“We shall have to run directly,” said Dick, after they had been going on for about twenty minutes. “Hist! what did Mr Marston say?”
“That he must have been mad to stop away from his lodgings to-night,” whispered Tom, who had been a little in advance on the narrow path. “Here, what’s that?”
“Somebody on the mere,” cried Dick excitedly. “Hi! ho!”
“Hi! ho!” came from out of the darkness where the splashing of water had been heard, accompanied by the peculiar sliding sound made by drawing a pole over the edge of a boat.
“That you, Dave?”
“Yes, Mester Dick. Hear a noise?”
“Yes. Did you?”
“Something like thunder, and it wakkened me. I think it weer a fireball.”
These words were shouted as the man forced the punt along rapidly, till it was abreast of the rough road track which ran along by the edge of the mere.
“Wheer are you going?” cried Dave as soon as he came close up.