Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/littlewizard00weymiala 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. 3. Table of Contents added by Transcriber. A LITTLE WIZARD [Illustration: STANLEY J. WEYMAN] A LITTLE WIZARD BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN AUTHOR OF "A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE," "FRANCIS CLUDDE," "UNDER THE RED ROBE," ETC., ETC. NEW YORK R. F. FENNO & COMPANY 9 and 11 EAST 16th STREET COPYRIGHT, 1895. R. F. FENNO & COMPANY. _A Little Wizard_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Pattenhall. II. Malham High Moors. III. Langdale's Horse. IV. The Meal Chest V. Treasure Trove. VI. Dead Sea Apples. VII. The Wooden Cross. VIII. A Strange Trial. IX. His Excellency's Judgment. A LITTLE WIZARD CHAPTER I. PATTENHALL. When the agent of General Skippon, to whom the estate of Pattenhall by Ripon fell, as part of his reward after the battle of Naseby, went down to take possession, he found a little boy sitting on a heap of stones a few paces from the entrance gate. The old house (which has since been pulled down) lay a quarter of a mile from the road and somewhat in a hollow; but its many casements, blushing and sparkling in the glow of the evening sun, caught the rider's eye, and led him into the comfortable belief that he had reached his destination. He had come from Ripon, however, and the village lies on the farther side of the house from that town; consequently he had seen no one whom he could question, and he hailed the boy's presence with relief, checking his horse, and calling to him to know if this was Pattenhall. The lad crouching on the stones, and nervously plucking the grass beside him, looked up at the four stern men sitting squarely in their saddles. But he did not answer. He might have been deaf. "Come!" Agent Hoby said, repeating his question roughly. "You have got a tongue, my lad. Is this old squire Patten's?" The boy shook his head mutely. He looked about twelve years old. "Is it farther on?" "Yes, farther on," the lad muttered, scarcely moving his lips. "Where?" Still keeping his eyes, which were large and brown, on his questioner, the boy pointed towards the tower of the church, a quarter of a mile away.