“Well, sir, that was the guytrash calling to you to come, so as to get hold of you; and if it did I should never see you again.”

“Not if it keeps as dark as this, you stupid old grub. I know what made that sound. Come along.”

“What, are you going to risk it, sir, in spite of all I said?”

“Yes; I am going on there.”

“Very well, sir. I didn’t want to die like this in the dark, and I don’t know whether weapons is of any use against things like that; but I’ll stand by you, Master Fred, to the end.”

As he spoke, there was a faint grating sound which attracted Fred’s attention.

“Were you drawing your sword?” he whispered.

“Yes, sir.”

“What for?”

“To cut the guytrash down, if I can.”