enough; and this they felt as the troop trod forwards, and seemed actually passing the Rectory. They felt it more when a human voice—though that voice spoke but one word—broke the hush of the night.

‘Halt!’

A halt followed; the march was arrested. Then came a low conference, of which no word was distinguishable from the dining-room.

‘We must hear this,’ said Shirley.

She turned, took her pistols from the table, silently passed out through the middle window of the dining- room, which was, in fact, a glass door, stole down the walk to the garden wall, and stood listening under the lilacs. Caroline would not have quitted the house had she been alone, but where Shirley went she would go. She glanced at the weapon on the sideboard, but left it behind her, and presently stood at her friend’s side. They dared not look over the wall, for fear of being seen; they were obliged to crouch behind it; they heard these words:

‘It looks a rambling old building. Who lives in it besides the damned parson?’

‘Only three women—his niece and two servants.’

‘Do you know where they sleep?’

‘The lasses behind; the niece in a front room.’

‘And Helstone?’

‘Yonder is his chamber. He uses burning a light; but I see none now.’

‘Where would you get in?’

‘If I were ordered to do his job—and he desarves it—I’d try yond’ long window; it opens to the dining- room. I could grope my way upstairs, and I know his chamber.’

‘How would you manage about the women-folk?’

‘Let ’em alone except they shrieked, and then I’d soon quieten ’em. I could wish to find the old chap asleep. If he waked, he’d be dangerous.’

‘Has he arms?’

‘Firearms, allus—and allus loadened.’

‘Then you’re a fool to stop us here; a shot would give the alarm. Moore would be on us before we could turn round. We should miss our main object.’

‘You might go on, I tell you. I’d engage Helstone alone.’

A pause. One of the party dropped some weapon, which rang on the stone causeway: at this sound the Rectory dog barked again furiously—fiercely.

‘That spoils all!’ said the voice. ‘He’ll awake; a noise like that might rouse the dead. You did not say there was a dog. Damn you! Forward!’

Forward they went—tramp, tramp—with mustering manifold, slow-filing tread. They were gone.

Shirley stood erect, looked over the wall, along the road.