"Oh, I am glad to see ’ee," cried Sam, as his young master’s head appeared at the brink of the ledge. "I bean’t afeard, not I, but ’twas ’nation dark, and I felt a queer wamblin’ in the inside o’ me, ’cos I’m tarrible hungry, I reckon." "Well, come along. I’ve found the way out. The opening leads to St. Cuby’s Well, and we can climb to the top in no time." "St. Cuby’s Well! Dash my bones if I go within a mile o’t. Dead men’s bones, and sperits o’ darkness—no, never will I do it." "Stuff and nonsense!" cried Dick, as stoutly as if he had never felt the least tremor on his own account. "I’ve seen no bones, and the spirits haven’t laid a hand on me. Those silly tales only frighten children." "And females. Ah, ’tis a pity the mistress won’t let me take eggs and things to the Dower House. What I could tell to that nice young female wi’ the hole in her rosy cheeks! How they’d go yaller and white when she heerd my tale of blood, and ghosteses in night-gowns, and all the other things o’ darkness! Ah, ’twas to be, I s’pose: she’ll hear it from some one else, and I shan’t get the credit of it." "No; she’ll hear that you were too much of a baby to face ’em, and she’ll despise you, instead of thinking well of you as she does now." "Don’t say it, Maister Dick," cried the boy. "Scrounch me if I lose my fame in that miserable way. I’ll come, if you’ll stand by me, and hold my hand if we hears a noise, and use your finest language to the sperits if they meddle wi’ us. I’ve heerd tell that the Lord’s prayer said back’ards will tarrify ’em out of their wits, but I reckon yer head’s full of ancient heathen words that go straightfor’ard, and won’t put ’ee to such a tarrible tax as turnin’ religion topsy-turvy." This was said as Sam climbed with deliberate care up the ladder. He gained the ledge more easily than Dick had done, having the help of Dick’s hand. "Can we get there afore candle’s out?" he said anxiously, when they stood side by side. "If we make haste," replied Dick, taking off his hat and looking at the inch-and-a-half of candle left, and the mass of tallow that lay on the brim like a small lake of lava. "We can fetch the boat at low-tide to-morrow." They hurried on, and, Dick knowing the way, reached the shaft in much quicker time than when he had come alone. Sam got behind him at the doorway, peering under his armpits with wide eyes, and taking much comfort when he saw nothing but mossy walls. "I’m downright shamed o’ folks that believe in such gammut," he said, valiantly following Dick into the chamber. "Well, now we’ll climb up. It must be after sunset, or we should see a glimmer of light at the top. I’ll go first."