm going to see Mr Maxted. I find he has been very good to the poor +old granny since I've been away." + +"And some people say that the army's a bad school," said Mr Maxted that +night at dinner, when Uncle Richard and Tom were spending the evening at +the Vicarage. "If they would only do for all rough young men what they +have done for Pete Warboys, it would be a grand thing. But I always did +have hopes of him, eh, Tom?" + +"Ah," said Uncle Richard, "it's a long lane that has no turning." + +"I say, Master Tom," cried David, who never could see that his young +master had grown a man, "did you see Pete Warboys? There: if anybody +had took a hoath and swore it, I wouldn't ha' believed there could ha' +been such a change. Here, look at him. Six foot high, and as straight +as a harrer. 'Member giving him the stick over the wall?" + +"Ah, Mr David!" cried Pete, marching up. "How are the apples?--Beg +pardon, Mr Blount, I forgot to say something to you last night." + +"Yes; what is it?" said Tom, walking aside with the sergeant. + +"There's curious things happen sometimes, sir; more curious than people +think for." + +"Yes, often in science, Pete," said Tom. + +"Dessay, sir; but I mean in every-day life. Your cousin, sir." + +"Yes. What about him?" cried Tom eagerly. + +"Him that was down here, sir, and I fetched the ladder for to get in +yonder." + +"Then it was you, Pete?" + +"Oh yes, sir; I helped him. I was a nice boy then. You'll hardly +believe it, but he's in my company--a soldier. Private R.A." + +"My cousin?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And is he getting on well?" said Tom. + +"Hum! ha!" said the sergeant stiffly. "He gets into trouble too often. +I don't think he'll earn his stripes just yet. Good-morning, sir, and +good-bye. But--" + +"Yes, Pete." + +"Would you mind shaking hands, sir--once?" Tom's hand darted out. + +The next minute Pete was swinging along at the steady, firm rate of the +British soldier on the march, and Tom Blount went back into the mill, to +continue a calculation connected with the stars. + +The End. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vast Abyss, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VAST ABYSS *** + +***** This file should be named 30106.txt or 30106.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/1/0/30106/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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