He locked the clock-chamber door, and they descended to the belfry, where several of the people were standing, three having hold of the ropes.
“Nay, nay, you mustn’t pull they,” shouted Chakes. “Bell’s been ringing ’nuff to-night. Latt ’em be.”
“Why, we never looked in those big cupboards,” cried Macey suddenly, pointing to the doors behind which the weights hung, and the pendulum, when the clock was going, swung to and fro.
“Nay, there’s nowt,” said the sexton, opening and throwing back the door to show the motionless ropes and pendulum.
Vane had moved close up with the others, and he stood there in silence as the doors were closed again, and then they descended to join the group below, the churchwarden now coming to the broad arched door.
“Well?” he cried; “caught ’em?”
“There’s no one there,” came chorused back.
“Then we must all hev dreamed we heard bell swing,” said the churchwarden. “Let’s all goo back to bed.”
“It is very mysterious,” said the rector.
“Very strange,” said the doctor. “The ringing was of so unusual a character, too.”