"Startling news from Samavia," the newsboy was shrilling out. "Amazing story! Descendant of the Lost Prince found! Descendant of the Lost Prince found!"
"Any chap got a penny?" snapped The Rat, beginning to shuffle toward the arched passage.
"I have!" answered Marco, following him.
"Come on!" The Rat yelled. "Let's go and get a paper!" And he whizzed down the passage with his swiftest rat-like dart, while the Squad followed him, shouting and tumbling over each other.
IX
"IT IS NOT A GAME"
Loristan walked slowly up and down the back sitting-room and listened to Marco, who sat by the small fire and talked.
"Go on," he said, whenever the boy stopped. "I want to hear it all. He's a strange lad, and it's a splendid game."
Marco was telling him the story of his second and third visits to the inclosure behind the deserted church-yard. He had begun at the beginning, and his father had listened with a deep interest.