This was all Clarence would say on this point just then. His companion tried hard to make him explain himself, but all Clarence would say was, that he had a way of finding out things he wanted to know, and with that Godfrey was obliged to be content. Before separating they made another agreement, which was that they would meet that night, as soon as it was fairly dark, at the summer-house on the shore of the lake. Godfrey appointed the place of meeting himself, saying that he would not go near the general’s barn again if he had an army at his back. He promised, moreover, to meet Clarence there every night, and to faithfully assist him in prosecuting the search until the barrel was found. If Clarence succeeded in obtaining an interview with the old negro and finding out where the eighty thousand dollars were hidden, so much the better; but that was a matter with which Godfrey himself would have nothing to do. That was another long day to Godfrey. When he had leisure to calmly think over the promise he had made, he wondered how he had dared do it; and as the afternoon waned and the hour appointed for the meeting at the summer-house drew nearer, he became really alarmed, and was several times on the point of making up his mind that he would stay at home. But he did not stay at home. He went, agreeably to promise, and for half an hour sat in the summer-house starting at the rustle of every leaf and holding himself in readiness to take to his heels at the first sight of anything that might look like old Jordan’s white coat. When at last Clarence arrived, he was so overjoyed to see him, that he seized his hand and shook it until the boy forcibly withdrew it from his grasp. “I couldn’t get away any sooner,” said Clarence. “We were having some music up there.” “Did they say anything about the haunt?” asked Godfrey. “No, they didn’t say anything about that, for they have sense enough to know that there is no such thing in the world,” said Clarence, impatiently. “They talked about old Jordan, and uncle seems to think he has come back; but he says it is very strange that the old fellow doesn’t show himself about the house.” “Say, Mr. Clarence,” said Godfrey, suddenly; “mebbe he’s come back on purpose to dig up the bar’l hisself!” “I thought of that,” replied the boy. “But if that was his object, he wouldn’t be so foolish as to show himself to anybody. He has kept out of my way so far. Don and I have been about the barn all the afternoon watching for him. If I once get my eyes on him I’ll see what he’s made of, unless he shows that he can run faster than I can.” “What does Mr. Don think about it?” “O, he’s like the rest. He don’t know what to think about it.” “Did he ever say anything to ye about the bar’l?”