The new-comer approached, keeping a wary eye upon the ground as he advanced. Ellis saw it was a carter, and that he carried an old-fashioned round lantern in his hand, with a lighted candle stuck in the socket. The carter held the lantern above his head, standing still, and peering through the night. The man was visible to the boy, but the boy, shrouded in the blackness of the night, was invisible to the man. "Where are you?" he asked, seeing nothing in the gloom. "Never mind me; Griffin's drowning in a pond, or something." The splashing continued. "I'm drowning! He-elp!" The carter stooped forward, so that the light fell on the ground. Then Ellis perceived that between the man and himself was a little pond, into which the over-anxious Griffin had managed to fall. "There ain't no water there," said the carter. "Where are you? Come out of it. There ain't enough water to drown a cat." Griffin, perceiving that the fact was as the carter stated, proceeded to betake himself to what was, in comparison, dry land. But though not drowned, a more pitiable sight could scarcely be presented. He had fallen head-foremost into the filthy pool; the water was trickling down his head and face, and his countenance was plastered with an unsavoury coating of green slime. "What are you? a boy?" inquired the carter. "Well, you're a pretty sight, anyhow!" For answer Griffin burst into tears. Ellis, who had by this time found his way round the pond, joined in the criticism of his friend. "Well, I am blessed!" In spite of his own plight, he was almost moved to mirth. "Won't old Mother Fletcher take it out of you! I wouldn't be in your shoes for a pound." "Who's she? and who are you?" asked the carter. "Have you ever heard of Mecklemburg House?" "What, the school? Be you from the school? Well, you're a pretty couple, the pair of you. What little game are you up to now--running away? Won't they lay it into you!" The carter grinned; he was not aware that corporal punishment was interdicted at Mecklemburg House, and already seemed to see the "laying in" in his mind's eye. "We--weren't running--away!" wept Griffin. "We've lost our way." "Lost your way! Well, I never! That's a good one!" The carter seemed to doubt the statement. "We have lost our way," said Ellis. "Look here! for a couple of pins I'll take you by the scruff of your necks and walk you back myself, if you come any of your games on me." From his tone and manner the carter seemed to be indignant. Griffin stared--as well as he could through his tears and the slime--and Ellis stared, being both at a loss to understand his indignation. "Coming with your tales to me, telling me you've lost your way, with the school just across the road." His hearers stared still more. "You don't mean it?" Ellis said. "Why, if--I don't believe--why, if this isn't old Palmer's field, which he was only ploughing yesterday, and if you haven't tumbled into old Palmer's pond! Well, if we aren't a couple of beauties!"