Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: "Mr. Ablethorpe put up his hand to command silence.] DEEP MOAT GRANGE By S. R. CROCKETT HODDER & STOUGHTON LONDON MCMVIII _Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome and London_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE EMPTY MAIL GIG CHAPTER II POACHER DAVIE CHAPTER III THE BAILIFF OF DEEP MOAT GRANGE CHAPTER IV THE GOLDEN FARMER CHAPTER V WE MEET DAFT JEREMY CHAPTER VI THICKER THAN WATER CHAPTER VII FAMILY DISCIPLINE CHAPTER VIII MISS APHRA'S CURATE CHAPTER IX ELSIE'S VISITOR CHAPTER X THE BROM-WATER MYSTERY CHAPTER XI THE IRON TRAPDOOR CHAPTER XII THE BRICKED PASSAGE CHAPTER XIII MEYSIE'S BAIRNS CHAPTER XIV BROWN PAINT--VARNISHED! CHAPTER XV THE MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--A GIRL CHAPTER XVI MR. MUSTARD'S FIRST ASSISTANT CHAPTER XVII DREAR-NIGHTED DECEMBER CHAPTER XVIII THE HUNTERS OF MEN CHAPTER XIX I HOOK MY FISH CHAPTER XX CONCERNING ELSIE CHAPTER XXI A JACKDAW'S TAIL FEATHER CHAPTER XXII ELSIE'S DIARY CHAPTER XXIII WITHIN THE MONKS' OVEN CHAPTER XXIV THE BREAKING DAM CHAPTER XXV A LETTER FROM JOSEPH YARROW, SENIOR, TO HIS SON JOSEPH YARROW, JUNIOR CHAPTER XXVI COMRADES IN CAPTIVITY CHAPTER XXVII HARRIET CAW ON CLERICAL CELIBACY CHAPTER XXVIII SATURDAY, THE TENTH OF FEBRUARY CHAPTER XXIX THE CALLING OF ELSIE CHAPTER XXX HOW ELSIE DANCED FOR HER LIFE CHAPTER XXXI THE HERO PLAYS SECOND FIDDLE CHAPTER XXXII "THERE'S NAE LUCK ABOOT THE HOOSE" CHAPTER XXXIII CONFESSION CHAPTER XXXIV JEREMY ORRIN, BREADWINNER CHAPTER XXXV THE WITNESSING OF MISER HOBBY CHAPTER XXXVI THE HOUSE OF DEATH CHAPTER XXXVII I AM HEROIC CHAPTER XXXVIII A FIT OF THE SULKS CHAPTER XXXIX THE THING THAT SCRATCHED CHAPTER XL WANTED--A PENNY IN THE SLOT CHAPTER I THE EMPTY MAIL GIG I was only a young fellow when these things began to happen among us, but I remember very well the morning when it first came out about the Bewick carrier. He was postman, too, but had got permission to keep a horse and cart so that he might make a good little bit by fetching parcels and orders from town. Town to us meant East Dene, and Bewick, to which Harry went, lay away to the east among the woods and hills. It was a lonesome place, Bewick, and, indeed, is still, though now they have got a railway coming within eight miles or so. But the mystery of the Moat Wood happened before there was any talk of railways.