Presently the labourers drew up in Hangman's Hollow and stood amazed at the secret which Grace revealed to them. From the top, Beer and Woodman set to work; and Putt and Bickford attacked the place beneath. They cut away the masses of briar and undergrowth that bound the foundations of the old blowing-house, forced a hole in the wall, and made entry from that point. Malherb also toiled and wearied his body with great feats of strength to distract his mind. "If us should catch the old cat-a-mountain now!" said Woodman. "My stars, she'd scratch our faces to the bone, I lay!" But the treasure house was empty. They let in light from every side, and after two hours' hard work had dismantled the den. Sweet air searched its dark corners; day illuminated its secrets. Malherb's heart fell as Grace pointed to two great boxes of plate and jewels; but it rose with a bound, for they proved to be empty. Where Lovey's money-bags had stood and leered at Grace out of the darkness, like a row of little pot-bellied fiends roosting there, they found nothing. The ledges were bare. Malherb made no attempt to conceal his exultation. Dissimulation was impossible before his growing hope. He toiled like a giant, tore his clothes and smothered himself in dust and dirt. "Not a watch--not a coin--not a teaspoon!" he shouted. "All gone--everything. But don't give up yet; seek and seek; make very sure. Tear every stone from another; break every stone in half. Dig up the floors; sound the nooks and crannies. Let no shadow of doubt remain!" The men spoke under their breath to one another. "He'm going daft, or I am," said Putt. "The less we find, the better he likes it!" "'Tis his troubles have turned his head," answered Beer. "I've knowed it happen so. Look at him--all in a muck o' sweat like a common man." Woodman, as he ripped up the floor, discovered a hole by Lovey's stone altar. "See here, your honour; I be much feared something's been took out of this place. 'Tis lined wi' stone an' the cover lies beside it. But 'tis empty." Maurice Malherb smiled and approached eagerly. "Yes, yes; even here might she have hidden her treasure--not a doubt of it--not a doubt. Say!" he continued to Bickford, who stood nearest to him, "don't stand like a clown carved in wood. Speak. Tell me--is it not clear something has been lifted up from here and carried off?" "Clear enough," answered the man in a surly voice. "Us was only wondering, begging your honour's pardon, why for you was so mighty pleased to find your trouble wasted." "Then take yourself and your insolent wonder from Fox Tor Farm to-morrow at daybreak!" cried Malherb. The old flash was in his eyes, the old deep thunder in his voice. "Jimmery! he'm coming back to hisself!" murmured Putt. Then Malherb spoke again. "Wonder as you will. What are your thoughts to me? Work--work on--all of you, and keep your wonder to yourselves."